From Salon Cycle Damage to Strong, Healthy Nails

What causes Nail Damage?

The key to nail health is hydration of your natural nails. Your nails are primarily composed of keratin, the same protein found in your hair. The nail grows from the matrix (the area under your cuticle) and pushes forward over the nail bed (the pink area underneath your nail plate). The nail matrix is where all nail growth begins.It's essentially the factory that produces your nail. The nail bed provides support and nourishment to your nail plate, which is why keeping this area healthy is crucial for strong nail growth.

When your natural nails are constantly covered with gels, they can't exchange moisture with the environment naturally. This continuous coverage blocks your nails from breathing and receiving the hydration they need to stay flexible and strong. Over time, this leads to dehydrated, brittle nails that become prone to breaking and peeling.

(Also, the filing damage from salon gel applications is intense, technicians often need to buff and file the natural nail surface aggressively to create the rough texture needed for gel adhesion. Each removal process involves even more filing or drilling to remove the hardened gel, gradually thinning your nail plate with every salon visit. This repetitive filing weakens the nail structure and can eventually leave you with paper-thin nails that bend instead of break

Switching to Press-on Nails

After my natural nails got thin, reddish and weak, I switched to press-ons. I started wearing them about 3 weeks a month and giving my nails a week to breathe (sometimes more, depending on my schedule and hobbies).

Now within each month, I normally rotate between 3 sets, depending on my mood and my outfits . Right now I'm going for metallics, burgundies, and fall vibes.

Your Nail Strength Recovery To-Do List

1. Switch to Press-Ons Find your capsule collection and start rotating styles. Try sticky tabs for short wear and glue for longer wear periods.

2. Hydrate Between Wears If your nails are thin and need recovery, focus on moisturizing with cuticle oils and hand cream during nail-free periods.

3. Be Gentle Don't file your nail beds. Let them recover in peace.

4. Have Fun! Experiment with different styles, change your look as often as you want, and enjoy the road back into nail health.

Ready to start your nail recovery journey? Explore our collection of reusable press-on nails designed to keep your style game strong while your natural nails heal.