How to care for damaged nails?

What is a damaged nail?

Visible signs

When a nail is damaged, it can show several signs. The most common symptoms include:

• Brittle nails that have lost flexibility and break at the tips.
• Soft nails that bend, fold easily, and struggle to grow steadily.
• Split nails where the nail plate separates into thin layers.
• Yellowed nails, which are actually discolored nails. This can be caused by overly pigmented nail polishes or external factors (if the yellowing persists despite stopping nail polish use, consult a healthcare professional).

How did it get to this point?

As often mentioned, our nails reflect our overall health and how well our body interacts with its environment. Fragile nails are a warning signal that something might be off. The most common causes include:

• Daily aggressions: Every day, nails face various threats that weaken them. Exposure to chemical products in cleaning agents, dry air, or prolonged humidity are leading contributors to poor nail health.
• Nutritional deficiencies: The nail matrix needs a sufficient supply of proteins, vitamins, and minerals (particularly biotin, iron, and zinc) to function properly. Without these, nail growth and resilience are compromised.
• Harsh manicures: The use of fake nails, low-quality nail polishes with harmful ingredients, repeated manicures, or removal with acetone or abrasive tools can significantly weaken nail structure.
• Age and hormonal changes, which can slow keratin production and reduce nail growth.
• Severe illnesses and medical treatments, which may have delayed side effects on nails.

How to repair damaged nails?

Don’t worry – damaged nails are not a permanent fate. To restore them urgently or care for them daily, Manucurist has developed tailored routines to help you achieve beautiful nails and hands.

The Rescue Kit for emergency care

The Rescue Kit is a true lifesaver for damaged or severely damaged nails. It contains three products: the S.O.S. Base, the Green Oil, and the S.O.S. Mask, designed to deeply repair nails with a combination of synergistic active ingredients:

• AHAs, Hexanal, and Vitamin C for stronger, more beautiful nails
• Panthenol for deep hydration
• Sweet almond oil and coconut oil for perfect nourishment.

After 2 weeks of treatment, the results speak for themselves:

• Rehydrated nails (96%)
• Protected nails (96%)
• More beautiful nails (91%)
• Regenerated nail contours (91%)
• Stronger nails (86%)

(Dermatologically controlled test conducted on a panel of 23 participants over 14 days).

Your Daily Nail Care Routine

To maintain healthy nails and ensure long-lasting strength, adopt simple yet effective habits as part of your beauty routine:

• Keep your nails short and well-shaped. The longer they are, the more likely they are to break! Gently shape them with a nail file for natural nails to prevent cracks and splitting.
• Nourish and hydrate your natural nails and the skin around them to prevent dryness. Daily, massage a drop of nourishing oil, like Green Oil, into your nails and cuticles. If your nails need extra hydration, apply the S.O.S. Mask overnight for a deep treatment.

• Prep your nails before a manicure by following the steps outlined in our dedicated article. Before applying color, always use a protective base coat like Base Coat Green™ or Green Flash™, depending on your chosen polish. For a more nourishing option, try the Base 5.5.
• Opt for a gentle, long-lasting manicure by choosing clean polishes made with bio-sourced, vegan, and HEMA-free ingredients, such as Green™ polish or Green Flash™ LED polish. For removal, skip acetone or drills and use the gentle Green Flash™ remover. Lastly, alternate gel polish use with restorative treatments or a coat of Active™ care polish to give your nails a much-needed rest!

By combining targeted treatments, a healthy lifestyle, a tailored nail care routine, and clean, safe manicure products, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining strong, resilient, and healthy natural nails for durable and flawless manicures.