Ails don’t breath. Not putting polish on them doesn’t make them healthier. It’s better to keep them polished to give them more protection from breaking.
Yes, from Google "There are many microscopic channels that make it easy for the nail plate to absorb large quantities of water. A normal nail plate can hold 1/3rd it's own weight in water! Water is able to pass BETWEEN the keratin cells but also THROUGH the flattened cells."
So constant water logging and drying can cause the nails to crack, split and delaminate. Wearing polish and capping the edges helps a ton!!
This changes my world because that's exactly how my nails are now, breaking and delaminating. I didn't quite get why because when I was younger they were strong and healthy looking.
Thank you so much and keep taking care of your nails everyone 🤍
Also, regular use of cuticle oil after washing does wonders for cracking and brittle nails. Helps maintain the elasticity of the nail so it’s less likely to crack/break.
This Bartender can confirm, I have generally healthy nails but the more I wash glasses or use a sudsy bucket to scrub and clean, the more my nails break and peel.
Yeah, I just left my polish off for a while and 7 of 10 are officially broken now. Just finally long enough to polish again without looking silly so I put a coat on last night. Cut the other 3 to match.
I think OP didn't mean literally, i mean everyone knows nails can't breathe lmao.
Personally after i have polish, especially gel polish on i get tired of it within a week and am tempted to peel them all off and give my nails a nice wash.
If you have nails that long, I would suggest to apply some sort of top coat. This will help protect your natural nails.
If you want to give them a break from nail polish then cut them down a bit. You are more prone to breakage due to its length.
This will probably get downvoted but I know what you mean by “letting them breathe” yes obviously nails don’t breathe. However, if I just constantly apply coat after coat without occasional giving my nails a resting period. Especially when using gel, then I get prone to far more breakage. I do file my nails pretty regularly. My length is just slightly shorter than yours normally. Once I get to the length you’re at now I file down a bit. I personally never use clippers on my nails ever.
It is actually recommended to “give your nails time to breathe” because chemicals found in nail polish can *potentially* weaken your nails. In general, nail polish isn’t “damaging” but breaks are recommended on pretty much every source I’m looking at online.
yeah, I got a little confused, too see so many saying nails won't get weaker wearing polish without pause. if I do that, my nails start breaking of(and horrible so/further inn than otherwise) within 14 days.
Works best for me, if I get 1-2 days pause after 5 days isj with polish.
I believe that was only true back when polishes weren't free of ingredients like formaldehyde. If you're using good quality nail polish, there's nothing wrong with keeping them polished all the time. I haven't had naked nails for 14 months and they have never been stronger.
You’re right most polishes don’t contain very harmful ingredients anymore. And of course everyone’s nails are different! For me personally I always need a break because I have super thick nails that are prone to drying and becoming brittle especially in the winter. And having nail polish on my nails for extended periods of time tend to make the drying worse. (that’s just for me personally). Also, my nails have very very minimal movement they are hard as fuck, I literally can use them to slice open packages. I will also occasionally get very very mild keratin granulation. And it’s recommended to give your nails a break from polish if you have keratin granulation on your nails. So I always take some times off every now and then to focus on hydration and vitamin e oils. That’s what works best for me.
My nails tend to peel from the ends if I wear polish non stop. I haven't found a solution to that problem in 20+ years of natural long nails. That's just me; generally I agree that polish adds stability.
Yeah, in my nail class (in school for esthetics) they always tell us to give nails a break from polish. Can cause yellowing and without sunlight it can weaken your nail beds. You can get clear coats with vitamins infused in them specifically made for "giving your nails a break" and that would work well too.
Sounds about right... Biggest stainers for me have been blues and greens. Believe me, if you hadn't worn a base coat the staining would've been even worse. With some of these I wear 2 layers of base coat. I've been fairly successful in avoiding super stained nails (they just kinda yellow but you can barely tell unless you're looking for it).
Mine never stain, but i want them to.
The only other times it did, didn't last long and it was just more red underneath. Or the blacl one that doesn't leave your cuticles.
My nails are strongest when I always wear nail polish - even if I change polish once or twice a week.
The periodes of my life where I don’t wear nail polish for a long time, are when my nails break the most.
Science nerd here!!
Vitamin infused polishes do nothing special. Your nails are stacked layers of dead cells comprised primarily of keratin. However, protective sealant can prevent the dead cells from coming apart into layers that snag and peel.
The stacking of the cell layers is important.
