Rehab Your Nails: Peeling Nails

OK so hopefully last week you found out what your nail type is. Remember you can go between types so don't get TOO stuck on the type you currently have because unless it's caused by genetics or a medical condition it probably can be changed. Even if it is permanent you can still help improve your nails by following some simple care routines and avoiding your nails biggest enemies. Today we're talking about peeling nails and even though I wrote a blog about this recently that talks about ALL nail types, you can guess what's the worst thing for peeling nails. Water. In fact, overuse of water or oversaturation of the nails is often a huge cause of peeling nails. So if you're nails are in the peeling category the first thing I'd do is try to figure out ways to minimize the time your nails spend in water. This means waterless manicures (which we'll go into detail about in another blog!) and  gloves while you wash the dishes or clean (or maybe convince your housemates to clean up for you :P). Some people are not going to be able to avoid it. If you're in a profession where you need to wash your hands frequently or are dealing with aquatic animals or maybe even a stylist who is washing hair often, you're unlikely to be able to keep your hands out of water but where you can you should still minimize it. 

So what else can you do for peeling nails?

In the short term you can use a gel polish, even if it's just clear (you can layer other polishes over it if you want to!) to strengthen the layers. Be sure to brush the gel polish OVER the tip of the nail to help hold the layers together. You can also brush nail glue over the tips if you don't have access to gel but be aware that constant water will break down glue and gel so be sure to reapply as needed. The third option you have is a tip wrap but I tend to avoid adding things like that to nails that are already in a weakened state. If you do want to use a tip wrap, I recommend having it professionally done so you don't accidently cause more damage. This will help the layers that have already separated stay together as they grow off the nail plate. You'll also want to use a nail strengthener on your nails. OPI Nail Envy, Duri Rejuvacote, and Butter London Horse Power are all great options, if you want to avoid nasty ingredients choose Rejuvacote 2 or Butter London Horsepower which are free of formaldehyde. You can brush these on over the gel polish if needed, or just brush and cure the tips with gel and use the strengthener on the nail. Totally up to you! The other thing will be moisture. Your nails will need an oil massage everyday until they get stronger and every other day is a great option after the peeling has grown out. You can even do a little matrix massage (massage the base of your nail and the skin just at the base) to encourage growth while you massage the oil in. The extra oil will help nails grow strong and add flexibility. 

One of my favorite ways to give nails a quick pick me up is a paraffin dip. You can use a gentle exfoliator first, then add oil, then a moisture mask (I love this one from Zoya!) and then once the wax has been removed give your hands and cuticles a little massage. A paraffin dip is optional but especially in colder months it really gives your nails a nice boost! (Pro tip: Zoya also sells Smart Pod packs for pedicures and manicures. You get a soak, which you can skip for hands if your in the peeling category, a scrub, a mask, and a lotion for $9 ;P)

Thanks for reading along! Stay tuned to learn how to care for all the nail types! :)