Hello CaloSpa friends. My name is Dee and I am a certified nail technician here at the lovely CaloSpa Rejuvenation Center in Louisville, Kentucky. I wanted share three of the most common asked nail questions I get when seeing my clients for their routine manicures.
1). Is it true that you should only file your nail in one direction?
Yes, you should always file in one direction when shaping the nail. Nails are made up of dead cells that flatten as they grow out. These flat cells form into the layers of the nail. That’s why you will see a nail chip or peek at the free edge; it has a layer that has loosened or lost its seal. If you file back and forth, you will weaken the free edge, which encourages peeling and chipping. It’s important to make sure that you aren’t using a file that’s to coarse; the lower the grit number on the file, the more coarse it is. A rough file will rip up those layers. If you need to shorten the length trim the nail with clippers first. But, the best way to shorten the nail is to gently file back and forth, stopping short of the actual length you want, and then finish by filing in one direction.
2). What causes white spots on the nail?
There are several causes of white spots on the nail, few of which are problematic. For whatever reason, people believe that white spots are due to a vitamin deficiency, which is not necessarily true. Most commonly, white spots appear if there was trauma to the nail when it was developing, meaning that a small “bang” to the end of your finger can result in a small white spot as the nail grows out.
Another common case comes from wearing the same lacquer for more than three to four weeks; it can cause portions of the nail plate to become white and friable. These white areas are called keratin granulations and will eventually grow out without any long term consequences; however, they can cause the nail plate to be susceptible to fungal invasion if not properly cared for.
Less common are beau’s lines, which are horizontal indentations that appear white. They’re a result of sudden halt in nail plate production and are caused by trauma, illness and severe stress. Or, white spots that have a powdery consistency can be the result of a fungal infection. If you think you might have a fungus, visit your doctor for treatment.
3). What is the best way to remove glitter?
I absolutely love glitter polish but it can be so difficult to remove! If you’re already wearing glitter polish; place acetone- soaked cotton all on top of each nail and wrap the nail with aluminum foil. The foil keeps the acetone from drying out and speeds up the removal process. Whenever I don’t have foil with me, I will first use a file or buffer to toughen up the glitter and then I’ll use remover to fully take off the polish. Just be careful not to file away your natural nail! If you haven’t yet applied the glitter varnish, I recommend applying a peel off base coat first. It allows you to peel off the color without using any remover.
Thank you for reading my blog. If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask and as always relax, rejuvenate, and renew.
CaloSpa Nail Technician – Dee Miller
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