There are so many nail treatments these days that it's easy to get confused. From base coats to nail hardeners, there is a huge offer. Then, what is the difference between them?…
First of all we have to properly evaluate the nails. Are they healthy? Are they fragile? And if so, what is the cause?… Could be: . Genetics, . Health problems, . Excessive exposure to detergents and other chemicals, . Excessive abrasion (filing) between infills by an unqualified professional, or pulling material off the nails (artificial nails).
Nail hardeners are a popular treatment, but how do they work?… They usually look like a nail polish, enriched with proteins that react with the natural nails protein to create chemical bonds that will make the nails stronger. They may also contain emollient agents, ideal for brittle nails, which help balance water and lipids, essential for a healthy and balanced nail.
One of the determining factors is the chemical formula - as it is decisive for the ability of the ingredients to penetrate the nails (at a molecular level) - that is, the success of the product lies in the ability to penetrate and bind those same chemicals with the nails. Most of them contain solvents and plasticizers, and one of the most important ones is ethyl acetate. As the nails are made up of several layers, the use of a good hardener allows these micro-elements and proteins to penetrate deeply into the various layers of the nail, given their chemical similarity to the keratin composition of the nail itself.
However, there is something that we cannot forget. Nail hardeners are mostly cosmetic, and they help, but not in all cases. Because they work by overlapping layers in continuous treatments of 7 to 15 days, they end up, as I said above, by helping with the chemical bonding of the keratin of the natural nails, but do not replace the nail, that is, in the case of the nails being damaged due to poor application, or incorrect removal of artificial nails.
In short, they are good while we use them, they can and should even be used as a base coat before a manicure, but we have to be realistic about expectations: they are cosmetic products that will help while used, but they are not “miracles”, they will never replace nails damaged by excessive abrasion (filing), or by pulling the overlays consecutively from the nails that pulls back part of the natural nail in the process. That my dears, only the growth of a new nails can do it, so yes, on brittle nails, on nails that suffer from overexposure to detergents and other chemicals, they help - as long as you use them - but that's about it.
xoxo
Sandra Luz - SaL