In today’s article, I’m covering a new method to quickly help combat dry skin and nails.

As many of my loyal readers know, I like to test new things on myself before writing articles for you.

One of my best friends with really dry skin started doing an overnight hydration treatment with our Bliss Kiss™ Simply Pure™ oil and Simply Sealed™ lotion stick. She wouldn’t stop raving about her results. I was suddenly intrigued.

I’ve been testing this intensive treatment several times when my nails are feeling drier than normal—this winter was tough for many of us!

I have to say, I’ve been really pleased with the results. My dry skin is gone and my nails are full of oil.

How do I know? The tips turn transparent! I explain this more in my article about whether clear fingertips are healthy.

When I originally wrote this article several months ago, I titled it an “Overnight Hydration Treatment”.

I have since done the intensive treatment for shorter periods of two to four hours and have named it a “Mini-Hydration Treatment”. I usually do a mini in between manicures.

Although my tips didn’t become as transparent as an overnight treatment, I still love the results.

What You Need

• Naked nails
• An Intensive Hydration Kit
  • A jojoba wax ester based oil blend (like Bliss Kiss™ Simply Pure™)
  • A “balm” type of lotion (no water in the ingredient list) Simply Sealed™
  • Nitrile or latex gloves

Directions

For more detailed instructions and videos about my Ultimate Nail Care Routine, click here.

• Liberally apply nail oil to nails and skin surrounding your nails. Be sure to add a little extra to the really dry skin patches
• Apply your favorite “balm” type of lotion to your hands. You don’t want anything with water in the ingredients or it will cause excess sweating
• Apply nitrile or latex gloves
• Let your body warmth do the work to help the ingredients penetrate faster.

I often do a mini-hydration treatment for a few hours while watching a movie, gardening, doing household chores, etc. 

Many people, myself included, have done the treatment overnight. For me, the first night was a little more restless, since sleeping with the gloves was a new sensation for me.

I did not have trouble sleeping with future treatments.

What To Expect With an Intensive Hydration Treatment

The results I experienced seem kinda’ obvious, but my skin felt lovely and soft when I woke up. I expected my skin to be all wet and sweaty. And that just didn’t happen.

But more than the super soft skin, the greater surprise was seeing that the overnight hydration made my nail tips transparent. It looked similar to when your nails absorb water in the shower or bath.

But this felt completely different. Instead of my nails feeling flat, soft, bendy and in danger of tears like they would after taking a long shower, my nails felt strong while being flexible.

The transparency was only partial, starting from the tips and moving back toward the fingertip skin. Our free edge has 3 sides that absorb the oil; top, bottom and tips. You can see this in the photo to the right.

My C-curve remained the same. When your nails absorb water in the bath or shower, the nails become overly soft and flatten. When the water evaporates, your nails return to their normal shape.

With this intensive treatment, the transparency didn’t go away. Applying polish trapped the oil into my nail plate. I can continue to see the transparency if I paint my nails with only base coat.

The results for people vary. Some people see very little transparency while others will have completely transparent tips. 

Why is this? I believe it has to do with the thickness or thinness of their nail plates. Just know that your results will be great!

What Does This Mean?

From my experience and research, transparent nails after an intensive hydration treatment means that the nail plate has absorbed the oil through all of the layers.

The reason you can see your pink nail bed through your nail plate is because the nail bed is constantly pushing the perfect blend of about 18% water and 5% body oil up through the nail plate.

When your nail tips grow past your fingertips, the nail is no longer being nourished with this moisture blend. Your tips dry out and turn a white or yellowish color.

Side Note: Yellow tips don’t always mean your health is compromised or you are a smoker. For those of us obsessed with polish, we can blame our yellow staining on the wonderfully deep colored polishes we wear.

I have found the intensive hydration treatment for dry skin and nails to be really effective in getting my nails and skin back on track when I’ve been neglecting a normal oiling routine.

I’m looking forward to hearing about your results if you try this. You can email me through our contact page at http://www.myblisskiss.com/contact/

Remember, if you need more detailed instructions and videos about my Ultimate Nail Care Routine, click here. You can also join me and other amazingly supportive Blissettes in the Blissette Nail Bar on Facebook.

