Why do nails turn yellow? How to whiten them with varnish and pencil. Is it possible to whiten nails with lemon, soda, hydrogen peroxide. 10 effective ways to whiten nails.
Sometimes it happens that a woman once again removes her polish and discovers that her nails have turned yellow. Frustration, and that’s all! After all, hands are a person’s calling card; they are always visible.
And if the fair sex has the option to create some breathtaking nail design, thereby disguising them, for men yellowness means inevitable discomfort and embarrassment. Therefore, it is recommended to resort to one of the methods of whitening nail plates at home.
How and with what to whiten fingernails and toenails at home quickly?
The condition of the nails (their color, strength, smoothness, elasticity, etc.) reflects:
- human health status
- his habits
If the nails turn yellow, you need to look for an internal or external reason.
So, the color could be ruined by:
- nail polishes
- household chemicals
- plants and herbs (nails can have a terrible color after their owner has worked hard in the garden, pulling out weeds, for example)
- Sun
- salty water
In one of these cases, in order to restore the color of your marigolds, you need to train yourself to do housework, in the country, in the garden, and only come into contact with chemicals while wearing gloves. There is nothing to say about the fact that you need to buy only high-quality, dermatologist-tested cosmetics.
Nails turn yellow from exposure to negative external factors and health problems.
Often the cause of yellowing of the nail plates lies in a serious problem within the body. Or it becomes a consequence of a person having bad habits.
- Yellow nails are a reason to pay attention to the health of the liver, kidneys, intestines and lungs
- The color of the nail plates also changes with diabetes
- Marigolds suffer during vitamin deficiency, when the body lacks many useful substances, in particular zinc and iron.
- A change in nail color from natural whitish to yellow and even brown is a symptom of onychomycosis (nail fungus)
- The color of the nail plates is affected by taking antibiotics and some other medications
- If a person smokes or drinks coffee in large quantities, he may need to bleach his nails
IMPORTANT: If the change in nail color has a deep internal reason, any method of whitening them will be temporary. It is recommended to go to a medical facility, be thoroughly examined and treated if health problems are identified. And quitting smoking will have a beneficial effect not only on the nail plates, but also on health and quality of life in general.
Yellow nails are a symptom of onychomycosis.
What causes nails to turn yellow?
If you didn't have a poor-quality red or orange varnish on your nails (after removal they can leave a yellow tint on your nails), then the reason lies in your body. The most common causes of yellowing:
- Smoking.
- Nail fungus.
- Impending old age.
- Avitaminosis.
- Diseases of the body:
- psoriasis;
- diabetes;
- jaundice;
- sinusitis;
- arthritis;
- tuberculosis;
- thyroid diseases.
The following is a video about the causes of yellowing nails:
Whitening nail pencil: how to use?
In cosmetics stores you can find two types of whitening nail pencils:
- restorative
- for French manicure
Obviously, the first is intended for caring for nail plates, and the second is for creating nail designs.
Nail whitening pencil.
IMPORTANT: Pencils for whitening and restoring nails are made from white cosmetic clay or purified medical chalk. They have a beneficial effect on both the appearance and condition of the horny plates on the fingertips
The product is used in this way:
- There should be no coating on your nails
- Hands must be washed with soap and dried
- If hand cream was used, it should dry well
- The nail pencil should be pointed
- The point of a pencil is moistened in water
- They pass it along the free tip of the nail from the inside (not along the nail, but under it!)
- If the product gets on the skin, it is removed with a cotton swab dipped in plain water.
IMPORTANT: The pencil produces a whitening effect before the first contact with water. Plus, when washed off, it gets your hands dirty.
Other methods
To get rid of dirt under the tips of your nails after working in the garden or vegetable garden, you can use the following products:
- crush an ascorbic acid tablet, mix with water, you should get a thick paste, apply it on top of the nail and under the free tip for a few minutes;
- dissolve the soap in hot water and put your hands down, you can also scratch the laundry soap with your nails, this is a great way to whiten under your nails and get rid of dirt.
To prevent yellowing of marigolds, it is necessary to work in the garden, vegetable garden or kitchen only with household gloves.
To prevent them from becoming cloudy, it is recommended to stop smoking and make your diet more varied. Periodically remove shellac or regular polish, giving your nails a rest. Regularly take care of your body, take various baths, apply nourishing creams.
Whitening nail polish: how to use?
Whitening varnishes are produced by almost all brands that produce manicure products. They are not difficult to find, and the price range is wide. But are such varnishes really effective?
Whitening varnish.
Manufacturers claim that the use of this product produces not only a decorative, but also a restorative effect, since it contains oils, vitamins, mineral complexes, and other beneficial substances. In addition to whitening varnish:
- straightens the nail plate
- strengthens it
- adds elasticity and prevents fragility
IMPORTANT: To achieve the desired effect, it is not enough to apply the whitening varnish just once. It is necessary to “treat” it with a course of 10 days
- For the first time, the product is used on nails after a hygienic manicure.
