Your common beauty questions, answered - Hands

Q. What is the best way to get rid of nail ridges (rather than just 'filling them' with a product)? I find that buffing them weakens the nails and makes them peel.

“It's not easy to get rid of ridges in nails. Buffing too much can weaken the nail structure and painting them with a nail ridge filler is a good option, however purely cosmetic.

The issue is knowing what caused the ridges in the nails and how long they have been there. There are a few causes: Hereditary, damage to the nail bed or nail plate, health concerns such as circulatory problems, IE arthritis types of diseases, and even diabetes sufferers will have lines and ridges in their nails. They also develop as we age, like lines and wrinkles for our nails. So fixing the cause will improve the problem, but that may not be fixable and the only options are then cosmetic filling and buffing.

My favored treatment is a gentle weekly buff and a daily application of Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil. Use a good hand cream and massage nails when you apply the oil or cream to help stimulate blood flow and cell turnover. Keep hands out of water whenever possible and wear gloves for all chores. Taking a supplement with biotin can help, however expect to get results over time as it will be at least two to three months before any changes will be noticeable.” - Alison Bowhill-Hayes, Sally Hansen Nail Expert

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“Ridged nails are a sign of damaged nails or prolonged illness. Sadly, as we age, ridges tend to form on our nails like wrinkles. Try massaging your nails and cuticles using cuticle oil (like FABY Nail & Cuticles Fitness Oil Pen) or any anti-ageing serums. You can also use olive oil from your kitchen, but seek to use something that will soak into the skin. The important thing is the massage; massage your hands, nails and cuticles. Massaging motivates the blood supply to flow to your fingertips, stimulating cell rejuvenation and growth. Try not to over buff your nails as this will only weaken the nail beds. When applying your manicure, use a ridge filler, like FABY Smoothing Base Coat ($14.95, faby.com.au) to create a smooth canvas for your manicure.” - Karon McKendrick Taylor, Educator and Celebrity Manicurist, FABY Nails

Did you learn something new from these experts’ answers? Are there any other questions you’d love to ask?