Nail Polish & Nail Treatments

[WCUgirl]

Ladies of GC, I need your help!

I feel completely naked if I'm not wearing nail polish on my toes, and as a result, I wear toenail polish year-round. I decided that since it's Springtime, and I've got some cute new sandals to show off, I'm in need of a French manicure on my toes. (I usually wear deep maroons, mauves and reds.) So, after removing my nail polish, I've realized that my nails are now stained yellow from the polish!

Is there any kind of treatment that I can purchase (or a homemade one that I can concoct) that will help this yellowing to fade more quickly? I want to wear my sandals and can't walk around w/ yellow toes. I checked Sally Hansen's website, but they don't carry anything that remedies this.

Also, what products would you recommend for me to use in the future to protect my nails from yellowing (or do I need to give up my polishing habit)? I always use a basecoat to protect my nails (the one I have is Sally Hansen), but obviously the polish is still staining my nails.

Help!

[winnieb]

Use pure acetone (from the harware dept) that will remove part of yellowing.. also use a sanding block on your nails that will take the top layer off and help some too.

[annice22]

Try soaking your nails in lemon juice to help with the yellowing. Make sure you get a buffer to use on your nails.

Sorry I have no recommendation on a base coat.

[AOII_LB93]

I used to have a similar issue until I stopped polishing year round. I usually go winter months with no polish unless I decide to wear open toed shoes, then I take it off after the "event". I've read that toes need a break from polishing.

[agdbirmingham]

If at all possible I would let your nails "air out" for at least a few days if you can in between polishes. It may not take all of the yellow out but it should help a little. I've read that the yellow is caused by your nails not getting oxygen from being covered in polish. Don't know if it's true or not though.

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by agdbirmingham
I've read that the yellow is caused by your nails not getting oxygen from being covered in polish. Don't know if it's true or not though.

ICK! I'm suffocating my toenails?

Yeah, I'm a perpetual wearer of the nail polish. When I remove it, I slap it right back on. It's been that way for the past...ten years or so?

I'll try the lemon juice first - that pure acetone and sanding block don't sound very...tempting.

Thanks for the advice!

[_Lisa_]

I used to get this question all the time when I worked at Sally Beauty Supply. The best part about working there was that professionals would come in to buy our products & I could ask them what they recommend!

I wear toenail polish year round too so they get a yellow stain on them often. About every 2 months I'll bleach my toenails in a solution of 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide (3%-same stuff you probably keep @ home anyway) mixed with 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small plastic bowl. I use cotton swabs to press the "bleach" (it should be paste-like) on top of each toenail. I leave it there for about 3-5 minutes & then rinse with warm water.

I've also heard that you can soak your toenails in denture cleaner for about five minutes for a quicker fix, but I've never tried it.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally posted by alphagam-alum
Use pure acetone (from the harware dept) that will remove part of yellowing.. also use a sanding block on your nails that will take the top layer off and help some too.

I LOVE ACETONE!!

When I was TA-ing, I used to take my nail polish off with the stuff from the lab.

[cash78mere]

there is a product called SOS Bleach which is bleach designed for nails. it has that bleach smell, but it's faint. you paint it on, then wash it off after 10 minutes.

i just bought it online. i googled it and bought it from a place called "cosmetics bag" i think.

[lonestaradpi]

I dip a q-tip in water and then in my bleach bottle, swab a few nails, then wet the q-tip again with water and bleach and repeat until the nails are all done. I wear dark polish on my toes often and it helps take some of the yellow away. It hasn't killed me and I've been doing this for quite some time. Easy and simple.

[winnieb]

Originally posted by DolphinChicaDDD
I LOVE ACETONE!!

When I was TA-ing, I used to take my nail polish off with the stuff from the lab.

Acetone is the best. My husband is always getting on my case about keeping acetone under the bathroom sink, "It doesn't belong here" and I reply with "Yes it does, it is a beauty product"
Nothing works better to take of reds and other dark colors--one swipe and its gone!

[norcalchick]

try looking around at the different nail strengthenres/base coats for when you do wear polish. it helps a lot when taking off the polish, you don't get as much stain.