- Apply varnish in two layers
- The product must be evenly distributed over the nail plate.
- Its drying time is 5-7 minutes
- The next day the procedure is repeated
IMPORTANT: It is not necessary to remove the medicated bleaching varnish each time before applying it again. New layers are superimposed on the previous ones day by day
Cosmetical tools
There are special whitening pencils on the market that are easy to use. Suitable for whitening under nails.
This is a quick way to whiten your nails, for example when you don't have time. It will even fit in a clutch. Therefore, it is always worth having with you and using in case of emergency.
Apply in two ways: dry and wet. Lightly moisten the tip of the pencil and run under your nails.
Plus, using under your nails will give you a French manicure effect without the need to paint your nails with polish.
Special departments sell professional nail whitening products in the form of powder or paste. These remedies are effective. Use according to instructions. True, their price is appropriate.
Optical whitening varnish will give the effect of optical whitening. Use alone or as a base for varnish. Thanks to natural ingredients such as green tea extract or evening primrose oil, it nourishes and restores nails.
Optical whitening polish is recommended for people who struggle with damaged nails with numerous discolorations.
Whitening bath for nails
Baths effectively whiten nails using three recipes:
- Salt bath. Pour 250 ml of warm water into a manicure bowl and dilute 1 tbsp in it. spoon of sea salt. You can also use regular food. It is strictly forbidden to drip iodine into it, otherwise the bath will give the opposite result. Add 0.5 lemon juice or 1 tbsp to the bath. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. The fingertips are dipped in the bath for a quarter of an hour.
- Lemon bath. Make a nutrient-whitening mixture for marigolds: combine 2 tbsp. spoons of olive oil, 2 tbsp. spoons of honey, juice of 1 lemon, 3 drops of lemon essential oil and 3 drops of grapefruit essential oil. Keep your fingers immersed in the mixture for 15-20 minutes
- Bath with chamomile. 1 tbsp. A spoonful of plant flowers is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and steamed for an hour in a thermos. Allow to cool to a tolerable temperature and immerse the marigold in the solution for 15 minutes.
Bath with lemon juice for whitening nail plates.
Be careful!
The condition of nails can worsen for a number of reasons: vitamin deficiency, aggressiveness of powders and gels, cold, illness, etc. The list of negative factors could go on for a long time, but how to repair the damage? A woman's observation and ingenuity are probably limitless - after all, someone noticed that lemon helps tidy up your nails! But few people warn that lemon therapy can not only be a salvation, but also cause harm. The juice of this fruit is quite active and excessive use of it can lead to the opposite effect, i.e. to brittleness and dryness. Therefore, it is better to do citrus baths no more than once a week, over a course of a couple of months and the same break. It is best to use lemon if your nail plates have begun to turn yellow (usually this happens with constant use of varnishes) or you think that your fingers require additional vitaminization.
We recommend combining citrus baths with other strengthening methods. First of all, think about saturating your body with calcium (fortunately, the pharmacy chain offers many options that won’t break your pocket). Your body also needs gelatin (by the way, it is sold in its purest form in all grocery stores). In general, if you ensure that the vitamin and mineral complex enters the body, then the recipes presented below will give a really good effect. Before the procedure, be sure to remove the polish - your nails should be completely clean. Degrease them. For therapy, choose a container that is comfortable for you to immerse your fingers in. Maximum bath temperature 36°C. The time allotted for manipulation ranges from 15 minutes to half an hour. Now let's get down to the baths themselves.
How to whiten nails with toothpaste?
This method can be called extreme. Dentists warn that aggressive, abrasive whitening toothpaste can destroy tooth enamel, which is the hardest tissue in the human body. What can we say about marigolds?
However, some people practice this method of whitening:
- apply a thin layer of paste to the nail plates
- wash it with a soft brush
- keep on nails for 3-5 minutes
- wash off with water
Whitening toothpaste will return your nails to a beautiful color.
IMPORTANT: This method is effective in removing coloring pigment or dirt from the nails, but does not eliminate the internal cause of their yellowing.
Prevention, treatment of yellowed-grey nail plates
Are your nails turning yellow or gray? -You have caught a fungus or other disease, or have been injured. How to treat?
- Be sure to apply disinfectant decoctions and mixtures to sore nails, and also take immunostimulating substances.
- Do not forget about prevention, because it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it.
- Wear rubber slippers in public places (baths, saunas, swimming pools).
- Do general cleaning of your apartment regularly.
- Maintain good personal hygiene and wear only your own shoes.
- If the color does not change, immediately consult a dermatologist, because self-medication in this case will only lead to complications of the disease.
But you shouldn’t get carried away with folk remedies, because self-medication can lead to complications. Before preparing the decoction, make sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Approach wisely.
How to whiten nails with citric acid?
