Are you confused about which nail files to use?

Are you a bit overwhelmed at all the choices in the nail file isle? Not sure what exactly you're supposed to use on your nails?

 

Let's go over the what each file is used for.

Your standard nail files in all the pretty colors come in different grits. Grits range anywhere from 80-2400.

What are the grits, and what am I supposed to use?

The lower number of grit, for instance, 80, is very course.  They are mostly used for acrylic nails or sometimes toenails that are extremely thick. The low number of grit isn't meant to be the only file you will use, it's a starter.

What most people use for nails are the "medium" or 180 grit. The 180 grit is perfect for shaping nails but should be followed by a higher number of grit to get rid of any rough edges.

Fine fines range in grit from 240-600 and are best for following up after the above grits to smooth out the rough edges on a nail.

The ultra-fine grits, 600-2400 are used as buffers for the top part of the nail. I'm generally not a fan of buffers but if you don't like to wear nail polish, this may be a good option for you to get your nails shiny.

Nail files also come in glass and steel. These aren't my favorite but they do have an advantage over the general nail files, they can be placed in Barbicide to disinfect them. If you're not sharing your nail files with others, you probably won't need to disinfect them anyway.

Nail drills are also an option for serious nail enthusiasts. They're a bit harsh on the nails, but can be very helpful when applying acrylics. Just be very careful around the nail beds. I have seen some horrible manicures with these things. 

The take away from this article - if you're not sure what to buy, get the cutest "medium" file with the 180 grit, it'll take care of the majority of your needs.

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The Best Non-Toxic Nail Polishes

Don't you love it when companies get on board with your own health goals of trying to stay away from as many chemicals as possible?

Some of you probably already know but, the chemicals you put on your nails can be leached into your blood via the nailbed

 

The biggest concerns of all the chemicals are Formaldehyde, and Toluene.

 

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and Toluene causes neurological imbalances.  There are other ingredients used that cause issues, but those are the two biggest ones that should be avoided.

 

Until a few years ago, companies that made non-toxic nail polishes weren't really all that good.  They chipped, peeled, and didn't brush on very well. 

 

Today there are companies popping up all over getting on the non-toxic nail polish bandwagon. Welcome aboard!
 

Below is a list of some of the best non-toxic nail polishes around.  While the polish brands on the list are all quite good, Ella + Mila will probably continue to be my favorite brand because their polish stayed on 9 whole days!  I put the polish on before going on vacation and didn't need to reapply once.  That's impressive! Especially since my hands were in the sand and water the entire vacation.

Some of the best Non-Toxic Nail Polishes in the industry:

1. Ella+ Mila (Made in the USA)
2. SallyHansen - Good Kind Pure
3. Zoya
4. Sunday's
5. Pacifica's
6. Karma Hues
7. Cote
8. Butter London
9. SOPHi
10. Aila
11. Tenoverten
12. JINsoon
13. 10 + Free Chemistry

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Is acetone harmful for your nails?

Before we answer that question I'm going to touch on exactly what acetone and non-acetone polish removers are.

 

You may not believe this but, acetone is something your body makes. I kid you not!  It's the chemical your body makes when it breaks down fat.  There are other natural things like trees, tobacco, and even volcanoes that produce acetone as well. Strange, isn't it?

 

Just because our bodies produce acetone doesn't make the acetone you buy for your nails edible; quite the contrary, it's highly toxic to your lungs if breathed in for long periods of time, drying, and it's flammable. Prolonged exposure can make you very sick.

 

Why do salons use acetone then? Because it's very effective in getting the job done quickly. Acetone strips everything off the nails quickly and efficiently, including oils.

 

After your nails have painted and dried, it's a good idea to wash the acetone off the surrounding area of your nails, and rehydrate with cuticle oil.

 

If acetone is so drying, why not use non-acetate nail polish remover then?
 

For the longest time, non-acetate nail polish removers weren't that great. Getting nail polish off is a bit of a chore, most of the time it left residue behind and didn't remove dark colors very well at all. In fact, if the non-acetone polish were the slightest bit old, it didn't remove anything.

 

Non-Acetone nail polish removers are getting better though, in fact, I have some great suggestions (affiliate links below) for which ones to try if you need something a little less drying on the nails.

 

 

Non-acetone nail polish removers are made from ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is often used in cosmetics, food, and even some wine.

 

Like acetone, non-acetone is just as caustic, flammable, and can cause health problems if ingested or breathed in for long periods of time.

 

The above statement being said, while neither are totally safe, one is much more effective at getting nail polish off the nail beds, and that's why acetone is used in salons much more often than non-acetone nail polish remover.

Acetone nail polish removers are best for stubborn polishes that are dark, have several layers, and where the polish needs to be removed quickly.

Non-Acetone nail polish removers are best used for people with extremely dry skin, aging skin, and light-colored nail polishes. 

Is acetone more harmful than non-acetone for your nails? Not really. I see it as the less time you have a chemical on your skin the better, so it's my opinion that acetone is best. 

