I started to polish my nails about 6 weeks ago. When changing polish I’ve noticed my nails getting yellower at the tips. I’ve read that the offending ingredient is nitrocellulose, which my base coat has (OPI natural nail) and probably the other coats as well (Essie, Seche Vite). My color polish is typically a light/natural pink.
So my question is, what if anything un-yellows the nails? Should I leave off the polish for N days? Filing (which I don’t really want to do as my nails are pretty thin already)?
Thanks and happy new year
Pretty much anything that removes the yellow is going to damage your nails in my experience. I’ve been growing out some serious staining since October and just covering it with colors I know won’t make it worse (for example, something like Holo Taco Play Rosé, which is like 99% glitter with almost no color in the polish). I’ve used one of the HT base coats and haven’t had staining from that either, but I do feel like it makes my polish last less time, so it’s not the best trade off.
Tbh, I’d try your polishes with no base. I’ve never gotten yellowing from lighter pinks, so you might be ok without.
try your polishes with no base
Interesting, will give it a shot. Thank you for the ideas!
Wearing no base coat may be worse, in my experience. I think some colors are just worst offenders than others, like more pigmented cremes versus glitters or jellies. I find that the yellowing sorts itself out if I e.g. wear less-staining polishes for a while, but it’s not like I’m tracking it super closely. I also find that wearing blurring base coats or opposite-toned sheers kind of evens out the staining and that’s enough for it to not bother me, but honestly. My nails are always painted so it’s not like I would even notice it 😅
That’s one of the things I read is that yellowing doesn’t really matter all that much if you’re always wearing polish – it’s not actively damaging your nails in any way. My color was pretty sheer and I was lazying it as a fake French manicure, where you could see the white part of the nail contrasting with the nail bed – but it doesn’t look as good when the nails have a yellow tinge that shows through.
Yeah, that’s true, that’s the only thing that actually bothers. I’ve started using the Essie smooth-e base coat which is quite “milky” so it sort of color corrects it enough. I think there’s bases that are specifically meant to do this, and you can probably use a sheer polish to achieve the same! All in all with what I hear about the processes to whiten the nail, color correcting is a better long term option I think
You might consider trying gel nail polish, the type that cures with a light. It’s the only type that never caused yellowing. It also tends to last a lot longer.
That’s good to know. I’ve been kind of reluctant to add more stuff so early in a new routine, and I’m on the older side so the “normal” air drying polishes I fooled around with as a teen are just more familiar and comfortable.