Here’s to your longer, stronger nails and kissing dry skin goodbye!

Featured Bliss Kiss™ Products

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The post Dry Skin – Intensive Hydration Treatment first appeared on Nail Care Headquarters.

See Through Nails – Can I Fix It?

ASK ANA

“I have a bit of a question. I’ve had this transparency in my nails for years. I read your article about what can cause them to be transparent. I’m following your advice, but it doesn’t appear to be improving.

But even when avoiding water, mine never went away.

I used to use metal files to clean under my nails and sometimes was a bit aggressive. Could that have damaged my nails?

I’m including a picture of the transparency (below). I used a pink cuticle stick to show how bad it is.

Photo Used with Stephanie’s Permission

It’s like this on most of my nails and I hate it since at times it makes my nails look dirty and dingy even when they are perfectly clean. Is this something that will correct over time?

I’ve been using nail oil and have seen dramatic results in my nails already. I hope that in time, things will heal. Thanks!” ~Stephanie

ANSWER

Ok, just to warn you…I’m about to get into some very geeky nail terms.

I’m going to throw around some big words that most people wouldn’t bother publishing because they think you’re not smart enough.

But I believe, if you are truly seeking the truth about proper nail care, then you are smart enough to learn the right words.

Just like a toddler can learn that the proper name for a “binkie” is pacifier, I know you can learn the correct definition of the parts of the nail and surrounding skin. It feels empowering to “know” what you’re talking about.

I have done my best to include labeled macro shots to help you understand.

The Guardian Seals

We have four guardian seals which keep bacteria and germs away from sensitive live tissue under and around our nails.

Three guardian seals are easily seen; the two side wall lateral nail folds and the proximal fold of the eponychium (“cuticle” line).

The fourth guardian seal is under your nail where the nail leaves the skin of your pink nail bed and becomes your nail tip. This is also known as the free edge.

Mirror Images

Two of the guardian seals are very similar in structure but are opposites; the Eponychium and Hyponychium (epp-uh-NICK-ee-um and hip-uh-NICK-ee-um)

The Eponychium

CLICK FOR MORE DETAIL

What most people think of as their “cuticle” is actually the “proximal nail fold of the eponychium“.

Proximal is a medical term meaning nearest—since it is the nearest skin to your nail plate.

As you can see in the photo of my nails to the right, the proximal nail fold should be a nice tight band of skin sealed to the nail plate.

The eponychium covers the newly forming natural nail plate with a protective roof of living skin.

The matrix is where new nail cells are created and is located behind the proximal fold.

Depending on the size of your matrix, your eponychium extends to approximately 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch behind your proximal nail fold.

Extreme cuts, nicks, bruises, irritating substances, or other injuries to the eponychium can cause permanently lost or damaged nails plates.

The most common injuries I see to the proximal nail fold are “nipping” or “extreme pushing“.

It is actually possible to push your proximal nail fold so hard that it wraps under itself, causing inflammation and possible infection because it’s no longer attached to the nail plate.

It breaks my heart when I see this red irritation in nail blogger’s photos.

Since the thin skin of the proximal nail fold dries out quickly, it is easily—and incorrectly—assumed to be un-necessary.

There is nothing that is FARTHER from the TRUTH.

When this skin dries out, the best solution is to keep it moisturized with a continuous, thin layer of high quality, jojoba wax ester based nail oil. This might mean that you’re applying the oil every few hours.

The Hyponychium

CLICK PHOTO FOR MORE DETAIL

Since the Eponychium is the guardian seal on top of the nail plate, the Hyponychium is the guardian seal below the nail plate.

Please refer to the photo to the right, so I don’t completely confuse you.

The hyponychium prevents infectious germs and bacteria from getting underneath your nail. If this seal is broken, the nail plate may lift away from the pink nail bed and dramatically increase the risk of infection. [Source: Nail Structure and Product Chemistry, Doug Schoon]

Healthy VS Cleanliness

To all of my germa-phobe readers—I’m about to turn your world upside down.

