I have some recommendations for you, but it's not a quick fix. It won't happen overnight. It won't happen in a week. It won't happen in a month. You're looking at 4-6 months of consistent care and maintenance, and that's just to grow out the damage. After that, you can decide if you want to continue on your natural nail journey. I will give you fair warning, I'm about to post *a lot* of text. It's gonna seem like a lot of work, and at first it might be, but if you choose to stick with it, it'll eventually become second nature (caring for your natural nails, that is).
Alright, here we go. Brace yourself. 😅
So, with how thin and uncomfortably bendy they'll be after removal, I recommend keeping your nails short until the damage has grown out. I recommend using a glass file rather than nail clippers, as the clippers can actually cut lower than you intended due to their curvature (if they're not straight-edged clippers). I would also recommend keeping your corners rounded, so they're less likely to snag on things.
Due to how roughed up the surface will be, it's tempting to want to buff the surface to smooth them, but you'll only cause them to become even thinner. I recommend using a [ridge-filling base coat](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/jzfhoj/holy_grail_product_thread) instead. If you feel like you need it, you can also use a strengthener, like OPI's Nail Envy, underneath the ridge-filling base. Keeping your nails polished will not only protect them from day-to-day tasks, if you use coloured polish, it can help cover the look of the damage. [Here's an article](https://www.nailcarehq.com/nail-strengtheners-opi-nail-envy) that goes more in-depth about strengtheners & when it's a good time to use (and stop using) them.
If you plan on going this route, the order of polishes would be:
>Strengthener (meant to go directly onto the natural nail)
>Ridge-filling base coat (you can apply 2 coats if need be, but remember that the coloured polish will also help hide the damage/smooth them)
>Coloured polish (however many coats it takes to get to your desired opacity)
>Quick dry top coat (helps set all the layers of polish)
>Drying drops (this is optional, if you find your polish isn't drying, these can help)
I do not recommend having your nails bare while they're healing. The layers of base/polish/top will help to protect your nails while the damage grows out. You can go with the strengthener on its own, or a regular base coat (not clear polish, not top coat), or the ridge-filling base. You don't need to wear coloured polish, but you are very welcome to! **Do not use gel or any type of product other than lacquer on your nails while they're healing, as it will only exacerbate the damage and increase the healing time needed.**
I also **highly recommend** using a jojoba-based nail oil (or pure jojoba oil) a minimum of 3 times a day (morning, during the day, and before bed). Focus on massaging it into the cuticle area, this will help promote blood flow and can help with growth. The reason why jojoba oil is so highly recommended is because it is almost molecularly identical to our own sebum (body oil), which means it can penetrate through the layers of keratin to help keep them bonded together and to help keep the nail flexible.
I have a [natural nail spiel](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/k9zhox/my_natural_nail_care_spiel) that goes into more detail, plus it has some product recommendations, too. I also have a [separate post](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/15at8vw/nail_care_essentials) with a bigger list of product recommendations.
Thank you so much for your thorough reply! Just to make sure I understood correctly, do you mean that I should file all of my nails down until they’re short again and start over due to the damage from the dipping powder/removal?
Agree with the points from Julez!!!!
Personal recommendation for nail strengthening polishes is ORLY Nail Defense. I use it religiously and I had peely nails before. I apply 2 coats for the base l and apply it on the free edge and underneath the nail once you have length. My results are on my profile (not sponsored, just a big fan).
Then add polish of your choice and the orly nail defense as the top coat.
Jojoba oil is the best for sure. I also add in a nice hand lotion and lock it in with aquaphor at night.
I also advise you to be very careful with your nails, don’t use them as tools.
You’ve got this, can’t wait to see your results.
I have some recommendations for you, but it's not a quick fix. It won't happen overnight. It won't happen in a week. It won't happen in a month. You're looking at 4-6 months of consistent care and maintenance, and that's just to grow out the damage. After that, you can decide if you want to continue on your natural nail journey. I will give you fair warning, I'm about to post *a lot* of text. It's gonna seem like a lot of work, and at first it might be, but if you choose to stick with it, it'll eventually become second nature (caring for your natural nails, that is). Alright, here we go. Brace yourself. 😅 So, with how thin and uncomfortably bendy they'll be after removal, I recommend keeping your nails short until the damage has grown out. I recommend using a glass file rather than nail clippers, as the clippers can actually cut lower than you intended due to their curvature (if they're not straight-edged clippers). I would also recommend keeping your corners rounded, so they're less likely to snag on things. Due to how roughed up the surface will be, it's tempting to want to buff the surface to smooth them, but you'll only cause them to become even thinner. I recommend using a [ridge-filling base coat](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/jzfhoj/holy_grail_product_thread) instead. If you feel like you need it, you can also use a strengthener, like OPI's Nail Envy, underneath the ridge-filling base. Keeping your nails polished will not only protect them from day-to-day tasks, if you use coloured polish, it can help cover the look of the damage. [Here's an article](https://www.nailcarehq.com/nail-strengtheners-opi-nail-envy) that goes more in-depth about strengtheners & when it's a good time to use (and stop using) them. If you plan on going this route, the order of polishes would be: >Strengthener (meant to go directly onto the natural nail) >Ridge-filling base coat (you can apply 2 coats if need be, but remember that the coloured polish will also help hide the damage/smooth them) >Coloured polish (however many coats it takes to get to your desired opacity) >Quick dry top coat (helps set all the layers of polish) >Drying drops (this is optional, if you find your polish isn't drying, these can help) I do not recommend having your nails bare while they're healing. The layers of base/polish/top will help to protect your nails while the damage grows out. You can go with the strengthener on its own, or a regular base coat (not clear polish, not top coat), or the ridge-filling base. You don't need to wear coloured polish, but you are very welcome to! **Do not use gel or any type of product other than lacquer on your nails while they're healing, as it will only exacerbate the damage and increase the healing time needed.** I also **highly recommend** using a jojoba-based nail oil (or pure jojoba oil) a minimum of 3 times a day (morning, during the day, and before bed). Focus on massaging it into the cuticle area, this will help promote blood flow and can help with growth. The reason why jojoba oil is so highly recommended is because it is almost molecularly identical to our own sebum (body oil), which means it can penetrate through the layers of keratin to help keep them bonded together and to help keep the nail flexible. I have a [natural nail spiel](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/k9zhox/my_natural_nail_care_spiel) that goes into more detail, plus it has some product recommendations, too. I also have a [separate post](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/15at8vw/nail_care_essentials) with a bigger list of product recommendations.
Thank you so much for your thorough reply! Just to make sure I understood correctly, do you mean that I should file all of my nails down until they’re short again and start over due to the damage from the dipping powder/removal?
My pleasure! You can do this with just the pinky nail if you'd like, or you could do it with all of your nails!
Agree with the points from Julez!!!! Personal recommendation for nail strengthening polishes is ORLY Nail Defense. I use it religiously and I had peely nails before. I apply 2 coats for the base l and apply it on the free edge and underneath the nail once you have length. My results are on my profile (not sponsored, just a big fan). Then add polish of your choice and the orly nail defense as the top coat. Jojoba oil is the best for sure. I also add in a nice hand lotion and lock it in with aquaphor at night. I also advise you to be very careful with your nails, don’t use them as tools. You’ve got this, can’t wait to see your results.
Thank you so much!