Fingernails don’t “breathe”
Contrary to popular opinion, your nails don’t actually breathe.
In fact, my mum has been wearing acrylic on her nails constantly for 20 years, ever since I started in the industry! And her natural nails underneath the acrylic overlays are perfectly fine. Why? Beacuse her nails are not 20 years old, they are only 6 months old. Really it’s like when you have your hair coloured, it grows out and you need to keep getting the re-growth done.
Your nails don’t ever need a break from enhancements to get “air”, they are not suffocating under there, because the nail is made from dead keratin cells, the living part of the nail is under the nail plate itself, it’s called the nail bed. The nail bed underneath does need oxygen but it’s getting it already from the oxygen rich blood supply.
If you ever notice your natural nails starting to deteriorate in condition whilst having gel or acrylics done regularly, this may be that your nails need a break from the source of the damaging factor. As mentioned in my previous post, it could be from forceful removal or abusive techniques being put into practise on your nails by an underskilled, not so caring nail tech.
So if your nails are getting damaged over time they need a break from the “human” errors, not the products, remember the products don’t damage the nails at all.
Written by Christine Maher
Executive Director, CNE (Senior educator of beginner nail technicians for 12 years and Nail tech for 20 years)
