Artificial Nails: What to Know Before You Get Them

Artificial nails can help you make a fashion statement or wear long nails if your real ones won’t grow. While the nails aren’t harmful, putting them on and taking them off can involve acids and other chemicals that could cause allergic reactions. Damage to artificial nails also can lead to fungal infections and other problems.

Types of Nails

Artificial nails come in two main kinds: acrylic and gel. A third type, called silks, is often used to fix damaged nails or to make nail tips stronger.

Acrylic. This plastic material is the most popular choice. It forms a hard shell when you mix a powder with liquid and brush it on top of glued-on nail tips. You have to file down your natural nails to make it rough enough for the nail tips to bond to it.

Since your real nails grow all the time, you’ll eventually see a small gap between your cuticle and the acrylic nail. You’ll need to go back to the nail salon every 2-3 weeks to get the gaps filled, or do it yourself. Chemicals in the filler and the filing may weaken your real nails.

If you already have a fungal infection, artificial nails can make it worse or lead to other issues.

Gels. These are more expensive and last longer than acrylics. You paint the gel on like regular nail polish. You then put your nails under an ultraviolet (UV) light to harden the gel.

UV light can cause skin damage, including wrinkles and age spots. Too much UV light can cause skin cancer. But there are no reported cases of skin cancer caused by UV lamps at nail salons, not even among the manicurists who work around the lights all day.

Possible Problems--

Artificial nails can be tough on your real ones. Issues you should watch for include:

Allergic reaction: The chemicals used to attach or remove artificial nails can irritate your skin. You may see redness, pus, or swelling around your fingernails.

Bacterial or fungal infections. If you bang your artificial nail against something, you may dislodge your real nail from the nail bed. Germs, yeast, or fungus can get into the gap and grow. A bacterial infection can turn your nails green. Nail fungus, on the other hand, starts out with a white or yellow spot on the nails. The nail may thicken over time, and it can crumble in severe cases. See your doctor if you suspect any infections.

Weakened nails. To remove acrylic or gel nails, you soak your fingers in acetone for 10 minutes or longer. This chemical is very drying to your real nails and can irritate your skin. Some artificial nails must be filed off. That can make your natural nails thin, brittle, and weak.

What You Can Do--

• If you love the look of artificial nails, these tips can help you enjoy them more safely.
• If you’ve had nail fungus before, stay away from artificial nails. Don’t use them to cover up nail problems.
• Get nails that can be soaked off instead of filed off.
• Ask your manicurist not to cut or push back the cuticles too much. They help guard against infections.
• Pick a salon that hardens gel polish with LED lights, which have smaller amounts of UV light. Apply a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen to your hands before you go under the lights.
• Use cream moisturizer on your nails, especially after you soak them in acetone.
• Take a break from artificial nails every couple of months. This lets your real nails breathe and heal from chemical exposure.

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What Does Hard Water Do to Your Hair, Skin & Nails?

Hard water is water that has a high volume of “hard” minerals, primarily magnesium, calcium and silica. It’s measured using grains per gallon (gpg). For water to be considered hard, it must register above 3.5 gpg. How can you tell if you have hard water running through your tap? Its presence is not always obvious, but if you pay close attention you may begin to notice the signs of hard water around your home.

If your water smells off or like rotten eggs, there’s most likely some sort of bacteria reacting with magnesium in it. Aside from the way it smells, hard water can also cause your household appliances to wear down, create buildup around fixtures, and lead to dry scalp and skin. While it may not sound like a big deal to have extra minerals floating in your tap water, hard water is a nuisance for homeowners. Fortunately, hard water testing can help you find a solution for better, softer water. 

Hard Water Effects on Hair, Skin and Nails

As a homeowner, you’ll find that the quality of water coming out of your faucets can be a major concern. Where you live plays a big part in the quality of your water. Water has to travel a long way to reach your home. Along its journey it may pass through regions with high concentrations of limescale, such as mountain ranges. Depending on your region and where your water comes from, the level of hardness in your water will vary. Hard water testing can help you identify the amount of undissolved minerals in your tap water. 

Although hard water is not harmful to your health overall, it can have a negative effect on your hair, skin and nails. Find out how having hard water in your home can impact your body and how a water softener can benefit you. 

How Does Hard Water Affect My Nails?

