If you're fond of painting your nails, you'll notice that over time, the constant coatings will eventually do some damage. Long-term use of nail polish can cause nail brittleness and other problems, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Unfortunately, there are no overnight fixes for damaged nails, despite a slew of products that are available for nail repair.
To prevent more damage, the first thing you should do is to hold off on getting more manicures, acrylics or gel polish for a few weeks. Let your nails rest. You'll also need to do the following:
1. Keep your nails short for the meantime. If the nail isn't strong enough, it will break or crack when it's long.
2. Stimulate blood flow into your nails by regular hand massages. A five-minute massage at least two or three times a day will aid in the healing process faster. Make this a ritual before you sleep at night. Keep a small tube of hand lotion in your purse so you can do this during your commute, office breaks, or while waiting for your order at the restaurant. Check out Sephora's selection of hand lotions and cream.
3. Moisturize your nails. As you're already doing the hand massages, the lotions and creams will keep the nails moisturized. However, you can also indulge in nail baths and soaks at home using the following items from your kitchen or medical supply:
- Hydrogen peroxide. Dab on cotton and let this sit on the nails for five minutes. It will help remove the yellow stains.
- Lemon juice and water. Prepare this in a bowl and soak your nails on it for 10 minutes. Lemon is a natural bleaching agent.
- Gelatin and water/Milk. Dilute a pack of gelatin in water in a bowl and soak your fingers for 15 minutes. This is great for strengthening. You can do the same with milk.
- Vitamin E capsules or olive oil. Break a capsule open and simply dab its oil on the nail using cotton and massage on your nail cuticles. Do this for at least 10 minutes. You can do the same using olive oil.
4. Eat for healthy nails. Foods rich in biotin (Vitamin H) will help improve nails, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. There are also biotin supplements in the market, but be cautious when taking this. "Biotin deficiency is rare and low levels may result in brittle nails and hair loss," said dermatologist Dr. Susan Stuart via Huffington Post. "However, hair loss and brittle nails may have multiple causes and taking biotin supplements may actually halt this process and even help to reverse it."
