- Biotin 2 x a day with a meal (3,000 mcg) Nature's Bounty & a prenatal vitamin - no I'm not pregnant!! Drink plenty of water, water and more water (Strongly recommend not to take Target's brand - MUA nailboarders claim they have had serious break outs from their biotin)
- Healthy Hoof (or any cuticle cream) 2 -3 times a day massaged into cuticles
- Moisturize hands each and every time I wash my hands and massage the cuticle area with each time I moisturize and moisturize all day long
- Never wash your hair w/o np - nails are weak when they're wet - hair is strong and can split your nails
- Wear latex gloves while doing any kind of household chores
- Cuticle Oil & Heavy moisturizer at night & cotton gloves to sleep in
- File down or shape nails with a glass or crystal file w/ np on - nails are stronger w/ np on
- Use a felt square 2x2 to remove old np with Zoya Remover+
- When removing a heavy pigmented np such as green or blue use pure acetone & a latex glove so you don't end up with stained fingers
- Felt squares leave no cotton fuzz and help exfoliate the cuticles
- Soak nails in mild soapy H2O w/ baking soda, peroxide, olive oil or cuticle oil for 3-5 min
- Cuticle remover gel; Borghese or Sally Hansen, rub into cuticles, push down w/ finger
- Place hands back in to soak for 1 more minute
- Wash hands with a sugar/salt or oatmeal scrub - really concentrating on the cuticle area
- Use a nail brush to give nails and cuticles a final good scrubbing
- If you still have staining after doing all of the above - and at times you will, brush your nails with whitening toothpaste!! Trust me - it works!!
- Dry hands thoroughly, apply a moisturizer, rub nail bed down w/ acetone or alcohol
- OPI No Chip, OPI Nail Envy Maintenance, Barielle Hydrating Ridgefiller, Salon Science Instant Artificial, OPI Base Coat (wrap tips), 2-3 coats of np (wrap tips), OPI Top Coat (wrap tips), SV or Poshe or Out the Door Top Coat Speed Dry (wrap tips)
- Next day Barielle Manicure Extender (wrap tips)
DISCLOSURE:
This routine is just a recommendation and suggestion as these are just elements that work for me - your mileage may vary depending on your skin and chemical make up to reactions of certain treatments. This is just my routine and in my opinion what works for me.