Nails are made up of numerous keratin layers that are sealed together to form a solid nail bed. The minerals found in hard water can break down your nail bed and nails over time. When you wash your hands or shower using hard water, your nails can become brittle and flaky. Moreover, hard water minerals can also dry out your nail beds and stunt the growth of your nails. After some time, your nails can become thin, weak and discolored. 

How Does Hard Water Affect My Hair?

Water with hard mineral content, such as magnesium, silica and calcium, can have a visible effect on your hair. Not only can hard water make it difficult to achieve a thorough rinse in the shower, which causes buildup, but it can also weaken hair follicles and allow your hair to break easily. You may wash your hair multiple times or try different shampoos and conditioners to try to fix the problem, but each time you leave the shower you’ll have the same result. The problem is coming from your water, not your rinse, lather, repeat routine. Look for the following signs that hard water is affecting your hair:

• Hair that feels filmy, straw-like, dull and limp
• Color-treated hair that fades quickly, leading to more frequent color treatments and further damage to hair 
• Residual shampoo in your hair
• Hair that’s hard to lather with shampoo
• Thinning hair and breakage 
• Dry scalp

How Does Hard Water Affect My Skin?

The most common effect of hard water on your skin is dryness. Much like with your hair, hard water makes it difficult to rinse away soap from the surface of your skin, leaving it dry and potentially irritated. Furthermore, if you have sensitive skin, psoriasis or eczema, hard water can make conditions worse by drying out your skin even more. 

When hard water comes in contact with your skin, some of those minerals that cause hard water get left behind, absorbing a lot of the natural moisture and oils from your skin. This lack of moisture in your skin and high levels of hard minerals can also affect the pH balance of your skin, which could potentially cause breakouts. Beyond the impact on your skin, hard water can impact your bathtub or shower as well, leaving a sticky film from soap and hard water minerals that build up over time.

What Can I Do About My Hard Water?

While you can certainly make adjustments to your daily routine to counter the impact of hard water on your body, a water softening system in your home could go a long way toward keeping your hair bouncy and bright, and your skin soft and supple. Water softeners reduce the mineral content in your water straight from the tap, leaving you with soft water throughout your entire home.

What Else You Can Do to Help Your Hair, Skin and Nails

The first step to solving your hard water problems is to test for it. Knowing what’s in your water can help you find the right solution for your home. If you have hard water running through your tap, here are other things you can do (in addition to installing a water softening system) to protect your skin, hair and nails:

Hair

• Use cold or warm water when washing your hair: Hot water can strip your hair of natural oils and cause inflammation, which can lean to split ends and breakage.
• Use deep conditioning masks and leave-in conditioners: Combat dryness caused by hard water residue by moisturizing and conditioning your hair regularly. 
• Use natural treatments: Natural remedies, such as apple cider vinegar, can help protect your scalp from dryness, remove hard water residue and boost shine. 

Skin

• Moisturize: Applying lotion or ointment to your skin immediately after showering can help trap moisture from escaping. 
• Avoid harsh or drying soaps: Mild soaps with added oil and fats can help add moisture back into your skin. 
• Limit your shower time: Showers over 10 minutes can remove natural oils from your skin; reducing your bath time can help keep your skin from drying out. 
• Drink water: Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 

Nails

• Apply clear nail polish: A layer of clear nail polish can help trap moisture and protect your nails from the minerals found in hard water. You should remove and reapply nail polish weekly for the best results. 
• Moisturize your nails: Use hand moisturizer around your nail bed to keep it from drying out.  
• Take supplements: Supplements containing vitamin B, iron and magnesium can help keep your nails strong and healthy. 
• Hard water’s effects on hair, skin and nails should not be taken lightly. With the proper knowledge at hand, you can take the right steps toward softening your water.

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Healthy Habits: Nail Hygiene

Appropriate hand hygiene includes diligently cleaning and trimming fingernails, which may have dirt and germs underneath them and can contribute to the spread of some infections, such as pinworms. Fingernails should be kept short, and the undersides should be cleaned frequently with soap and water. Because of their length, more dirt and bacteria can gather under long nails than short nails. This can contribute to the spread of germs.

Before clipping or grooming nails, all equipment (for example, nail clippers and files) should be properly cleaned. Sterilizing equipment before use is especially important when nail tools are shared among a number of people, as is common in commercial nail salons.

Infections of the fingernails or toenails often appear as swelling of the skin around the nails, pain around the nails, or thickening of the nail. In some cases, these infections may be serious and need to be treated by a physician.

