6 Ways Self-Love Will Help You Crush Your Goals
From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.
The Nail Doctor: Chemotherapy Can Affect Nails
A reader asks if a client who's undergoing chemotherapy for cancer is seeing its effects on her nails.
by Dr. Richard K. Scher, contributing columnist
May 1, 19952 min to read
Question: I had client who wanted fiberglass applied on her “eggshell” nails. The next day, the application started to slide right off her nails in one piece. I couldn’t understand why. Then she told me she was receiving chemotherapy. Can that cause this problem? Since then, I have been using acrylic on her nails instead. It has worked better, but her nails are still lifting and sometimes one may loosen and fall off, what can I do?
Chemotherapy can definitely have an adverse effect on hair and nails. It is certainly possible that your client’s “eggshell” nails may be related to the treatment she receiving. There is no foolproof way to find an application that will work consistently as would be the case with normal healthy nails. I can only suggest, as you are already doing, that you try different applications until you find one that work best.
Q: I have a client who has worn sculptured nails intermittently for eight years. When she first came to me she was in pain because her nails are brittle and have vertical ridges. They peel, split, and tear if left bare. The vertical ridges are so severe that when her nails split I can peel them back like a banana. She wore acrylics without a problem until 1 ½ years ago when she started developing a fungus under her nails. Si I take her artificial nails off until they heal, then put them back on. I am at a loss as to what to do. I tried using a natural nail system, but her nail split badly.
A: Apparently, your client suffers from a condition known as “brittle nail syndrome.” With this disorder, the nails become very brittle and ridged and nails occur when the nails become dehydrated. The cause of this syndrome is unknown, although it often occurs in people with dry skin. As you have observed, sculptured acrylic nails do help these women, provided they are not allergic to the acrylic or do not get fungus under their nails. Since your client is susceptible to fungus, I would advise against her wearing acrylics continuously. Perhaps if you remove them for a week or two every three months she will not get the infection you describe. In addition; the daily application of an antifungal solution to the nails may also help to prevent colonization of fungus. This will also alleviate the banana-peel effect that you are describing. In severe cases of brittle nail syndrome, it is possible for an underlying medical problem to the cause. In addition, certain prescription medications may help some people. Therefore, your client may benefit from a dermatologist’s evaluation.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Nail Safety Council Warns Holiday Shoppers About Toxic 'Magic' Gel Polish Removers
Products marketed as 'magic' or 'burst' gel removers may contain methylene chloride, a federally banned, highly toxic chemical.
How Beauty Pros Can Prevent Pain: Somatic Movement for Career Longevity
Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Federal Research on Nail Salon Safety Concludes Due to Budget Reductions
A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.
by Anne Moratto
Opinion: What You Need to Know About Pedicure Safety
For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.
Onycholysis: What Nail Pros Should Know About Nail Separation
Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.
What to Say--or Not Say--to Someone Grieving
Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.
Protecting Your Clients From Viral Infections
Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).
Beauty Professionals, It's Time to Take the Green Pledge
As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.
How Not to Be Cynical About Valentine's Day
Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.
Temporary Burnout or Time to Hang Up the Shears?
Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.
Nail Care and Cancer Treatment: 6 Tips for a Safe Nail Service
Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.
Sun Patch Protects Hands from Sun Damage
For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.
by Anne Moratto
The Nail Doctor: Onycholysis, or Nail Separation, Has Different Varieties
One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.
Standing Stretches for Physical Longevity
Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.