Do Nails Need To Breathe?

Have you ever had your nails done at a salon before? Have you ever had someone tell you that you should give them a break to “breathe”? I get a lot of questions about this and I’m here to help you understand this confusing topic.

The truth is, our nails actually don’t need to breathe. Why? It’s because oxygen and nutrients are delivered from our bloodstream, as opposed to the air. If you’ve been having your nails done for years and they feel fine, then carry on girl. Sounds like you found yourself a great nail tech!

However, a break may be necessary if you’re starting to notice a softer feeling nail over time. This may be caused by improper prep and application of your service. But there are also several factors that can cause our natural nails to feel weak; aging, hormones, medication, stress (just to name a few).

Nails

Our finger nails can take up to 4-6 months to grow out and during this time it would be a good idea to apply a strengthener (like Nail Envy linked below) to help the grow out process. Products containing Vitamin E will deliver antioxidants and protect the existing keratin to ensure a speedy recovery. Try adding a nourishing cuticle oil in addition to strengthener.

Remember: a hydrated nail is always better than a dehydrated one! I linked a few great oils to try below.

Regardless of the type of service you’re receiving (gel-polish, acrylic, gel or regular polish) no harm should be introduced to a healthy nail. Only you will truly know how your nails feel so make sure you’re listening to them if they say it’s time to take a break.

 

Chia-Sig

 

P.S  If you’re wondering what the hell I used on my nails to make them look holographic, click here!