To help prevent the spread of germs and nail infections:

• Keep nails short and trim them often.
• Scrub the underside of nails with soap and water (or a nail brush) every time you wash your hands.
• Clean any nail grooming tools before use.
• In commercial settings such as nail salons, sterilize nail grooming tools before use.
• Avoid biting or chewing nails.
• Avoid cutting cuticles, as they act as barriers to prevent infection.
• Never rip or bite a hangnail. Instead, clip it with a clean, sanitized nail trimmer.

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Basic Nail Care Tips

It’s easy to neglect your nails, but with basic nail care, you can help keep your fingernails and toenails looking and feeling great. Here’s how:

• Keep nails clean and dry to prevent bacteria from building up under the nail.
• Cut fingernails and toenails straight across to prevent ingrown nails and trauma.
• Avoid tight-fitting footwear.
• Apply an anti-fungal foot powder daily or when needed.
• Avoid biting and picking fingernails, as infectious organisms can be transferred between the fingers and mouth.
• Wear gloves to protect your fingernails when doing yard work or cleaning house to protect the nails from harsh chemicals and trauma.

When in doubt about self-treatment for nail problems, visit your dermatologist for proper diagnosis and care.

Always notify a dermatologist of nail irregularities, such as swelling, pain or change in shape or color of the nail. Remember, your nails can tell you a lot about your overall health, and a dermatologist can help determine the appropriate treatment for any of your nail problems. Source

How to Properly Take Care of Your Cuticles

Natural, smooth, and well-groomed nails is a minimalist look that may not get you quite as many compliments as acrylics, but it does give your nails a well-deserved break. Giving them time to recover and restore their natural beauty is a must-do every now and then, no matter if you usually have them done or not. But nail care goes beyond the plate and the fold — an important but often neglected part is the cuticle. This thin, delicate strip of skin is critical to the overall health of your nails and deserves its share of love and attention. Let’s explore the best ways to nourish and protect your cuticles.

What are cuticles?

You may think the cuticle is the skin surrounding your entire nail, but it’s actually just a small part known as the eponychium. It’s that clear layer of skin you see at the bottom of your nail. This small but mighty area is crucial for protecting your nails from bacteria and keeping them hydrated as they grow.

If your cuticles are damaged, your nails are more susceptible to infection. Plus, strong, smooth nails look their best when paired with healthy-looking cuticles. Knowing how to take care of them is the key to a perfect manicure.

Caring for your cuticles: what NOT to do

Resist the urge to cut them

While you may be tempted to trim your cuticles at home to make them look neater, it’s usually not a good idea. Cutting your cuticles can cause irritation and even expose your nails to potential infections. Avoid the risk of infection and leave all cuticle trimming to the skilled hands of a nail care professional.

Avoid harsh products that can dry them out

Your cuticles are skin. Just like the skin on any other part of your body, they can dry out — sometimes more easily! As the area is extremely delicate, dry cuticles can easily lead to peeling or flaking. Because cracked cuticles can make your nails more susceptible to infection, avoid products or habits that can dry out your skin. This includes washing dishes without gloves, using harsh nail polish removers, or washing your hands too vigorously. Just remember to treat your hands (and cuticles) with kindness and care.

No biting!

Biting your nails or the skin around your fingers is a common nervous habit, and this includes nibbling on your cuticles. However, doing this not only invites bacteria in, but also increases the risk of infection.

Breaking these habits can be difficult, but remember, the power to change is in your hands (literally). If you’re struggling, talk to your dermatologist. They can offer personalized advice and strategies to help you break these bad habits.

Caring for your cuticles: what you SHOULD do

Keep them well hydrated

To keep your nails looking healthy and strong, it’s important to keep the entire area well hydrated, including the cuticles. Incorporating regular moisturizing into your nail care routine can significantly reduce the likelihood of dryness.

For at-home nail care, consider using specific nail strengtheners, cuticle oils and creams. Choosing a product that treats your nails and cuticles is a convenient and effective way to ensure that both are getting the hydration they need. Hyaluronic acid is an excellent choice here!

Cationic hyaluronic acid is absorbed 17 times more effectively than ”regular” hyaluronic acid. This makes nail strengthening treatments enriched with cationic hyaluronic acid a game-changer to help repair your nails and improve their appearance. These are some of its benefits:

✔️ It deeply hydrates both nails and cuticles, improving their appearance and restoring their natural allure.

✔️ Increases flexibility, reducing the risk of breakage.

✔️ When combined with other  key ingredients like keratin and silicon, it helps make nails stronger.