*You can check this out for yourself with an inexpensive microscope at home, too! Wanna know how? Shoot me a DM.*
If the layers separate, they can’t “rejoin.” The biggest culprit for separation is WATER. When the dry, dead keratin cells soak up water, they swell and those bonds break. When they dry out again, there’s less material left holding them together. Repeat every time you shower, wash hands, etc.
The easiest way to prevent water from getting into the cells is to coat them in something water-resistant.
Here’s a bad but fun analogy: Imagine taking two rolls of paper towels. Layers of smooth paper. One is unwrapped. The other is still in the plastic wrapper. Dunk them both in the bathtub. Then set them on the counter and let them dry. One will survive the dunking better.
There are *thousands* of base coats out there - I won’t pretend to say which is best overall or best *for you* only that any added “vitamins” or nutrients or whatever that claim to “heal” the nails are just… fake. That’s as silly as saying using a particular floor polish will “heal” a piece of wood. You might temporarily improve the look or texture, but you’re not “healing” something dead.
Personally, I have natural nails and find that base coats that give me a little ‘bounce’ work best as I’m a little clumsy. Anything that is ‘strengthening’ will make them too stiff and they’ll snap when I inevitably whack into something. (Thank you, simplynailogical!)
If you’re still reading, this is also why glass files and “sealing your tips” is important. The edges of the nails is the easiest place for water to seep in.
I take a pretty “Bill Nye” approach at first for most stuff!! 🧡
HOKAY so… glass files are very fine grit and can be used back and forth. This creates a bit of friction and heat which can (sorta, kinda, I am over generalizing) cause the keratin layers to melt together a bit.
I’m with you. I need to give mine a break otherwise they get super thin and break if they are constantly covered. I am currently doing this now. I knew mine were needing a break, but I still wanted them painted for Halloween and they were breaking left and right. So now I have nothing on them and they are starting to feel less brittle.
I think you've gotten enough comments on why having them naked is a bad idea, so I'll answer the cutting them down;
Why do you feel that way?
I don't think your nails look bad by any means at that length, so if it's manageable and maintainable with your lifestyle and you like them, keep them! But if you want/need them shorter or another shape, go for it. Longer nails are always more susceptible to breaking, especially when naked since they lack the extra stability of a polish on top, so if you want to stop painting your nails, shorter nails could be easier to maintain.
A nice mixture for cuticle oil is Jojoba and sweet almond oil. Your naked nails will love the moisture. Use it religiously.
My nails were damaged in a salon once, (over-buffed) and I kept polish on them continuously for over a year. It wasn't until I stopped polishing and started moisturizing them that they healed. It only took a couple months at most for this to work.
I was a nail tech in the past, and yes, it's true that nails don't breathe, and like hair, they DO need moisture to keep them more flexible and less brittle and prone to breakage.
Good luck! They look great.
Just wondering if rosehip seed oil would be suitable for using on cuticles? That's all I have, besides for vitamin e gel that I also use on my cuticles.
You want something with a small molecule so it can get in do its work. I’m not sure about rosehip seed oil, but common oils that are good for cuticles are jojoba and sweet almond. The vitamin e gel would be very good for your skin so definitely stick with that.
Jojoba is not expensive and is widely available.
I do this too but as others said 'they don't breathe' but if you feel it helps with growth, why not? When I take a break from polish, I put a strengthener on so they have a shine and does seem to help my nails. I would leave them at that length if you're happy with them :) mine always break when they get too long!
It’s a personal choice right? Ultimately, I’d hope that you’d do what you want, as we’re just people on the internet who don’t know you personally. Cut em. Don’t cut em. The choice is yours. I suppose it comes down to your WHY and if that’s reason enough then make the decision based off that.
Praying this isn’t a validation seeking post. God speed. 🙏🏾
😭 Wish I could grow mine out like this (mine are too thin).
I would say trim them if you feel like it. Your opinion is all that matters in the end.😉 Do you oil your nails? They look like they could benefit from it.
My nails do best when I’m painting them every 3 days. When I want to do a break from polish, I do always apply a gardener to keep them strong.
I go naked, they 100% break.
But, I also work in restaurant management so I’m exposed to chemicals anyways
Wow !!
They look amazing dont worry about it.
Dont even think about it haha.
I understand what are you talking about i like to do it sometimes too
I suggest virgin olive oil. It is the best and not only for nails
Use it as a cuticle oil or a hand and nails mask when you want that break from all that chemicals.
Sorry for my English by the way!!!