In the world of nails—cleanliness is NOT next to Godliness.

Does this mean you should run around with a bunch of “who knows what” under your nails?

NO!

BUT… there is a fine line . . .

Clean VS Dirty

You can have clean nail tips by using a nail brush regularly, yet they can still “look dirty”, especially in the corners.

Personally, I deal with this every week.

The dirt of life continually “settles” into the corners of my nail tips even though I clean them with a nail brush daily.

Does this mean you and I have poor hygiene? NO!!!!!

Some people also have “off-white” nail tips. They may look yellow. Sometimes this can be caused by health issues, age, or simply genetics.

And we can’t forget the most common reason for yellowing nails—wearing nail polish. The pigments stain the top few layers. It’s no big deal, but so many people freak out about it.

Metal and Matter Don’t Mix

Digging out the dirt with metal file points puts too much pressure on the hyponychium skin and WILL cause it to recede. It’s a similar effect that nail biters experience. The more they bite the nail past the hyponychium, the more it’s forced to keep receding to protect the nail bed.

I don’t think it’s necessary to dig out the dirt if the hyponychium is going to pay the price. There are other solutions.

Stephanie, if you just recently stopped using a metal file, then your see through nail tips could be because of aggressive cleaning with the point of a metal file.

The good news is that the hyponychium will return to it’s normal position when given several months to heal by leaving it alone. Make sure you’re applying your nail oil to the hyponychium to keep the skin soft and help it heal.

Are See-Through Nail Tips Bad?

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE DETAIL

Like I mentioned in a previous article, I don’t think clear spots in tips is necessarily a bad thing.

As you can see in the image to the right of my nails, I constantly have clear spots in the inside corners of my nail tips.

Although I’m not a doctor or a dermatologist, I’ve spent a lot of time learning and thinking about what happens to our nails as we live our lives.

The inside corners (near the sidewall nail folds) of our nails take A LOT of stress.

They’re constantly getting pulled, pushed, and jammed while we open and close various doors, turn knobs, pull handles, push and pull fabric, open and close boxes, etc.

These forces can cause the nail plate to pull away from the hyponychium.

This is also the same area where we usually get hard skin calluses too.

Like I explained in a previous article, the edge of your nail is continually cutting into that skin. You can see this really clearly in my photo to the right. Any time you put pressure on your finger tips to pick anything up, that nail edge digs into the skin.

The body’s only protection mechanism is to create calluses. Nail oil is also very important in preventing the calluses from drying out.

Drying Out Takes Time

Once the nail tip has pulled away from the hyponychium, it doesn’t turn white right away.

While your nail plate is on the pink nail bed, it is being nourished with a continuous flow of moisture and sebum (body oil). This keeps the nail cells transparent.

When the nail plate leaves the nail bed, it slowly starts to dry out and become white (or off-white). Just as an autumn leaf takes time to lose it’s moisture and become crispy—so does the free edge.

Do You Wick?

The other idea, which I see more in your nails, Stephanie, is that perhaps the moisture and sebum from the nail bed is wicking out into your free edge.

Even though the nail plate has past the hyponychium, it’s possible that they are still receiving the moisture which keeps that portion clear.

This may be especially true if your nails have this clear band all the time.

If see through nail tips is a situation that just started with no apparent cause, then it might be time to visit your doctor.

Solutions

To keep your nail tips clean, use a nail brush when you feel they are dirty. It is not necessary with every hand washing, but should be done at least once a day.

We don’t have to clean our hands and nails excessively like we are a doctor “scrubbing in” for surgery.

It simply dries out your skin and nails more, forcing you to need to constantly apply more nail oil.

Dealing With the Dirt

I usually don’t notice the dirt in my corners until I remove my manicure each week. 

I have a similar problem with the corners of some of my nails collecting fine dirt. Try to use only a stiff nail brush to clean under your nails with water.

If I still have dirt in the corners, then I will use a small makeup brush or art brush saturated with water, acetone or rubbing alcohol to get into those corners. You’ll have to see which one works better for you.

