The danger with keeping your nail polish on too long is that the pigment in the nail polish can soak into the top few layers of the nail and dry it out, Dr. Rowland says. When that happens, fungus, yeast, bacteria, mold and mildew can develop underneath the nail plate, which can lead to long-term problems.
"Leaving your nail polish on for too long can dry out the nails, leaving them brittle," says Dr. Curry. "Thin, brittle nails pose a health hazard because the nail is a barrier to keep out bacteria and fungus."
In short, the answer is no. But there are caveats. Nails don't need surface access to air because they get oxygen and nutrients from your blood. Keeping nails hydrated is important if yours are prone to breakage, and a pause in polishing to moisturize would help.
“Nails do not need to 'breathe,” says Dr. Dana Stern, an NYC dermatologist and nail specialist who also has her own line of nail care products and polishes. “This is a myth! Nails receive their nutrients, oxygen, and blood supply from the blood stream and not from the air.”
“If you consistently wear nail polish, your nails may become susceptible to what's known as keratin granulation,” Mahalli notes. Keratin granulation is caused by nail polish drying out the nail beds, which can lead to keratin clumping together and forming white spots or stains on your nails.
“When you remove nail polish that's been left on too long, you'll often see white spots, which means your nails are too dry.” How to break it: Choi advises removing your nail polish when it starts chipping. Same goes for pedicures, which should be removed after two to three weeks. Give your nails a chance to breathe!
"If you apply more than three coats in one sitting, the application will be prone to clumping off in one piece, almost like a shell" she says. "Even if you allow each coat to dry before applying the next, it is really just the surface of the nail that dries.
Wearing regular nail polish isn't going to harm your healthy nails (although you probably should give your nails a break on the polish periodically.) However, applying gel or acrylic nails requires the use of direct UV light onto your skin, which is known to cause skin cancer.
A basic manicure, with the right polishes, is the healthiest for your nails. When we say the 'right polishes' we mean the best nail growth polish or breathable nail polish. The harsh chemicals in many polishes often degrade our nails. Using an organic polish that contains vitamins, is the best way to avoid damage.
But always having polish on your fingers, or changing colors weekly, can end up weakening your nails, leading to dryness, discoloration, and even breakage. And, sadly, not even perfectly applied color can mask these issues, let alone fix them.
You should change a gel polish at least every three weeks, while acrylics can last 2 months.
Another reason the SNS procedure tends to weaken nails is the removal process. This is an inflexible product, so any breaks or lifting usually takes your own nail with it! People prone to picking or removing can also peel away layers of their own nails with the product.
If after removing your toenail polish, you see these white chalky patches then in most cases it is a condition called keratin granulation. These occur from constant polish wearing. This is not a fungus but can look much like it and can trigger a fungus so it is important to treat it.
Many people love traditional nail polish because it can easily be applied at home, without any extra equipment. Regular nail polish is easy to apply and remove, so you can change the color as often as you'd like.
Wearing polish too often can actually weaken your nail beds. While naked nails can make you feel, well, naked, it's important to take breaks once in a while to let them “breathe.” A good rule of thumb is to go au naturel anytime you start to notice excessive peeling, dryness or chipping.
OPI has a thick formula that glides effortlessly over nails but has great coverage that doesn't necessitate lots of coats, even in the lighter shades. It is more chip resistant than the other at-home brands and doesn't damage the nails underneath.
What is a Russian manicure? For the uninitiated, a Russian manicure is a dry manicure, so no soaking in water is required. The technique consists of very precise cuticle work, often involving a nail drill and other special equipment to clean and remove excess skin around the nail bed.
The best nail color for short nails is a light or neutral color such as white, or nude. These colors will make your nails look neat and elegant without overwhelming them. If you want to add a bit of flair, you can also opt for blue, red, or even rainbow nails.
The average time for your natural nail to grow out completely from the cuticle to the tip of the nail can take anywhere from four to six months. This is a long time to refrain from manicures or using polish, so we recommend taking a three to four week break between nail appointments.
"It helps your cuticles, keeps your hands and nails hydrated, and works better than callus removal if you put it on your feet and wear socks overnight," says Nguyen. "The best part is that it's affordable and probably already in your medicine cabinet!" she adds.
Gel and shellac manicures are chip resistant and lasting, but they can also cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking.
If it is a low grade, store-bought nail polish that has chipped, you can simply paint over it with the same color. If it is gel, there are two main options. The first option is that you can buff the nail surface to break down the top layer. This is to help the new coat you're going to apply stick better.
The theory behind this application is that the vinegar will clean the surface of the nail (again without striping natural oils) and the polish will last longer.
The danger with keeping your nail polish on too long is that the pigment in the nail polish can soak into the top few layers of the nail and dry it out, Dr. Rowland says. When that happens, fungus, yeast, bacteria, mold and mildew can develop underneath the nail plate, which can lead to long-term problems.