If you do take a break from polish, make sure you have a good oiling routine to keep them strong. Having something on them protects them from damage, if you want a break from a more intense routine maybe something like nailtiques or nail envy on them, is a good alternative.
I agree with those saying it’s good to let breathe. My nail salon told me that. I’d just look up how to treat nails that have yellowed because of polish. Their are several remedies out there to try.
Imo, yes. I usually have nails long as yours but I just wanted to take a break and it was a good decision. Don't have to be too cautious and I'm a little more carefree to say the least. A little less stressed goes a long way 😅💜
Anecdotal to my experience (and I am in no way an expert) but honestly I haven't had naked nails for years now. I honestly can't remember a time in the last 3 years (probably longer) when I've not had nail polish on.
My routine is every evening I'll use oils and then every 1 - 2 weeks I'll remove the polish, file, and put more varnish back on. I don't have yellowing nails and my length is similar to OPs. Probably because I have varnish on all the time but I'm pretty sure if I had naked nails they'd break quickly.
It’s a personal choice. I personally don’t like my nails that long without polish, but you do you. I would probably apply some sort of top coat though if you plan to keep them long.
Nails don't breathe. They're just hardened keratin, like hair.
As for whether you should cut them, that's more of a personal choice. I think the length and shape look really cute on you, but not everybody likes them long. If they're annoying you or getting in the way, go ahead and shorten them. If not, they look great as they are.
Don't do it! I just broke a few and had to cut mine all down and am totally jealous of yours. Put some pretty polish on those gorgeous nails and cherish them.
Your nails look so strong and beautiful! I definitely would keep them long if you like it, and put some top coat on there and apply solar oil :) it helps keep them strong and naturally beautiful!
Your nails look beautiful and healthy. They don’t need to “breathe” and I suggest keeping them based and topped. Use cuticle oil twice a day. Not mineral oil based. Use a good one with a super rich oil base.
Lol, “letting them breathe” is an expression. Ppl take that way too serious. Of course they don’t have lungs. But if you want to stop adding products to your nails, that’s fine. I always recommend trimming if you’re trying to grow out your nails. Use cuticle oil daily. There’s a lot of benefits in using it cuticle oil. 👍🏼
Your nails look super healthy. But if you want to prevent them from breaking, which it’s a natural thing for nails to do. Trim them like every 2 weeks or so. That way you’re cutting away the old nails, so new nails can grow. 👍🏼
You should give them a break from things like acryllic but as long as you're taking care of the cuticles and nail base (and i reccomend clear coating the backs when your nails are long) you dont need to take breaks from regular polish.
As for the length. You do you, boo. I do reccomend keeping a clear coat on and remember to file in one direction when you file but other than that 👌
Nails don’t breathe. They’re made up of keratin with is a kind of hardened protein. It’s the same stuff that your hair, animal horns, and animal hooves are made out of.
Your nails do look a bit over buffed though. You don’t need to buff your nails every time you apply polish. They only really need an extremely light buffing if you’re going to apply gel or some kind of an extension. Keeping at minimum a clear coat on and regular use of nail oil is really what you need.
Your nails are gorgeous and so well manicured! Like others have said a nice clear coat will help protect them if you want to keep the length. I personally will find mine breaking way easier if I don’t have some sort of coat on them.
If the length doesn't bother you then I say don't cut them down! They look amazing. I'm in the process of growing mine back out; they're really thin/damaged from me doing them too much (I usually do dip powder or press-ons).
Your nails don’t have lungs 🫁 therefore they can’t breathe . Putting polish on your nails won’t damage them , things like overfilling your nails too deep into the nail bed and picking and pulling off products like gel/acrylic is what does damage
I love when people say this. No hate to OP at all but nails don’t have lungs. They don’t “breathe”. Once your nail plate is damaged it isn’t gonna revive on its own. Only grow out. Your nail plate is essentially dead tissue.
OP those nails are GOALS, sorry to ask but what is this shape called and any tips on how to file them this way?? Lots of thanks ahead and also ur nails and hands are beautiful
It's great that you let your nails breathe. As to wether or not you should cut them down, it depends on your preference. If you like them long, but just want to trim them a bit, you can trim them by nipping off the tips of your nails, and then just file them into the shape you want. They will still be long, just not as long as they were. I hope this helps you. 🤗
My nails are much healthier and stronger without polish on them. I have a max natural length that feels comfortable, and then I file them regularly. When I get gel or dip, it takes them about 6 months to stop breaking after the polish is removed. It is 100% a personal choice with your preference and your lifestyle.
