Smoking and the use of nail lacquers can cause staining, turning your nails a light to deep yellow. Smoking and applying layer after layer of nail polish without a break in between robs your nails of oxygen. Fixing your yellow nails and returning them to their healthy color requires the use of a daily whitener. Soaking your nails in a homemade whitening solution with a hydrogen peroxide base can yield positive results.
Step 1
Pour 2 ½ tbsp. of baking soda into a small bowl. Add 1 tbsp. of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide.
Step 2
Stir the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda together to combine. Dip a cotton swab into the whitening mixture.
Step 3
Apply the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda mixture to the underside of each nail and on top of each yellow nail.
Step 4
Allow the whitening mixture to sit on your yellow nails for at least 3 minutes. Rinse your fingernails in warm water after the 3-minute waiting period, removing all traces of the whitening mixture.
Step 5
Repeat the process daily until your yellow nails turn white again.
Tips and Warnings
- Alternatively, you can soak your fingers in the solution for 3 minutes instead of applying it. If you do not have hydrogen peroxide or baking soda available, try soaking your fingernails in lemon juice. Lemon juice has whitening properties that can also offer good results.
- Yellow nails can also be a sign of fungus. If a foul odor accompanies the yellowing, or if your nails chip, peel or show signs of brittleness, seek medical attention. Nail fungus often requires the use of an antifungal medication prescribed by a physician.
Things You'll Need
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Cotton swab
- Warm water
- Lemon juice
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