This is my first nail care post! There will be a new care post every fortnight :)
There are some really expensive products that 'claim' to remove the stains from your nails, they may work but why not try something more affordable first?
Here is my list of cheap (and trusted) brands that do exactly the same thing - oh and I've also put together a 'top 10 tips' for clean and healthy nails, so you don't make the same mistake again ;)
1. Superdrug - Nail Whitening Tablets (unnatural)
Kill two birds with one stone by soaking your hands before the manicure - not only will it un-stain but it will also soften your nails making them easier to cut (and less likely to break). Simply dissolve 1-2 tablets (per hand) into warm water and give your hands a 'fizzy spa' for 10-15 minutes. Nail Whitening Tablets are £2.99 and includes 6 individually wrapped tablets with instructions on the back (of the packet).
2. Collection 2000 - Nail Bright (unnatural)
Just like a base coat but it is whiter so it brightens your nails. It also helps smooth the cuticle and nail surface as well as adding flexibility to weak nails. Nail bright is £2.99.
4. Soak in Lemon Juice (Natural)
Just make sure you don't have any cuts first! Lemons are a natural bleach and are used to remove stains in clothes,
as a dye for hair, a natural lightener, disinfectant etc, they are very acidic because they are pH 2 (to put that in perspective, car battery acid is pH 1) but don't worry, it won't burn your skin off or hurt in anyway... unless you have a papercut and put it in th.... OUCH! Lemons are as cheap as the supermarket prices them so shop around for the cheapest deal.
Probably the cheapest method out there, remove all nail polish and wait. This may take a long time, but be patient! It will pay off in the end, make sure you take good care of your cuticles as that is where the nail grows from (e.g. a knock to the cuticle means a white spot will be formed as the nail is growing...)
TOP 10 TIPS
1. Don't push back your cuticles! The cuticles is where the nails grow from so any damage or mis-treatment of cuticles = poor nail growth (including those mysterious white spots that appear in your nail). Don't do it!!
2. Try not to chip away your polish. I know it's tempting and I'm guilty of it too, but each time you chip there is a chance you will remove a thin layer of nail - leaving it rough and exposed!
3. Always apply a base coat. This prevent the nail polish from leeching into your nails.
4. File towards the centre of your nail! I know a lot of people say file in one direction only but I feel that filing towards my finger is damaging the nail. If you file in both directions (and I'm talking about that fast-paced filing people do along the file) you are breaking apart the nail
5. Don't bite your nails, I know it's a classic but each time you hear that "click" you have just weakened your nail. Also it looks bad!
6. Keep you nails fairly short, and I when I say short I actually mean a reasonable length. You know your nails are too long when you can no longer pick up a small thing with ease. Long nails are more likely to break which will damage the tips!
7. Remove your nail polish when it is starting to chip, you don't have to but apparently some plasticisers (large molecules in plastic) in make up + nail polish will start to leach out into their surrounding areas (if it's on you then it will be YOU!) as they break down. You might not notice at first but you will in the long term? To be honest I don't really know if this is correct or what-not but I learnt it in science the other day and thought it may be relevant... you can probably just ignore this whole point actually :p
8. Use 'acetone' free nail polish remover. Acetone is a chemical put into removers so the polish is removed faster, it seems like a good idea but the only problem is Acetone is bad for our nails! Regular use of 'acetone' remover will leave your nails dry and brittle. Brands guilty of using acetone are: Cutex...some cheap brands..ummm, I forgot the rest lets move on.
9. Take in sources of keratin (a chemical that you hair, nails and a bit of your skin is made up of.). Food high in iron-rich-protein like meat, green veggies, pulses, grain and dairy are good sources of keratin, and so is food high in vitamins (B+C) such as cereal, banana, citrus food etc.
10. Monitor your nails - not constantly but every time you cut them take a minute to notice the condition. Take note of the colour, shape etc. Do you notice anything unusual? This is a great way of keeping your nails healthy and if anything unusual does pop up, you've found it early so it will be much easier to get rid of!
Don't be surprised if some brands don't work for you - none of them did for me :( If you are one of these 'lucky' people and find you can't get the stain out with these methods, don't worry! Love your hands for what they are, use the natural 'grow it out' method and use that growing out time to spend some TLC with your hands - moisturise them, apply cuticle oil etc...you'll find that the extra care will give you stronger, healthier and less brittle nails! :D