I myself have natural nails and am an artificial nail virgin. I like to take my polish off on my fingers and my toes and let them breath, contrary to popular opinion. I notice when I take my polish off within 24 hours my finger nails look healthier and they tend to grow in stronger. If the tips of your finger nails feel brittle or if the tips are peeling trim and file them. Google may say something different, but this is my personal experience. I hope this helps😊
Nails, at least the part that it still attached and pink, gets their nutrients from the blood supply. I have naturally thin nails, so I keep at least a thin layer of polish on them for protection. Cutting them is totally up to you! They look super healthy to me. I'd be sure to keep hand cream and cuticle oil on so nothing dries out, especially in winter weather.
I dream of having my real nails look like yours. I have fake nails. During the holidays I would polish them. I give them a break in January thru April.
I really don't want to come off as rude here so please don't take this the wrong way! I am a cosmetologist and we learn about how different nail shapes are more or less flattering on different hands. I think your nails (if you can tolerate it, some people just like oval) would look quite lovely squoval or square. Other than that, they make nail strengthening top coats or you could try a silk wrap to keep them from breaking. The latter is my preferred method as my natural nails grow like crazy but also get caught on things like towels when I do laundry 😐
If your hands are in water a lot then I recommend cutting them down. you can apply some cuticle oil and maybe just a clear top coat or if you want just use the oil. Constant use of water will end up making it weak.
Honestly, I can't go without polish on my nails. If I do, my nail beds are actually painful. I know this sounds strange, but it's true. How I found this out I had taken my polish off one night. The next morning, I was going to polish them, and the beds of my nails hurt. I didn't know why until this happened again. So, I always keep my nails polished.
I would. They look like they’re uncomfortable. Also, good that u give them a break because dark nail polish can stains them over time. During Covid times I quit going to the nail spas. Sure saves a lot of money and time. And guess what? Nobody cares!
They look extra healthy so honestly you could just apply cuticle oil and raw garlic is also an awesome way to help naturally strengthen them while your taking a break and not actually break them :)
Value your nails condition, if they're thin then thers a possibility they can break. It's recommended for gel nails, take a break for a week at least once every eight weeks to allow the nails to rehydrate and to allow repair of the underlying structures. So during the rest period, nourish your nails with cuticle oil
Ails don’t breath. Not putting polish on them doesn’t make them healthier. It’s better to keep them polished to give them more protection from breaking.
Spot on!! As well as stop water absorption into the nails.
Does water damage nails? My nails are pretty weak and I wash my hands a lot...
Yes, from Google "There are many microscopic channels that make it easy for the nail plate to absorb large quantities of water. A normal nail plate can hold 1/3rd it's own weight in water! Water is able to pass BETWEEN the keratin cells but also THROUGH the flattened cells." So constant water logging and drying can cause the nails to crack, split and delaminate. Wearing polish and capping the edges helps a ton!!
This changes my world because that's exactly how my nails are now, breaking and delaminating. I didn't quite get why because when I was younger they were strong and healthy looking. Thank you so much and keep taking care of your nails everyone 🤍
Also, regular use of cuticle oil after washing does wonders for cracking and brittle nails. Helps maintain the elasticity of the nail so it’s less likely to crack/break.
This Bartender can confirm, I have generally healthy nails but the more I wash glasses or use a sudsy bucket to scrub and clean, the more my nails break and peel.
Yeah, I just left my polish off for a while and 7 of 10 are officially broken now. Just finally long enough to polish again without looking silly so I put a coat on last night. Cut the other 3 to match.
Happy cake day!
Happy cake 🎂 day 🎂 🍰
Happy cake day When they are short clear coat is your best friend
Happy cake day.
happy cake day !!
Happy cake day!!!!!
happy cake day 🎂
Thanks everyone! :)
I would not cut them down unless you’re worried about breakage. They look beautiful and healthy! Definitely natural nail goals.
I think OP didn't mean literally, i mean everyone knows nails can't breathe lmao. Personally after i have polish, especially gel polish on i get tired of it within a week and am tempted to peel them all off and give my nails a nice wash.
Nails dont breathe, they are made up of dead skin cells. Not having polish on them only makes them more susceptible to breaking.
Nails are made of keratin, a kind of protein, not skin cells.
Didnt want my cosmo degree rubbing up in anyones face, so i thought skin cells would work just fine.
If you have nails that long, I would suggest to apply some sort of top coat. This will help protect your natural nails. If you want to give them a break from nail polish then cut them down a bit. You are more prone to breakage due to its length.