Make a habit of regularly hydrating your cuticles, avoid things that can dry them out, and don’t hesitate to consult a nail care expert when needed.

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2025 Pantone Color Of The Year

For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute selects PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort. Simple and Comforting: A Soft, Warming Brown

With its sophisticated, earthy elegance, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse can stand alone or serve as a versatile foundation, enhancing a wide range of palettes and applications—from minimalist to richly detailed designs—across all color-focused industries. 

Revel in your own personal luxury. With a subtle elegance and sensorial richness, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse empowers you to create moments of luxury that may be intimate in scale but can extend a sense of indulgence throughout the day.

A flavorful brown shade, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse envelopes us with its sensorial warmth. As a trend-led fashion color and a neutral rolled into one, this comforting brown brings us into harmony with an ever-changing world.

Authentic and approachable, rich and indulgent, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is the perfect hue for “me moments”—however you define them. Redolent with the essence of cacao, chocolate and coffee, this sophisticated brown offers an everyday escape, a well-deserved treat. Source

The color is the perfect neutral tone for everything from clothing to nail polish! Book your appointment to match your perfect hue of Mocha Mousse today!

How to Find the Best Nail Shape for Your Hands

The world has more nail shapes than we have fingers, but we’re on hand to help you select the right angles for your nails, so you really can enjoy your perfect mani. Before we get started, take a good look at your hands. To flatter those tips, you’ll need to find the best nail tip shape for your hands by figuring out the shape of your cuticle and nail bed. Simply push back your cuticles with a cuticle stick to look at your true cuticle shape, then get started.

Short Fingers

Best nail shape for your hands: Round Nails. This nail tip shape elongates your fingers and makes them look slender. Round nails also make wide nail beds appear thinner. Start by filing and following the natural shape of the fingertip. Then, flip your hands and check the symmetry of the curve.

Wide Nail Beds And Long Nails

Best nail shape for your hands: Oval Nails. This runway favorite elongates nails in both width and length. It’s similar to an almond shape but a tad more blunt. File each side of the nail, and slightly curve your file toward the center of the nail to create an egg-like nail tip shape.

To Lengthen & Slim Fingers

Best nail shape for your hands: Almond Nails. Slender at the sides and slim at the base, this is an instantly flattering nail tip shape. File each side of the nail, and shape the tip by narrowing the free edge to create a peak.

Low Maintenance

Best nail shape for your hands: Square Nails. If you have long, narrow nail beds and like a short length, this is the shape for you. Looking for extra length? Acrylic fans rejoice, long square nails are the perfect canvas for trending shades and nail art. Achieve this nail tip shape by filing in a straight line across the free edge.

The Universal Shape

Best nail shape for your hands: Squoval Nails. It looks good on everyone! This universally flattering nail shape looks good on short and long fingers. Part-oval and part-square, this nail tip shape is super easy to maintain on short nails. Start by filing straight across, then round the corners in one long stroke, connecting the free edge together. Flip your hands towards you and adjust as needed.

Short Fingers and Long Nails

Best nail shape for your hands: Stiletto Nails. This is a shape made for long nails (we recommend with acrylics) that ends with a sharp statement point. This is like an almond shape, but more pointed. Find the center of the nail tip, then shape both sides by filing into a slight taper towards the nail tip. Next, begin shaping the tip by narrowing the free edge to create a peak.

For the Acrylic Enthusiasts

Best nail shape for your hands: Ballerina Nails or Coffin Nails. This shape requires salon maintenance. Long, slim, and squared off at the tip, this suits long, slender fingers and angled cuticles. They’re called ballerina nails (or coffin nails) as the tip resembles a pointed shoe. Looking for something with a bit more edge? Try a related shape with coffin nails, this nail tip shape is slightly more angled than ballerina nails and is less rounded when it comes to the sides of the nail.

The Influencer

Best nail shape for your hands: Lipstick Nails. Be a trendsetter! Like your favorite shade, this squared nail style slants diagonally for a seriously unique nail tip shape.

The Diva

Best nail shape for your hands: Long Square Nails. If you have long, narrow nail beds and prefer a long length or acrylics, this is the nail tip shape for you. Trending shades and nail art like an ombre look well on long square nails. Achieve this shape by filing in a straight line across the free edge and parallel to the sidewall. Perfect for filing down into other shapes when wanting to switch up for something different. This shape is also one of our fave nail tech @chaunlegend's signature shape for the Kardashians. Source