I’ve found cleaning the underside with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip brand cotton swab to be very helpful when preparing to polish my nails.

Also, using the Fab 5 Polish Wrap—2 basecoat wraps, 2 color coats, and 1 topcoat wrap—really helps keep the dirt away. Dirt just doesn’t stick to polish the way it does to the natural nail.

Cover Up

Since you’ve had this your entire life Stephanie, then it’s just the way your nails are. Since we’re all different, sometimes it can be frustrating when nature hasn’t blessed us with “picture perfect nails”.

Of course you can always cover your nails with colored polish.

You can also use polishes to “recreate” the natural look you are looking for.

This is something that my Mom has started doing since she has always had “very off-white” tips. After sampling every white and french pink polish I own, she was able to find the perfect combination. That’s a good perk when you’re related to a polish nut. 😀

Ophilie at Tartofraises has created a great video showing how to do a soft french manicure to make your nails look “more natural”.

For you Stephanie, I would recommend a more solid pink tone over your basecoat, then the white on the tips.

Hope this helps! ~Ana

If you liked this article . . . please share!

The post See Through Nails – Can I Fix It? first appeared on Nail Care Headquarters.

By the end of this article you will understand…

1. What the things are that cause nails to turn clear
2. And it might not be an indication that something bad is happening

ASK ANA

“Hi Ana! I have a question for you…What does it mean when you put Pure™ Nail and Cuticle Oil on and the free edge is practically transparent..I.E-the white is gone and you can see the tip of your finger behind the nail through it?” ~Kim

ANSWER

There are many factors that can cause the free edge of your fingernails to be clear. Figuring out how clear fingernails happens can get complicated, so I will do my best to keep it simple.

The most important thing to know is … that your nail plate is made of translucent keratin protein.

The Healthy Nail Plate

Translucent keratin protein—yep, the healthy nail plate is supposed to be semi-transparent. 

The pink area you see on your nails is actually the life nourishing, nail bed BELOW the nail plate. The nail bed provides a constant flow of moisture and oil through the nail plate.

Your fingernail is produced in the matrix right behind your eponychium, (cuticle line). The lunula (small moon) is the only visible part of your matrix. Not all fingers have a visible lunula.

The reason the lunula is a different color is because those are the keratin nail cells that are plump and still alive. Most people can see the lunula on their thumbnails.

As soon as those keratin cells pass the lunula area, they die. They dry out, loose their opacity—becoming translucent, and flatten becoming the 50’ish layers of keratin cells that make up our “fingernails.”

The color of the free edge that extends past your fingertips depends on how much of the inner cell material stays in the nail plate cells as they continue to grow forward on the nail plate.

Usually, they are fairly clear just as they move past the fingertip, then turn white because they aren’t being ‘hydrated’ by a continuous upward flow of body oil and moisture from the nail bed.

Are White Tips Healthy?

So—if your nail tips (free edge) are turning white, it’s because your nails are drying out and the whiter they are, the more dried out they are.

This makes me wonder if we’ve got it all backwards. Is the reason white tips are so highly coveted because our society has never known how to properly rehydrate their nails? Is it better to have clear fingernails? Read on…

Are You Average?

Genetics, your health, and natural nail thickness are important parts in determining what color your nail turns as it leaves the fingertip.

The average number of keratin layers people have is about 50 layers in their fingernails (100 for toe nails). A person with 40 layers may have tips that stay more transparent. A person with 60 layers is going to have more layers to keep hydrated, and if they don’t, the tips become whiter.

Once you’ve properly rehydrated your nails with a jojoba wax ester nail oil, that’s the color your nails are supposed to be. They could be completely translucent, or be partially white with spots or bands of translucency, or fully white.

All are normal.

It’s not necessarily bad to have clear fingernails, as long as it’s not from too much water.

Biggest Cause of Clear Fingernails

Photo of clear fingernails used with permission from LoodieLoodieLoodie

Water

The photo to the left from LoodieLoodieLoodie after she enjoyed a crab feast, shows that continuous contact with water can make your nails transparent. Also washing your hands dries out your skin and strips oil from your nails.

