Ridged nails, please help??

[dolce vita]

Hi, (God this is scarey 1st post). I am at college training to do man ped, artificial nails and nails art. I have a query. I love my course but the last 6 months or so, my nails are very ridged. I am in good health. I take care of my nails a lot more than I used to. But, these ridges are not getting any better. I now have noticed a brown streak on my nail that is actually on top of the nail plate, not underneath and its causing a a tiny furrow on my nails. ( It runs vertically).
I am getting concerned as I am not allowed to use polish or enhancements due to college rules.
My Mum is my best customer and her quote to me was yesterday. God, Paula you do such lovely nails, but yours are a mess.
I am starting to get very self concious, I really love my course and after a few years of living on this planet I have finally found something I would really love doing for a career.
Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

[geeg]

Hi, (God this is scarey 1st post). I am at college training to do man ped, artificial nails and nails art. I have a query. I love my course but the last 6 months or so, my nails are very ridged. I am in good health. I take care of my nails a lot more than I used to. But, these ridges are not getting any better. I now have noticed a brown streak on my nail that is actually on top of the nail plate, not underneath and its causing a a tiny furrow on my nails. ( It runs vertically).
I am getting concerned as I am not allowed to use polish or enhancements due to college rules.
My Mum is my best customer and her quote to me was yesterday. God, Paula you do such lovely nails, but yours are a mess.
I am starting to get very self concious, I really love my course and after a few years of living on this planet I have finally found something I would really love doing for a career.
Thanks in advance for any advise.

Welcome ..

If you have never had ridges before and you're seeing them now, then you need to know the causes of ridges. Here are a few:

1. bad Health?
2. bad diet?
3. too much aggressive manicuring near the matrix?
4. picking off set after set of enhancements?

I suppose you need to be honest and think carefully about what sort of stresses your nails have been put under in the last few months.

 

[dolce vita]

Hi, I have never had enhancements. I don't use polish very much. ( This is one thing that I have stopped doing since I started my college course).I did have some ridging of my ring finger but just the one nail. Its just over the last 6 months or so that the ridges are now onto other fingers.
I work part time in the family resteraunt business. I do practice quite a bit on family and friends. Manicures and pedicures, massage. But nothing I could say that I am doing all that different.
Maybe its my age. I really don't know.
I appologise if this question is too trivial for the boards. I did try and find this question on the search pages but unfortunately to no avail.
Thanks for your time...

 

[geeg]

Hi, I have never had enhancements. I don't use polish very much. ( This is one thing that I have stopped doing since I started my college course).I did have some ridging of my ring finger but just the one nail. Its just over the last 6 months or so that the ridges are now onto other fingers.
I work part time in the family resteraunt business. I do practice quite a bit on family and friends. Manicures and pedicures, massage. But nothing I could say that I am doing all that different.
Maybe its my age. I really don't know.
I appologise if this question is too trivial for the boards. I did try and find this question on the search pages but unfortunately to no avail.
Thanks for your time...

Well it is not a trivial question and I don't know your age but ridges can be age realted too and also genetic. I know I have ridged nails and so did my mother. Your genes and family history are important. I don't think they are anything you should be unduly worried about. It's a pretty common thing to happen as we get older and hormonal changes take effect.

 

[dolce vita]

Thank you for that. It is a worry. I do apply cuticle oil as much as I can through the day.
I have read that some nail treatments aren't very good for your nails. They contain fomalydihyde (spelling sorry).
Would you happen to know of any treatments that would be beneficial for the nail, or to make it more asthetically look better. I know ridge filler is a quick solution.
I thank you for your patience and understanding. As I will get to grips with this website. It is fantastic.
A mountain of knowledge and experience. This is a students heaven.
( I am 39)..
Thank You.

 

[geeg]

Thank you for that. It is a worry. I do apply cuticle oil as much as I can through the day.
I have read that some nail treatments aren't very good for your nails. They contain fomalydihyde (spelling sorry).
Would you happen to know of any treatments that would be beneficial for the nail, or to make it more asthetically look better. I know ridge filler is a quick solution.
I thank you for your patience and understanding. As I will get to grips with this website. It is fantastic.
A mountain of knowledge and experience. This is a students heaven.
( I am 39)..
Thank You.

Over use of formaldehyde containing polishes can cause the nail to become dried out, but not cause permanent damage to the matrix I wouldn't have thought. Your nails are dead tissue after all.

You could gently buff the surface of the nails and apply a good ridge filler like CND Ridge Out. There really is only a quick solution for you I'm afraid nothing permanent. Once the matrix alters that is it you can't change it.

You could apply a set of wraps and maintain them.

At 39, you are on the cusp of changes that could show in your nails ... don't fret, happens to us all.