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Is there a difference between base coat and top coat?

My daughter asked me this question and I'll admit, I really didn't know if there was much of a difference so I decided to investigate...

A base coat provides a protective barrier between the nailbed and the colored polish, so that the color doesn't stain the nail.  The base coat also has ingredients in the polish to help adhere the polish to the nail surface, whereas the top coat doesn't contain those ingredients.

Base coats also contain ingredients that help strengthen nails.

 

Base coats also are a bit rougher to the touch. They aren't nearly as smooth as the follow-up top coat.

 

The top coat is more of a varnish type substance that has extra shine. Have you ever noticed how dull base coat is? The top coat has ingredients that make the nail polish extra shiny and helps protect the nail color below.

 

The top coat also dries much faster than the base coat, because it's usually thinner.

 

So why can't you skip the base coat and just apply the top coat in place of the base coat? You could, but you'll be re-doing your nail polish very soon afterward. Top coat is quite thin and doesn't bond well with the nailbed surface. 

I hope that helped clear up some of the confusion about top and base coats. 

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My Secret for Beautiful Hair and Nails

Remember that old saying, you are what you eat?

Well, it's true! Let me explain...

Three years ago I was having some auto-immune issues and started researching holistic ways to fix them. Throughout my research, I discovered that the stomach issues I was having could possibly be relieved by collagen.

I ate my way to poor health!

If the solution isn't invasive or doesn't cost a lot, I'm always willing to try it in the hopes that it'll help.

So I got onto Amazon and ordered this: Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate

I didn't notice anything the first week or two, but by the time I had finished the canister of Collagen, my stomach issues were subsiding, and my hair was getting crazy long!

So I kept on using the collagen in my morning coffee.

After three months something odd happened, I realized that I actually had to file my nails down. That in itself was unusual, my nails always broke or split. I never really had to trim them because of the breaking and splitting. 

Three years later I am still using the collagen, and my hair and nails are really nice looking. 

On a side note, I did try several different brands of collagen and the Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate worked the best for me.

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Why Wont my nail polish stay on?

Are you still struggling with trying to figure out how to keep your nail polish from chipping and flaking off? 

Like you, I had trouble keeping polish on my fingernails. After a lot of trial and error, I finally figured out a few things. 

Because I know you're struggling to keep those pretty colors on your nails, I'm going to share 12 of my biggest secrets, so your nails continue to look great.

Let's go!




My Top 12 Rules for Keeping Polish Nice

1. Apply top coat every  couple of days
2. Find a top coat that is as hard as nails, literally. I love this inexpensive one.
3. Before you apply your base coat, wipe your nails with polish remover to take the oils off your nails. Oil is what causes the polish not to stick well.
4. Keep your cuticles hydrated with a good moisturizer or cuticle oil. Be careful not to get the oil on your nails before you apply polish.
5. Apply polish to the bottom edge of your nails.
6. Be sure to let each coat of polish dry thoroughly. Invest in a UV light nail dryer if need be.
7. Try a gel polish if you are excessively rough with your polish.
8. Keep your nails trimmed so that they aren't always clicking on things.
9. Don't apply polish over wet or moist nails. Polish stays on dry nails better.
10. It's better to apply a couple thin coats rather than one thick one. Thin coats also dry faster.
11. If you do get a chip, repair it right away with a fresh coat, and then apply a top coat.
12. Wear gloves when working around the home or doing dishes. Water makes the nails swell and the polish will not expand. 

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A Quick Manicure

While it's always more fun to leave the nail care to a professional, sometimes it's just not possible to get to your nail tech.

Here's how to do a quick manicure to get you by until you can get to your professional nail tech again.

Here are the items you'll need:

• Nail File
• Gentle soap
• Water
• Bowl
• Towel
• Cuticle Clippers
• Orange Stick
• Base Coat
• Nail Polish <--- A fun set of mini OPI's you'll love!
• Top Coat
• Moisturizer <--- I highly recommend this one! 

Step 1

File your nails into your choice of style, but filing them square will keep your nails the strongest. If you have nails that split I highly recommend you file them square rather than oval or pointed.

Step 2

Soak your nails in warm soapy water, being careful to keep a towel nearby to catch drips.

Step 3

After your cuticles have softened, gently push back your cuticles with an orange stick. You may also trim your cuticles if you are confident in your abilities to not cut yourself. If you aren't that great with the cuticle clippers, I suggest you leave that to the professionals.

Step 4

Gently dry your hands by patting dry. Do not rub. Do not apply moisturizer.

Step 5

Apply in this order: Base coat, polish, and then top coat, being careful to let each layer dry in between applications.

Step 6

When all the coats of nail lacquer have dried, apply moisturizer.

Note: the reason for not applying moisturizer before your nail polish is because nail polish doesn't stick well to oiled nails. If you do accidentally get moisturizer or oil on your nails, wipe off with nail polish remover.

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