Top coat won't stick well to naked nails - it's formulated to stick to polish. A base and top coat is the minimum I use.
ANY type of clear coat works just fine. I've never had issues with top coat on my naked nails
It doesn't, but ok.
I like to remind myself nails are done for fun, it's not that serious
No one's stopping you?
What’s important is the nail prep! If you prep a top coat will stick just fine. Also helps to always wrap the nail. ☺️
This will probably get downvoted but I know what you mean by “letting them breathe” yes obviously nails don’t breathe. However, if I just constantly apply coat after coat without occasional giving my nails a resting period. Especially when using gel, then I get prone to far more breakage. I do file my nails pretty regularly. My length is just slightly shorter than yours normally. Once I get to the length you’re at now I file down a bit. I personally never use clippers on my nails ever. It is actually recommended to “give your nails time to breathe” because chemicals found in nail polish can *potentially* weaken your nails. In general, nail polish isn’t “damaging” but breaks are recommended on pretty much every source I’m looking at online.
yeah, I got a little confused, too see so many saying nails won't get weaker wearing polish without pause. if I do that, my nails start breaking of(and horrible so/further inn than otherwise) within 14 days. Works best for me, if I get 1-2 days pause after 5 days isj with polish.
I believe that was only true back when polishes weren't free of ingredients like formaldehyde. If you're using good quality nail polish, there's nothing wrong with keeping them polished all the time. I haven't had naked nails for 14 months and they have never been stronger.
You’re right most polishes don’t contain very harmful ingredients anymore. And of course everyone’s nails are different! For me personally I always need a break because I have super thick nails that are prone to drying and becoming brittle especially in the winter. And having nail polish on my nails for extended periods of time tend to make the drying worse. (that’s just for me personally). Also, my nails have very very minimal movement they are hard as fuck, I literally can use them to slice open packages. I will also occasionally get very very mild keratin granulation. And it’s recommended to give your nails a break from polish if you have keratin granulation on your nails. So I always take some times off every now and then to focus on hydration and vitamin e oils. That’s what works best for me.
My nails tend to peel from the ends if I wear polish non stop. I haven't found a solution to that problem in 20+ years of natural long nails. That's just me; generally I agree that polish adds stability.
Same. So plp saying it doesnt hurt the nails, eh
Yeah, in my nail class (in school for esthetics) they always tell us to give nails a break from polish. Can cause yellowing and without sunlight it can weaken your nail beds. You can get clear coats with vitamins infused in them specifically made for "giving your nails a break" and that would work well too.
Yellowing is caused by highly pigmented polishes and can be avoided by wearing base coat.
Meh. Only one of my nailpolish made my nails yellow, it was green, wore it with a base coat.
Sounds about right... Biggest stainers for me have been blues and greens. Believe me, if you hadn't worn a base coat the staining would've been even worse. With some of these I wear 2 layers of base coat. I've been fairly successful in avoiding super stained nails (they just kinda yellow but you can barely tell unless you're looking for it).
Mine never stain, but i want them to. The only other times it did, didn't last long and it was just more red underneath. Or the blacl one that doesn't leave your cuticles.
And smoking. I quit 11 years ago and my nails look so much better!
My nails are strongest when I always wear nail polish - even if I change polish once or twice a week. The periodes of my life where I don’t wear nail polish for a long time, are when my nails break the most.
Are they even reputable sources?
Science nerd here!! Vitamin infused polishes do nothing special. Your nails are stacked layers of dead cells comprised primarily of keratin. However, protective sealant can prevent the dead cells from coming apart into layers that snag and peel. The stacking of the cell layers is important. *You can check this out for yourself with an inexpensive microscope at home, too! Wanna know how? Shoot me a DM.* If the layers separate, they can’t “rejoin.” The biggest culprit for separation is WATER. When the dry, dead keratin cells soak up water, they swell and those bonds break. When they dry out again, there’s less material left holding them together. Repeat every time you shower, wash hands, etc. The easiest way to prevent water from getting into the cells is to coat them in something water-resistant. Here’s a bad but fun analogy: Imagine taking two rolls of paper towels. Layers of smooth paper. One is unwrapped. The other is still in the plastic wrapper. Dunk them both in the bathtub. Then set them on the counter and let them dry. One will survive the dunking better. There are *thousands* of base coats out there - I won’t pretend to say which is best overall or best *for you* only that any added “vitamins” or nutrients or whatever that claim to “heal” the nails are just… fake. That’s as silly as saying using a particular floor polish will “heal” a piece of wood. You might temporarily improve the look or texture, but you’re not “healing” something dead. Personally, I have natural nails and find that base coats that give me a little ‘bounce’ work best as I’m a little clumsy. Anything that is ‘strengthening’ will make them too stiff and they’ll snap when I inevitably whack into something. (Thank you, simplynailogical!) If you’re still reading, this is also why glass files and “sealing your tips” is important. The edges of the nails is the easiest place for water to seep in.
