We commonly speculate whether white spots, strips, and areas on the nails are caused by dehydration or damage. Those of us who consider ourselves well-educated and competent have viewed the white spots on the nails from wearing coatings as a dehydration issue. I'm no different than anyone else in this assumption. From grilling clients about oil use to switching to hydrating removers vs. acetone, we have been battling the problem with frustration and guesswork.

I talked to Doug Schoon when the problem first began. As the conversation was by phone and we were each trying to verbally explain visual ideas, I misunderstood some of the education he so graciously imparted. Recently, a photo on Facebook brought the concern back to light and ignited quite a conversation among professionals. I called Doug's attention to the photo in hopes that he could explain how dehydration that extreme would be occuring and what could be done to combat it. To my shock and dismay, he explained that it was actually damage to the nail! This lead to a long phone conversation in which he further educated me and corrected my misunderstandings of the nail appearance and condition. Doug encouraged me to share this knowledge with others. While I'm not a fan of having been wrong, if sharing what I learned will help any of you, then I will gladly endure the egg on my face. As artists, we can be visual learners at times, so I have put together a video to help explain the how and why of the appearance of the white spots on nails.

— Holly