There are many microscopic channels that make it easy for the nail plate to absorb large quantities of water. A normal nail plate can hold 1/3rd it’s own weight in water!

Water is able to pass BETWEEN the keratin cells but also THROUGH the flattened cells. Nails that have been soaking in water become overly soft, overly flexible and tear easily. You can easily see that your nails have absorbed too much water because you have clear fingernails.

Healthy nails have about 18% water. But too much moisture can weaken the nail plate by separating the keratin layers leading to serious peeling and splitting problems.

Solutions

1.  Oil

Since we all need to wash our hands and bathe, to fight the water’s effect on your nails, rehydrate them with a high quality, jojoba wax ester based nail and cuticle oil.

Check out our Mini/Overnight Hydration Process to give your nails a quick boost of hydration.

Here are what my nails look like after an overnight hydration. Note that the oil has fully penetrated the layers of my nails, making them look semi-transparent. That is a GOOD thing!

2. Gloves

Learn to love gloves. I know many of you hate them, but realize that for various reasons you have “decided” to hate them. If you want healthy, beautiful nails, then you need to “decide” to love gloves.

Wear cotton gloves while doing dry housekeeping.

Wear dish gloves for as much wet housekeeping as possible; dishes, laundry, heavy cleaning. Cut back on your contact with soaps and detergents. A pair of nitrile or latex gloves combined with a good quality jojoba-based oil is the perfect way to both protect your nails and skin from water and other chemicals while giving your nails and skin a wonderful mini-hydration treat!

3. Polish

Nail polish is a strong protective barrier between your nail plate and water. Nail polish doesn’t eliminate water absorption but it slows it down significantly. Just make sure you are completely wrapping your base coat and top coat around your free edge.

Nail Polish Removers Cause White Tips

I know I’m stating the obvious, but polish removers are very drying to your nails. If you love polish then you have to love removers. But most of you don’t. You fear acetone.

Why? Because someone in the nail industry who wanted to create another removal product had an excellent public relations department who brainwashed us into thinking that non-acetone is less drying.

We bought into the lie.

The truth is that acetone and non-acetone ingredients (ethyl acetate & methyl ethyl ketone) are solvents. They dissolve stuff that water can’t dissolve. Nail polish needs a solvent.

According to scientific information, acetone is slightly safer than ethyl acetate & methyl ethyl ketone.

And acetone dissolves polish faster! You want to use the product that dissolves lacquer faster because it’s LESS drying.

Solutions – Work With the Acetone

If acetone is going to dissolve nail polish, then it’s going to dissolve the oil in your nails. Acetone also evaporates extremely fast, taking your nail’s moisture with it. This seriously whitens nail tips and makes them very brittle. The solution is to remove polish quickly and then take some time rehydrating your nails with a little water and a lot of oil before your next manicure.

Apply oil before removing polish

1. BEFORE removing polish, cover the skin around your nails with an inexpensive oil from your kitchen. Let the acetone work on that oil instead of your skin’s oils.

2. Use my Soak and Swipe™ of removing polish with one cotton ball. (Video above)

• Open the cotton ball into one long piece and cut it into sections that will fit on your nails.
• Dip one piece of cotton in acetone.
• Lay that piece on your nail, pressing it into the lacquer.
• Apply manicure clip to nail
• Repeat the process with the remaining 4 fingers.
• Then return to the first finger, remove the clip, firmly grip the cotton and pull the polish off. It should completely wipe off.
• Repeat with remaining 4 fingers.
• Repeat all above steps on your other hand.

4. Rehydrate your nails with a jojoba based nail oil. Keep reapplying oil when your nails feel dry for 2 to 8 hours.

5. When you’re ready to polish your nails again, follow the directions on my Fab 5 Polish Wrap article.

In Conclusion

Now you’ve learned the external causes of clear fingernails, you can make a choice.

You now have more information to discover what your healthy nails look like and to keep them that way.

Perhaps having clear fingernails isn’t such a bad thing.

The post Clear Fingernails – Is It a Bad Thing? first appeared on Nail Care Headquarters.