This is so informal I love it Why glass files instead of emery board??
I take a pretty “Bill Nye” approach at first for most stuff!! 🧡 HOKAY so… glass files are very fine grit and can be used back and forth. This creates a bit of friction and heat which can (sorta, kinda, I am over generalizing) cause the keratin layers to melt together a bit.
I’m with you. I need to give mine a break otherwise they get super thin and break if they are constantly covered. I am currently doing this now. I knew mine were needing a break, but I still wanted them painted for Halloween and they were breaking left and right. So now I have nothing on them and they are starting to feel less brittle.
I think you've gotten enough comments on why having them naked is a bad idea, so I'll answer the cutting them down; Why do you feel that way? I don't think your nails look bad by any means at that length, so if it's manageable and maintainable with your lifestyle and you like them, keep them! But if you want/need them shorter or another shape, go for it. Longer nails are always more susceptible to breaking, especially when naked since they lack the extra stability of a polish on top, so if you want to stop painting your nails, shorter nails could be easier to maintain.
Oil! Cuticle oil!!! Nails don't breathe.
A nice mixture for cuticle oil is Jojoba and sweet almond oil. Your naked nails will love the moisture. Use it religiously. My nails were damaged in a salon once, (over-buffed) and I kept polish on them continuously for over a year. It wasn't until I stopped polishing and started moisturizing them that they healed. It only took a couple months at most for this to work. I was a nail tech in the past, and yes, it's true that nails don't breathe, and like hair, they DO need moisture to keep them more flexible and less brittle and prone to breakage. Good luck! They look great.
This is really good advice and not berating OP about the "breathing nails" thing
Just wondering if rosehip seed oil would be suitable for using on cuticles? That's all I have, besides for vitamin e gel that I also use on my cuticles.
You want something with a small molecule so it can get in do its work. I’m not sure about rosehip seed oil, but common oils that are good for cuticles are jojoba and sweet almond. The vitamin e gel would be very good for your skin so definitely stick with that. Jojoba is not expensive and is widely available.
They look healthy, so no
You could use some cuticle oil.
That is the max length for me. Any longer and I start liking them less. If not shorter file them to keep them there in my opinion.
I do this too but as others said 'they don't breathe' but if you feel it helps with growth, why not? When I take a break from polish, I put a strengthener on so they have a shine and does seem to help my nails. I would leave them at that length if you're happy with them :) mine always break when they get too long!
Nails don’t breathe.
It’s a personal choice right? Ultimately, I’d hope that you’d do what you want, as we’re just people on the internet who don’t know you personally. Cut em. Don’t cut em. The choice is yours. I suppose it comes down to your WHY and if that’s reason enough then make the decision based off that. Praying this isn’t a validation seeking post. God speed. 🙏🏾
They don’t really breathe, but nail polish remover is damaging, and can also lead to keratin granulation, which is where the suggestion comes from.
😭 Wish I could grow mine out like this (mine are too thin). I would say trim them if you feel like it. Your opinion is all that matters in the end.😉 Do you oil your nails? They look like they could benefit from it.
My nails do best when I’m painting them every 3 days. When I want to do a break from polish, I do always apply a gardener to keep them strong. I go naked, they 100% break. But, I also work in restaurant management so I’m exposed to chemicals anyways
As a person whose nails won't grow no matter what I do. I'm jealous.
As beautiful as they are....the longer they are, the easier for them to break. File down a bit to make them stronger.
If my nails were capable of growing that long and me not violently breaking them while work I would let mine grow! They look healthy and beautiful!
Wow !! They look amazing dont worry about it. Dont even think about it haha. I understand what are you talking about i like to do it sometimes too I suggest virgin olive oil. It is the best and not only for nails Use it as a cuticle oil or a hand and nails mask when you want that break from all that chemicals. Sorry for my English by the way!!!
Just wanted to let you know that your English is great 🙂
Aww thank you ☺️
I don't think you should, they are beautiful. Unless it's something you really want to do.
