The Anatomy of a Healthy Nail: How to Spot and Treat Ridges, White Spots, and Brittle Tips
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but in my world, the nails are the windows to your health. Before we even think about picking up a bottle of HEMA & TPO -Free BIAB, we need to look at the canvas. Healthy natural nails should be smooth, consistent in colour, and flexible. If yours are looking a bit "weathered," don't panic! Most common nail issues are easily fixed with a few habit changes.
Let’s play detective and look at what your nails are trying to tell you.
1. The Mystery of Vertical Ridges
The Look: Long lines running from your cuticle to the tip of your nail.
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The Truth: Think of these like "wrinkles" for your nails. They are most commonly caused by aging or—more likely—dehydration. As we get older, the nail's ability to retain moisture decreases.
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The Treatment: You can’t "buff" these away (that just thins your nail!). Instead, use a ridge-filling base coat and commit to the Nails as Jewels habit of oiling your cuticles twice daily.
2. Those Annoying White Spots (Leukonychia)
The Look: Small white clouds or dots scattered across the nail plate.
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The Truth: Most people think this is a calcium deficiency, but that’s actually a myth! In 90% of cases, these are just "bruises." If you hit your nail against a desk or were a bit too aggressive with a metal cuticle pusher, a white spot will appear as the nail grows out.
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The Prevention: Watch your pressure! When prepping your cuticles, use a light hand with your metal pusher—you should never be "scraping" the nail plate. More importantly, never pick or peel your gel. Peeling off BIAB or polish can cause "trauma" to the top layers of the nail, leaving those white spots behind.
3. Peeling & Brittle Tips
The Look: The nail layers are separating at the tip, or the nail snaps off as soon as it gains any length.
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The Truth: This is usually "Onychoschizia" (a fancy word for dry nails). It’s caused by frequent wetting and drying of the hands or over-filing the surface of the nail.
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The Treatment: Stop using your nails as tools! Keep them "sealed" with a layer of BIAB to provide a physical shield, and always use a high-grit, soft file to shape the edges.
The "Healthy Nail" Treatment Plan
If you want to move from "brittle" to "beautiful," you need a consistent routine. Here is the Belle Beauty prescription:
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Hydrate from Within: Drink your water, bestie! Your nails are the last part of your body to receive nutrients.
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The Oil Essential: Cuticle Oil isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. It penetrates the nail plate to keep it flexible so it doesn't snap under pressure.
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Gentle Removals: The #1 cause of damaged nails is "picking" off gel. Always follow our Step-by-Step Removal Guide to keep your natural layers intact.
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Take a "Naked" Break? Not necessarily! A layer of BIAB actually protects weak nails from breaking further—just make sure you're using a HEMA-free formula if your skin is feeling sensitive.
When to See a Pro
While most spots and ridges are harmless, keep an eye out for dark streaks (brown or black lines), extreme pitting (tiny dents like a thimble), or yellowing. If you see these, it’s worth a quick chat with your GP just to rule out anything internal!
