Should I let my nails breathe?

“Should I let my nails breathe?” This is a common question we hear. No, your nails do not need to “breathe”

  1. Nails are made of keratin, keratin is a tough fibrous protein.

  2. Our nails do not have pores that absorb oxygen.

However! I do believe in some circumstances nails do benefit from taking a break from polish, gel polish, or any form of enhancement.

  • Polish - Sometimes you may see some staining or yellowing. This is usually from not using a high quality base coat to protect your nail. We always want to use a good quality base coat to protect the nail bed from discolouration.

    If you see some white and dry looking spots on your nail bed from regular polish this is a sign of dehydration. This is when you’d want to take a break and focus on hydrating the nail plate with creams and oils. ( A good base coat also helps avoid this)

  • Shellac or gel polish - To be honest, it is very rare that I find clients need to take a break from a good shellac or gel polish manicurist. I find the clients who need to take breaks more often are the ones who pick and peel the gel polish off, or DIY the removals at home.

    However, if you’re feeling your nails are more sensitive, thin and splitting it could mean your nail technician is over buffing and over soaking your nails with acetone.

    At our salon, we use a high quality base coat and keep as much of it on as possible in your removal to avoid rebuffing the areas that have already been buffed in the previous manicure. We try to spend minimal time soaking in acetone to avoid dehydrating the nail plate which causes nails to become more brittle.

  • Nail Enhancements (acrylic, dip, bio gel etc.) - You should take a break from any enhancement if you feel pain or tenderness, or if your nail bed no longer has the natural pink colour.

    I find that clients with damaged nails who needs breaks in between sets are prone to breaking, picking and lifting. It is important to not go too long in between fills because the weight distribution on your nail beds will cause an imbalance. This causes more stress to the nail plate which leads to breaking, and lifting. I usually like to see our clients every 3-4 weeks.

    With all of the above, it does come down to;

    1. Finding the right nail technician with experience and cares for your overall nail health.

    2. Stay consistent and don’t go too long in between appointments. OR DIY your removals at home.

    3. High quality products INCLUDING using cuticle oil and creams.

    4. If you do need a break make sure to keep your nails short to avoid snagging and focus on rehydrating using cuticle oil and creams. You could also take biotin to help promote stronger hair, skin, and nails from the inside out! Just be sure to consult your physician before adding in any supplements to your diet.

    I hope this brought you some insight.

    Love always!

    -Kim

Kim Le