Following in the footsteps of “clean girl” makeup and “quiet luxury” fashion, natural nails are now having a moment. Of course, polish will always be popular, but there’s been a noted cultural shift toward simple manicures lately, with an emphasis on bare, healthy nails . “Beauty trends tend to cycle between phases of maximalism and minimalism.
We’re currently in a moment of minimalism,” celebrity nail artist Sonya Belakhlef tells SELF, adding that a lot people are also tired of the upkeep (read: regular salon appointments) required to maintain intricate nail looks . That’s all fine and dandy–unless years of being a devoted gel- or acrylics-wearer have left your nails in need of some serious TLC. To be fair, it’s not that these types of manicures are damaging in their own right.
Rather, the removal process is public enemy number one. “People get impatient and end up ripping or peeling off gel polish or acrylics,” Belakhlef says—a guaranteed way to cause serious damage. Even professional removal, if done incorrectly and with overly zealous filing or scraping, can wreak havoc: Your nails are kind of like a puff pastry, made up of multiple layers that lift and flake off when they’re assaulted in this way, they explain.
All of the above can leave your tips looking, in a word, rough. “This type of damage typically results in surface irregularities like bumps and grooves, as well as peeling, splitting, and breakage,” Dana Stern, MD , a board-certif.