Nail enhancement aftercare

Whether you’re getting your nails done as a treat for a special occasion, or nail extensions are a regular occurrence for you, it’s important to consider aftercare.

Once you leave the salon, keeping your enhancements intact and looking good is up to you.

As well as keeping your enhancements looking great, good aftercare ensures your natural nails stay healthy too. Take a look below for some aftercare advice:

Get a shape and length to suit you

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when getting nail enhancements/extensions is to get a shape and length that suits your lifestyle. If you get extensions that are too long and you use your hands a lot at work, you may find they don’t last very long.

Get your refills done

Depending on your lifestyle, you’ll need refill maintenance every two to three weeks. Without regular maintenance your enhancements can become weaker and grow out.

Look out for lifting

If you spot your enhancement lifting, don’t pull or pick at it. And don’t try to repair it yourself. Go back to the salon where you got them and ask a technician to repair it. If you ignore lifting it can lead to bacterial infections, so be sure to get them attended to.

Use cuticle oil

Apply cuticle oil once a day to nourish your natural nail. Be sure to use an oil that doesn’t contain mineral oil or lanolin as these can cause lifting.

Think about your nail varnish remover

Make sure you use a non-acetone remover when taking off nail varnish as this won’t damage your enhancements.

Avoid soaking in water

Soaking your nails in water can break down the nail adhesive. This can lead the tip of the extension to become weak, making it more likely to break.

Wear gloves

When doing gardening, washing up or household cleaning, wear gloves. These will protect your nail enhancements of any chemicals that could cause damage. If you use fake tan, use gloves to avoid discolouration.

Don’t remove yourself!

You risk damaging your natural nail trying to remove your enhancements yourself. Leave this step to the professionals who will remove them safely.