repair the damage

You've finally decided to remove those acrylics. The road to recovery doesn't have to be long and drawn out. After wearing the acrylic nails for an extended period of time (more than six months), your nails become dry and thin, due to the lack of light, oxygen, and the weight of the acrylic itself. So the sooner you remove the acrylics, the better for your natural nails.

All of the chemicals (adhesives, primer, etc) in the artificial nail application eventually take a toll on your natural nail beds. It will take some time to get back to a healthy, strong, natural nail, but the sooner you begin, the sooner your nails will begin to heal.

After removing the acrylic nails, it's important to apply a good strengthening formula. These formulas have a special combination of ingredients, including hydrolyzed keratin and protein in combination with gelatin and calcium. The protein formulas bonds the nail layers together, building a strong nail foundation resistant to peeling, chipping and splitting. We recommend Nailtiques, the original protein formulas created for different nail conditions. Since Nailtiques debut, many other manufacturers have released their own line of products including: Nail Tek and Revivanail.

Once you've removed the acrylics, apply a formula to heal weak, thin, soft or peeling nails. This formula will seal the layers of the nail together. Each application reinforces and thickens the nail while promoting strength and flexibility. Apply 1-2 times a week for two months. After this time switch to a maintenance formula. If you aren't thrilled with the results within this timeframe, you can switch to a maximum strength formula, such as Nail Tek's Xtra Maximum Strength Formula. This formula is a concentrated formula that provides extra strength necessary to correct severe nail weakness.

During this time, it's also important to use a good quality cuticle oil. All of the leading brands make one.

Just a thought along the same line. Do not apply polish, then use a nail polish remover to rid remove the polish. This strips out the natural oils and nutrients from the fingernail. So the less often you change your polish, the better off your nail will be. Less is more in this instance.