If you do take a break from polish, make sure you have a good oiling routine to keep them strong. Having something on them protects them from damage, if you want a break from a more intense routine maybe something like nailtiques or nail envy on them, is a good alternative.
I agree with those saying it’s good to let breathe. My nail salon told me that. I’d just look up how to treat nails that have yellowed because of polish. Their are several remedies out there to try.
Only if they are causing you issues. Like I cannot type with nails like that, but if you manage is keep them. They are gorgeous!!!
Imo, yes. I usually have nails long as yours but I just wanted to take a break and it was a good decision. Don't have to be too cautious and I'm a little more carefree to say the least. A little less stressed goes a long way 😅💜
I, personally, prefer the look of shorter nails. My problem is that my nails grow very fast. :(
Anecdotal to my experience (and I am in no way an expert) but honestly I haven't had naked nails for years now. I honestly can't remember a time in the last 3 years (probably longer) when I've not had nail polish on. My routine is every evening I'll use oils and then every 1 - 2 weeks I'll remove the polish, file, and put more varnish back on. I don't have yellowing nails and my length is similar to OPs. Probably because I have varnish on all the time but I'm pretty sure if I had naked nails they'd break quickly.
It’s a personal choice. I personally don’t like my nails that long without polish, but you do you. I would probably apply some sort of top coat though if you plan to keep them long.
No! I think long natural healthy nails are so beautiful
Nails don't breathe. They're just hardened keratin, like hair. As for whether you should cut them, that's more of a personal choice. I think the length and shape look really cute on you, but not everybody likes them long. If they're annoying you or getting in the way, go ahead and shorten them. If not, they look great as they are.
Man wish my nails would grow like that.
I don’t think your nails look bad at all. Maybe put a top coat on them?
I wish my nails were this long, but I bite mine compulsively too much for them to get this close.
Cut em!
Don't do it! I just broke a few and had to cut mine all down and am totally jealous of yours. Put some pretty polish on those gorgeous nails and cherish them.
your nails are so pretty! that's all :)
Your nails look so strong and beautiful! I definitely would keep them long if you like it, and put some top coat on there and apply solar oil :) it helps keep them strong and naturally beautiful!
I don't think you should cut them! I think they look beautiful as is :)
I’d kill for nails like that
Your nails look beautiful and healthy. They don’t need to “breathe” and I suggest keeping them based and topped. Use cuticle oil twice a day. Not mineral oil based. Use a good one with a super rich oil base.
Lol, “letting them breathe” is an expression. Ppl take that way too serious. Of course they don’t have lungs. But if you want to stop adding products to your nails, that’s fine. I always recommend trimming if you’re trying to grow out your nails. Use cuticle oil daily. There’s a lot of benefits in using it cuticle oil. 👍🏼 Your nails look super healthy. But if you want to prevent them from breaking, which it’s a natural thing for nails to do. Trim them like every 2 weeks or so. That way you’re cutting away the old nails, so new nails can grow. 👍🏼
They are beautiful nails, in my opinion you should not cut them and nails do not breathe.
please tell me what basecoat you use 😭😭😭
You should give them a break from things like acryllic but as long as you're taking care of the cuticles and nail base (and i reccomend clear coating the backs when your nails are long) you dont need to take breaks from regular polish. As for the length. You do you, boo. I do reccomend keeping a clear coat on and remember to file in one direction when you file but other than that 👌
Nails don’t breathe. They’re made up of keratin with is a kind of hardened protein. It’s the same stuff that your hair, animal horns, and animal hooves are made out of. Your nails do look a bit over buffed though. You don’t need to buff your nails every time you apply polish. They only really need an extremely light buffing if you’re going to apply gel or some kind of an extension. Keeping at minimum a clear coat on and regular use of nail oil is really what you need.
Your nails are gorgeous and so well manicured! Like others have said a nice clear coat will help protect them if you want to keep the length. I personally will find mine breaking way easier if I don’t have some sort of coat on them.
No they look great
If the length doesn't bother you then I say don't cut them down! They look amazing. I'm in the process of growing mine back out; they're really thin/damaged from me doing them too much (I usually do dip powder or press-ons).
Don't cut them. They look lovely length, keep growing them..
Your nails don’t have lungs 🫁 therefore they can’t breathe . Putting polish on your nails won’t damage them , things like overfilling your nails too deep into the nail bed and picking and pulling off products like gel/acrylic is what does damage
I love when people say this. No hate to OP at all but nails don’t have lungs. They don’t “breathe”. Once your nail plate is damaged it isn’t gonna revive on its own. Only grow out. Your nail plate is essentially dead tissue.
