Discolored nails

Marebear54 · ‎01-15-2012

I know this has probably been posted before, but I really need help to whiten my nails because I just got a job in the medical field where polish is not appreciated. I have tried lemon juice, whitening toothpaste, products from a beaty supply house and have gotten zero results. I have always used a base coat, but to be honest, I have worn colored polish for over 20 years!! Thanks for any further suggestions!

Trudey · ‎03-11-2010

Try soaking your nails in Efferdent denture cleaner. It won't harm your nails and helps to remove the yellow staining.

January121 · ‎03-21-2010

How about making a solution a Clorax & water and soaking your nails for a few minutes each day .... OR .... try a solution of Dawn dishwashing liquid with water & soak your nails .... don't put any polish on your nails ... let them breath & just by washing your hands your nails will, over time, return to normal.

I just thought of something else ...... go to a nail salon & ask them if they can do gel nails over your nails in a natural color .... good luck in your new job!!!!

ladyroxanne · ‎03-09-2010

i tried the clorox and water solution myself and it did the trick. you just have to be careful not to soak too long.

Fressa · ‎03-20-2012

I saw a difference with the lack of yellowing when I started using A.S.K. polish remover and Perfect gel coat in pink. I saw a great improvement. If all polish is prohibited then I would try the everdent tip.

2zbeach · ‎03-11-2010

I use Zoya Naked Manicure system. It has four steps: base coat,color correcting polish( 2 coats), white for tips,and topcoat. There are colors to perfect the discoloration/ yellowing of your nails. I think lavendar is the best for yellowing. When you are done,it looks like you've had a manicure. On me,it wears like iron,and You don't see chips at all. Good luck.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

I had this problem for the first time in August and September! My nails are usually very strong, and they grow long by themselves. I almost always do my own manicure, and I like to "play" with polish. This past summer I got a gel manicure for vacation, had that one taken off about 4 weeks later and had another one put on right after for a wedding weekend. About 4 weeks later when they took it off and gave me a regular manicure, everything seemed fine. THEN I tried to do them myself. My nails were a mess. They were yellow, splotchy, and breaking like crazy. I did some research here and on other sites, and the bottom line was - I cut them short and went without polish for a while. I've NEVER done that! But after about 2 weeks they cleared up. I was using a buffer on them. Because they're shorter I've been using lighter nude colors on them, and when I take the polish off, my nails look great. I'm back to my routine of Essie's protein base coat, two coats of color, and Essie's non-yellowing base coat (that has sunscreen in it),

So if all else fails, buy a buffer (I got mine at Sephora and it was inexpensive), and let your nails go polish free. Good luck - and congratulations on your new job!

ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

@2zbeach wrote:
I use Zoya Naked Manicure system. It has four steps: base coat,color correcting polish( 2 coats), white for tips,and topcoat. There are colors to perfect the discoloration/ yellowing of your nails. I think lavendar is the best for yellowing. When you are done,it looks like you've had a manicure. On me,it wears like iron,and You don't see chips at all. Good luck.

She can't wear polish at her new job. Many roles in the medical field don't allow polish.

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ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

@Marebear54 wrote:
I know this has probably been posted before, but I really need help to whiten my nails because I just got a job in the medical field where polish is not appreciated. I have tried lemon juice, whitening toothpaste, products from a beaty supply house and have gotten zero results. I have always used a base coat, but to be honest, I have worn colored polish for over 20 years!! Thanks for any further suggestions!

Since you need to remove existing stains, you should buff them. Get a 3-4 step buffing block (or that Emjoi thing) and use the sides to smooth and polish the nail. Buffing with the smoothing side removes the top layer of nail and the stains along with it. You don't want to do that often because it makes the nails thin, but you can do it occasionally. After that, use the shining side of the buffing block, which you can do much more often.

Polish, even clear polishes, can stain nails so if you don't use any, you should see less staining. (Unless you're a smoker, in which case stains will come back.

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