With the help of citric acid you can cope with the problem of dullness and yellowness of nails. Here are two effective ways:
- A whitening bath for shiny nails is made in this way: 1 teaspoon of lemon acid crystals is dissolved in 250 ml of warm water. Duration of the procedure – 15 minutes
- The mask and bath are prepared separately. The mask is made from a mixture of 1 tbsp. spoons of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of citric acid. It is applied to the nails with a washcloth and worn for 5 minutes. After removing the remnants of the mask, hands are immersed in a bath with 250 ml of water, in which another 1 teaspoon of citric acid is diluted. After a quarter of an hour, polish the nails with a nail file.
Citric acid is an excellent remedy for whitening nail plates.
IMPORTANT: After using citric acid, you need to use a nourishing cream for hands and nails
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has a whitening effect. To lighten nails, hydrogen peroxide is often used in parallel with other substances.
You can mix peroxide with soda, proportions 1 to 2. The result will be a foaming paste-like mixture. When the foam stops coming out, apply it. After a few minutes, rinse with warm water.
How to whiten nails with baking soda?
In order to return the whiteness of the nails, prepare a solution of soda. Attention, soda is abrasive, so you shouldn’t get carried away with it.
- Mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of perhydrol and 2.5 tbsp. spoons of soda
- Apply the solution to your nails with a soft toothbrush or dip your fingers into the solution.
- After 10 minutes, rinse your hands with chamomile decoction
Make your nails white using baking soda.
IMPORTANT: To enhance the effect, you can add 1 teaspoon of sea or kitchen soda to the mixture, as well as 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Lack of vitamins
Vitamin deficiency is often reflected in the condition of the nails - if they turn yellow, this may indicate a deficiency:
- tocopherol - vitamin E. This vitamin regulates metabolic processes, improves the protective properties of the nail and provides sufficient hydration. To replenish the tocopherol deficiency, add fish, avocado, and spinach to your diet;
- calciferol - vitamin D. You can get it while walking in the fresh air - the vitamin is found in sunlight. Calciferol helps absorb calcium;
- ascorbic acid - vitamin C. Ascorbic acid returns healthy color to nails. Its natural sources are rose hips, black and red currants, bell peppers, parsley, white cabbage;
- biotin – vitamin B7 or H. Activates the body's protective functions, helps in the absorption of B vitamins, and also participates in the production of hemoglobin. There is a lot of biotin in beef liver, kidneys, soy, and also in many nuts.
Vitamins for nails - which ones are needed and how they affect
How and with what to whiten fingernails and toenails from yellowness?
If yellowness appears on the nails of the hands and feet due to exposure to harmful external factors or lack of vitamins, almond oil helps.
IMPORTANT: Almond oil contains vitamin E, which is known to enhance beauty. Baths and masks with it will improve the condition of the skin of the hands, soften the cuticle, and prevent the formation of hangnails
Almond oil is a remedy for yellow nails.
- A mask that removes yellowness from nails is made from undiluted almond oil.
- Add to 2 tbsp. tablespoons carrier oil 5 drops lemon ether
- Soak cotton pads in the oil mixture and carefully wipe each nail with them.
- Wear plastic gloves or special pads on your hands.
- After 20 minutes, wash off the mask with acidified water.
Diagnostics
Before treating nail fungus, you need to determine the type of pathogen. The doctor collects anamnesis, conducts an examination, and prescribes tissue scrapings, which will help determine the type of pathogen. If necessary, fluorescent diagnostics will be prescribed, which consists of examining the nail using a Wood's lamp.
After the examination and the results of the examination, the patient will be prescribed treatment.
Photo: Examination of nails by a dermatologist
How and with what to whiten nails after red polish?
To prevent red polish from spoiling the color of the nail plate, it is recommended to use a base coat before applying it, and after removing it, make an oil mask from:
- 2 tbsp. spoons of olive oil
- 3 drops lemon ether
- 2 drops bergamot ether
- 2 drops sandalwood oil
Tips for nail masks.
Oil
Castor oil has long been used to make various procedures for strengthening nail plates, straightening, and healing minor damage. This product also promotes lightening.
Apply the oil to a cotton pad and rub into the stratum corneum for several minutes. Next, remove any remaining oil with a clean cotton pad.
Option #3
Here flaxseed oil is added to lemon juice, which is enriched with unsaturated fatty acids (especially omega 3 and 6). Flax phytoestrogens provide an excellent antioxidant effect. In addition, this oil is quickly absorbed and dries quickly, leaving a thin (in our case, protective) film. The bath will be expensive, but effective. So, mix citrus juice and flax oil (5:2), put the rollers into the composition and hold for 20 minutes. Do not heat the mixture, otherwise the benefits of the oil will be reduced significantly! If such a bath does not seem too cheap to you, you can reduce costs by reducing the volume of the composition and simply lubricate the plates with it.