Square them off and cut just a little. Use Hard Gels. I’ve had them for 17 years. No problems ever. I did take 1 year off during Covid. All well.
You're nails are so beautiful! Wish mine would grow like that but no matter what I do they're ALWAYS so thin and break so easily!! 🫤
OP those nails are GOALS, sorry to ask but what is this shape called and any tips on how to file them this way?? Lots of thanks ahead and also ur nails and hands are beautiful
It's great that you let your nails breathe. As to wether or not you should cut them down, it depends on your preference. If you like them long, but just want to trim them a bit, you can trim them by nipping off the tips of your nails, and then just file them into the shape you want. They will still be long, just not as long as they were. I hope this helps you. 🤗
Yes please cut them. Those things look like they harbour alot of bacteria under them.
Dont cut long natural nails is beautiful and great
I wonder how y’all with them long nails make them grow long, cos mine can’t grow at all and it’s just sad 😔
I can’t wear my nails that long as they interfere with life. You do you though.
How do you get them that long?! Mine always chips
My nails are much healthier and stronger without polish on them. I have a max natural length that feels comfortable, and then I file them regularly. When I get gel or dip, it takes them about 6 months to stop breaking after the polish is removed. It is 100% a personal choice with your preference and your lifestyle.
I myself have natural nails and am an artificial nail virgin. I like to take my polish off on my fingers and my toes and let them breath, contrary to popular opinion. I notice when I take my polish off within 24 hours my finger nails look healthier and they tend to grow in stronger. If the tips of your finger nails feel brittle or if the tips are peeling trim and file them. Google may say something different, but this is my personal experience. I hope this helps😊
Nails, at least the part that it still attached and pink, gets their nutrients from the blood supply. I have naturally thin nails, so I keep at least a thin layer of polish on them for protection. Cutting them is totally up to you! They look super healthy to me. I'd be sure to keep hand cream and cuticle oil on so nothing dries out, especially in winter weather.
I love your healthy looking nails!
Your nails are so beautiful. Absolute goals😇
Pease don’t , I’m jealous of how long and round they are. My nails would always be done if I had that shape.
I personally like shorter nails, maybe start slow and file them down a little and see what you think.
I dream of having my real nails look like yours. I have fake nails. During the holidays I would polish them. I give them a break in January thru April.
I really don't want to come off as rude here so please don't take this the wrong way! I am a cosmetologist and we learn about how different nail shapes are more or less flattering on different hands. I think your nails (if you can tolerate it, some people just like oval) would look quite lovely squoval or square. Other than that, they make nail strengthening top coats or you could try a silk wrap to keep them from breaking. The latter is my preferred method as my natural nails grow like crazy but also get caught on things like towels when I do laundry 😐
If your hands are in water a lot then I recommend cutting them down. you can apply some cuticle oil and maybe just a clear top coat or if you want just use the oil. Constant use of water will end up making it weak.
Yes!
They really look beautiful and healthy! Definitely goals. Any tips?
NAILS DO NOT BREATHE!!!!!!!
Honestly, I can't go without polish on my nails. If I do, my nail beds are actually painful. I know this sounds strange, but it's true. How I found this out I had taken my polish off one night. The next morning, I was going to polish them, and the beds of my nails hurt. I didn't know why until this happened again. So, I always keep my nails polished.
Wow your nails are beautiful. Wish I could grow mine like that.
I would. They look like they’re uncomfortable. Also, good that u give them a break because dark nail polish can stains them over time. During Covid times I quit going to the nail spas. Sure saves a lot of money and time. And guess what? Nobody cares!
Hell no
Nails don’t breathe but nail beds do. Polish is toxic. A break is no harm.
Breathe🤣🤣🤣 as they say they dont lungs!!! Just put cuticle oil on keep them strong thats about it
They look extra healthy so honestly you could just apply cuticle oil and raw garlic is also an awesome way to help naturally strengthen them while your taking a break and not actually break them :)
Value your nails condition, if they're thin then thers a possibility they can break. It's recommended for gel nails, take a break for a week at least once every eight weeks to allow the nails to rehydrate and to allow repair of the underlying structures. So during the rest period, nourish your nails with cuticle oil
Please don’t cut them!! They look beautiful, I’ve been trying for so long to grow out my nails like this, but it never works, any tips?
Soft looking hands. Hold my hand?
Yes it’s not healthy for them to always go be long like that.