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A brief history of fingernail fortification
Ancient Egyptians darkened their digits with henna, Queen Nefertiti favored ruby red, while Cleopatra was into rust. It was a unisex thing for ages, and no self-respecting Roman soldier would go into battle without his hair curled and his nails painted. But it was the Chinese who invented protective nail lacquer in fashion colors like gold, silver, black, and red.
While nail polish comes in a rainbow of colors today, history has shown that taking care of your nails involves a lot more than painting them. A good polish remover takes off the paint without damaging your nails and skin, and the right moisturizer treatments help keep cuticles soft and healthy and nails strong and resilient.
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Making the Most of Your Nails
- Nails and water don't mix. Nails can actually absorb water and get weaker. So wear rubber gloves when washing dishes and the like.
- Use a heavy hand cream several times a day, as well as both before and after getting your hands wet. Massage it in to your cuticles, pushing them back as you work.
- Never peel off polish -- part of your nail will come off with it. Apply polish in as thin a coat as possible to help prevent peeling.
- Look for cuticle removers with alpha hydroxy acid, a mild natural acid that exfoliates dead skin.
Getting Rid of Red
- When using bottled polish removers, avoid excessive rubbing. Instead, put remover on a cotton ball and press gently on the nail for about 10 seconds. This gives it a chance to soften the polish. Then use firm strokes, working outward from the base to the tip of the nail.
- Removers are drying, and the drier the nails, the more they split. So use the minimum and look for products that contain moisturizers. Nonacetone removers are a little less drying than the acetone type, although they tend to leave a sticky residue.
- If you have artificial nails or tips, don't use acetone polish removers. They'll erode the acrylic nail along with the polish.
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Emollients
Emollients can keep the moisture level inside nails balanced by forming a waterproof layer over them. Coating nails with an emollient also gives them a nice shine. Emollients cannot strengthen nails because nail material is dead.
Solvents
Nail polish removers might smell bad, but they make taking off nail polish a breeze. They dissolve nail polish easily, so you can wipe it off. There are acetone- and nonacetone-based products, but they work much the same way.
| Emollients | Ingredient | Description |
|---|
| Aloe | ? | Moisturizes nails in nail polish remover formulas. | | Beeswax | ? | In liquified form, it protects nails. Also an emulsifier. | | Lanolin | ? | Moisturizes nails in nail polish remover formulas. | | Mineral oil | ? | Included in nail polish remover formula to moisturize nails. | | Panthenol | ? | Included in nail polish remover to moisturize nails and soften skin. It's also safe. | | Vitamin E | ? | Found in nail polish remover products since it can moisturize nails and protect the skin. | | Solvents | Ingredient | Description |
|---|
| Acetone | ? | A safe and effective nail polish remover. It dries the nails, though, making them more prone to breakage, and can cause skin irritation. | | Acetonitrile | ? | Safely and effectively removes artificial fingernails by taking off the glue. Very dangerous if swallowed. | | Ethyl acetate | ? | A fruity-scented liquid that dissolves other ingredients to create nail polish remover solution. It can irritate skin and dry nails; prolonged exposure can lead to organ damage. |
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Appropriate Uses
Artificial nail remover
Softens the glue holding the artificial nail to the natural nail.
Base coat polish
Protects the nail from dyes in nail polish.
Cuticle cream
Softens and moisturizes cuticles.
Nail conditioner
Keeps nails from drying and chipping.
Nail polish remover
Removes nail polish from natural and artificial nails.
Nail polish thinner
Dilutes nail polish that has become too thick.
The Nuts and Bolts of Nails
Use nail polish removers in a well-ventilated area away from open flames. You definitely do not want to inhale the fumes or risk a fire.
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Strong Chemicals and Solvents Can Be Tough on Your Skin
- Chemical cuticle removers are highly alkaline, which can irritate hangnails and lead to cuticle infection.
- Many removers contain formaldehyde, which can cause brittle nails with long-term use and may cause the nail to begin separating from the nail bed.
- Toluene, a solvent found in some nail polishes, can cause dizziness and mental confusion
- Some people may develop contact allergy to nail polish, causing a rash on the hands, face, and neck.
Handy Hints for Nail Care
- Avoid nail nourishers if you are allergic to vitamin E oil, wheat germ oil, or any other ingredients in the products.
- Use nail polish removers in a well-ventilated area.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. Winter, R. A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Random House, Ince. New York 1994.
- 2. Michalun, N and MV Michalun. Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. Milday Pub. Co. Albany, NY 1994.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. Blumenthal, D.Artificial Nail Remover Poses Poisoning Risk. FDA Consumer. US FDA, June 1989.
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