Gel nail overlays are somewhat safer than acrylics containing methyl methacrylate, or MMA, according to DermaDoctor.com. But, they can still make your nails brittle and dry. Gel nail damage is usually less severe than that damage caused by old-fashioned acrylics because the chemicals used are less drying and they are not as difficult to remove. It can still take a little extra care and effort to regrow damaged nails back to their former strength.
Step 1
File your nails down so that they are even with the tips of fingers. Use the emery board in one direction only, not in a sawing motion, because that can weaken them. MayoClinic.com recommends that you keep nails short and slightly rounded, because this is the strongest shape.
Step 2
Warm a small bowl of olive oil until it is just a degree or two warmer than your skin. You only need enough to cover your nails; about ¼ cup. Soak your fingernails in the olive oil for 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times per week to soothe nails that have dried out from the chemicals in your gel nails. Wash your hands with mild soap to remove the olive oil from your fingertips and pat them dry.
Step 3
Massage a tiny bit---about the size of a cotton swab's tip---of cuticle cream into your cuticles at night. Your cuticles are the place where your nails grow out from your fingers, and they often become cracked and inflamed after wearing and removing gel nails. Doing this won't help your nails grow faster, but the moisturizing agents will help keep them from drying out and the massage will increase blood flow.
Step 4
Use a nail buffer on your nails in the evening, while you watch TV or do anything else that doesn't require your hands. Buffers are usually covered in soft cloth, like chamois. Swiping them lightly across the surface of your nails will increase circulation and make your nails shiny without using polish.
Step 5
Apply a nail strengthener to your nails. Look for one that contains no formaldehyde, because that can be drying. A clear nail strengthener is less noticeable on short nails and will not have to be changed as often if it chips.
Step 6
Take biotin supplements. According to a study published in the August 2007 "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology," 2.5 mg of biotin taken every day can strengthen thin and brittle nails.
Tips and Warnings
- Learn to use your hands as though your nail polish is still wet to decrease the number of breaks.
- Never try to use your fingernails as screwdrivers, can openers or other tools.
Things You'll Need
- Emery board
- Olive oil
- Small bowl
- Mild soap
- Hand cream
- Cuticle cream
- Nail buffer
- Nail strengthener
- Biotin supplements
References
- MayoClinic.com: Nails: How to Keep Your Fingernails Healthy and Strong
- Harvard Medical School: Does Having Ridged and Split Fingernails Mean I'm Unhealthy?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin H (Biotin)
- Oprah: How to Get Long Nails Using Acrylics, Gels and Wraps
- DermaDoctor: Artificial Nails
- "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"; Vitamins and Minerals: Their Role in Nail Health and Disease; N. Scheinfeld, MJ Dahdah, R. Scher; August 2007
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