Ask our editor: your most pressing nail questions answered

Brows? Check. Blow dry? Check. Nails? Check. Whether you plump for long, glossy red talons or favour a more classic French set, good nails are one of our favourite finishing touches. And while we all want nails that make us feel like we’ve got our beauty game down pat, sometimes it can be a confusing (and dare we say it, stressful) issue. To help answer your burning nail questions and allay your fingertip fears (nail biters, we’re talking to you), we asked manicurist Michelle Humphrey, who has tended the nails of celebs such as Madonna, Katy Perry and Rita Ora, to give us the lowdown on everything from tears to gels…

• 1 How can you repair a natural nail with a split from cuticle to tip?  

  Growing our nails out to an even, uniform length is definitely one of our #goals, so it’s especially irksome when one of them tears. Aside from seething inwardly, the good news is that there is something you can do: ‘Create your own silk wrap by using a dry teabag and some nail glue,’ says Michelle. ‘Simply cut open an unused tea bag and empty out the contents. Cut out a small piece of the teabag to cover the section of the break (don’t go too large as it will dry with bumps) apply glue to the broken part of nail and stick the paper over, sealing it with more glue. Gently buff the area when it’s dry to smooth it out, and add a layer of top coat to help keep the nail together.’ If you can’t get your hands on any tea bags then Michelle recommends popping into your local salon and asking them to apply hard gel or acrylic to the break just until it grows out. Once it has, remove the product to avoid any long-term damage.
• 2 I bite my nails, can I still get gel nails done?

  Nail nibblers, you’re in luck! Aside from disguising any ravaged edges that nail biting leaves behind, gel polish can be an effective deterrent. ‘I have found that gel manicures can help break the biting habit and encourage healthy nail growth,’ says Michelle. If they’re really short ask your technician about hard gel formulas that act a bit like acrylics to add structure to your natural nails.
• 3 How long should gel nails last?

  To get a rough idea of how long your nails will last, ask your technician if it’s a pure gel they’re applying or a gel/polish hybrid  the formula will determine how much wear you get out of them. ‘The hybrids usually max at around 12/14 days, whereas a pure gel polish can stay on for anything up to 3 weeks,’ says Michelle. If you find your gel nails come off after a few days (and you’re going to a reputable salon and you’re definitely absolutely not picking them off…), it could have something to do with the quality of your natural nails. ‘For those prone to poor nail quality, I would recommend having an IBX Repair nail treatment alongside your gel manicure, which is an add on treatment that improves and strengthens nails from within,’ suggests Michelle.
• 4 I can’t seem to grow my nails at all - help!

  Consider a two-pronged approach your best course of action here. First things first, feed your nails from within with a diet that encourages healthy nails. ‘Try upping your intake of zinc, iron, vitamin B-12 and natural fatty acids,’ advises Michelle. ‘Nuts, seeds, green vegetables and oily fish are all great, too.’ Next, get yourself a nail-strengthening product that works on improving the quality of your nails. You’ll need to be diligent with the application to see real results though, so keep a bottle by your bed and make sure you apply as often as instructed. ‘OPI Nail Envy is my personal favourite but avoid any that contain toxins like formaldehyde’ says Michelle.
• 5 Will gel nails damage my natural nails?

  A bit like eyelash extensions, the only damage gels can do to your natural nails comes from dubious at-home removal methods  aka if you peel it off while binge-watching Netflix (we’ve all been there). ‘The gel is bonded to the top layer of your nail,’ explains Michelle, ‘so if you peel that off, some of your natural nail will be lifted with it and will become thinner as a result.’ Bottom line? Leave it to the professionals and book in for a proper removal as soon as you get the urge to pick.