I'm never not bemoaning the state of my once-glorious nail beds. Getting acrylics in the Deep South on holiday five years ago was perhaps the biggest beauty-related mistake of my life, as removing those inch thick gels required not one but six passes with the drill. To cover up the mess underneath, I committed to getting a manicure every two weeks for the following year. The result was flattened nail beds, which were peeling, brittle, and unable to grow.
However, this time last year, I decided enough was enough, and went cold turkey on the salon, instead opting for restorative, at-home treatments. It's been a process of trial and error, but generally speaking, my nails are in much better condition, and are (touch wood) growing long and strong. I chalk this up to several things—treatment products and not getting gels—but I think the change that made the biggest difference was the most simple: cuticle care.
