Should you love making a press release together with your manicure, there’s nothing extra versatile than acrylic nails. However fill after fill can deliver in regards to the query: is it time for a nail detox? Whereas it’s true that polished nails can nonetheless be wholesome nails, overuse of paint, gel, and acrylics can take its toll.
So regardless that acrylics look superb, it’s important to know when your pure nails want slightly time to reset and get better. Right here we reply how typically it’s best to take a break from acrylic nails, and how one can assist restore your brittle, broken nails with assist from an expert-approved nail strengthener.
Do I really want to let my nails breathe?
Nails don’t absorb oxygen from the air, so that you don’t want to surrender polish to maintain them wholesome. However they do want correct care and may need a breather at occasions.
Listed here are a number of ideas for checking in in your nail well being:
- Have a look at your pure nail shade: A tell-tale signal that it’s time for a break from acrylics is when your pure nail is not vibrant pink and clean. Different indicators embody peeling, splitting, or feeling sore or delicate to the touch.
- Listen after elimination: Nails can turn out to be discolored as a result of pigments in polishes. Otherwise you may discover white patches showing in your nail after incorrect polish elimination. Should you discover yellowing and chipping after eradicating a set, it may be time for a pause.
- Keep forward of harm: Taking common breaks—even simply as soon as each few months—permits you to assess the well being of your pure nails and handle any indicators of harm early. Whereas there’s not an outlined time-frame that works for everybody, it’s best to be sure your nails are correctly cared for.
- Ask the professional: Discuss to your manicurist and get their skilled opinion too—then you may determine whether or not your nails want a hiatus each few weeks or months, or for those who’re heading in the right direction.
Wait… are acrylic nails dangerous for you?
We gained’t go that far, however they will positively be powerful in your nails and the pores and skin in your fingers. Over-manicuring, poor-quality manicures, and making use of polish to already broken nails could make them extra brittle. Plus, these elements could cause thinning of the nail plate: the exhausting a part of the nail made up of keratin.
For instance, gel manicures could cause nail dehydration and thinning if utilized in extra and particularly if not accurately utilized with a gel base coat. Acrylic nails can even harm the nails in the long term, because the floor of your pure nails is filed down for software, weakening the pure nail.
Furthermore, the chemical compounds used in acrylic or different polish functions have the potential to hurt the nail over time—particularly with out correct care in between units.
What about gel nails?
In terms of gel nails, one factor to contemplate is the curing course of. Most gel nails want ultraviolet (UV) mild to harden. And gel nail polish plus UV radiation can really hurt the keratins in nails, doubtlessly making them extra fragile.
Past your nails, are there dangers to your pores and skin when utilizing UV-curing lamps? The American Affiliation of Dermatology recommends going to a nail salon that makes use of an LED curing mild as a substitute of a UV mild. Whereas LED lamps nonetheless emit UV radiation, it’s lower than with a UV curing mild. An LED mild additionally cures extra shortly, decreasing your fingers’ publicity to UV rays.
Though it’s all the time a good suggestion to put on broad spectrum sunscreen each day—even in your fingers! Should you get gel manicures typically, apply sunscreen to your fingers about 20 minutes earlier than your appointment to assist shield your pores and skin.

Can I take away faux nails myself?
Earlier than you begin your break, you’ll in fact need to take away your gels or acrylics. Whereas it’s often finest to go away this to the professionals—and all the higher for those who can—there could also be moments when you may’t make it to the salon.
In case your faux nails begin to fall off or chip, it’s essential to recollect to not decide at them, and to attempt to take away them in a method that causes much less harm to your pure nails. Selecting or peeling can pull layers off your pure nail, making restoration take even longer.
In case you might want to take away your faux nails or gel polish at residence, you’ll want nail polish remover, cotton wool, nail scissors, a nail file, and tin foil.
Right here’s a step-by-step information to taking acrylics off your self:
Step 1
Clip your nails (acrylic, acrylic and actual, or gel-covered) down utilizing the nail scissors. After all, it’s possible you’ll need to maintain your nails lengthy, however the shorter they’re, the simpler it will likely be to take away your faux nails.
Step 2
Take your nail file and gently clean the highest of your nails, making an attempt to make the gel or acrylic as skinny as doable.
Step 3
When you might merely soak your nails in polish remover, this can expose extra of your pores and skin to the remover. First, soak cotton wool pads or balls in polish remover. Then wrap your nails in particular person squares of pre-cut tin foil, securing the cotton ball on prime of the nail. One tip? Settle in to look at your favourite present, as you might want to maintain the foil in your nails for 30-40 minutes.
Step 4
Elevate up certainly one of your foils to verify in your nails, and if the acrylics have soaked off. If wanted, re-soak and re-wrap cussed spots as a substitute of scraping. As soon as they’ve all been eliminated, buff your nails to take away any smaller items.
Step 5
Wash your fingers and nails and gently pat them dry. Then, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! End with a hydrating nail strengthener which you could apply over your nails and cuticles.

How can I strengthen my nails after acrylics or gel?
When you’ve eliminated your gel or acrylic nails, you can begin to take care of them with a focused nail product. Search for a formulation that strengthens and hydrates the nail construction whereas offering it with the elements it must feel and look wholesome once more.
The magnificence specialists at Attract share certainly one of their prime picks: “The tremendous light-weight ISDIN Si-Nails strengthener brushes on for fast, mess-free, and hydrating TLC on worn-down nails and cuticles.”
And simply what are the nail-boosting elements to remember? Let’s verify them out:
Keratins
Keratins are an essential constructing block for robust and resistant nails. Si-Nails boasts resin from Pistacia lentiscus gum to assist assist keratins and increase nail hardness.
Silicon
Silicon is among the predominant minerals within the nail. Ingredient silanediol salicylate promotes silicon, an important step in rising wholesome, stunning nails.
Hyaluronic acid
It’s some of the well-known pores and skin moisturizers—however do you know it might additionally assist hydrate your nail plate? Attract explains the way it works inside Si-Nails, “This hydrosoluble resolution incorporates hyaluronic acid for speedy hydration and will increase the nails’s thickness and sturdiness.”
One thing else of be aware: The hyaluronic acid inside Si-Nails is cationic. This implies it’s optimized to be used in your nail floor, offering long-lasting moisture.
The ultimate coat
Even for those who determine to return to shine, gel, or acrylic nails, do your finest to offer them ongoing hydration care and go to an expert nail tech for each software and elimination. Consider your nails like your pores and skin—they want love, safety, and a break from time to time to remain robust and exquisite.
In case your nails are broken, to not fear! Sustain with nail strengthening care till your nails really feel extra resilient—and afterward to assist preserve your exhausting work. With the appropriate remedy, you’ll be effectively in your solution to wholesome nails.
Editorial Staff
Our namesake embodies the spirit of embracing life and all its marvel. As wellness journalists, we discover matters that invigorate the senses and maintain curiosity alive. We imagine that glowing pores and skin is the results of a wholesome physique and thoughts. Weaving magnificence with science, we goal to encourage you to stay younger at all ages.