Yellow nails (or yellow stains on the nails) can be a result of wearing nail colours way too often. The chemicals used in the nail colours, mostly the dark coloured ones, cause discolouration of nails resulting in yellow stains. It can also be caused by bacterial or fungal infections. Now, before you resort to painting your nails with acrylic shades to hide stained nails, do take a look at some easy tricks and tips to get those annoying stains off your nails.
Easy ways to get rid of yellow fingernails
1. Use dark nail paints less often
Who doesn’t love the darker shades of nail paints, but using the dark colours very often is not good for your nails’ health. So, try to paint your nails with the lighter colours. It’d be even better if you can go for a few days without any nail paints and let your nails breathe.
2. Introduce base coat to your nails
You might have never used it, but base coats are there for a reason; to protect nails. Try applying one protective layer of base coat before the nail colour. Some base coats are even meant to keep your nails healthier. Make this trick a habit each time you colour your nails.
3. Go for subtle buffing of nails
Using nail buff is usually not recommended as it could damage the outer layer of the cuticle. But if your outer layer is too stained to try any other remedy, then you might want to buff the layer using a buffing file. Try not to scrub it too hard.
4. Rub lemon juice
Cut a slice of lemon and rub it on the nails on it. This natural ingredient can help you a lot with its acidic compounds to get rid of those stubborn stains. You can either rub the lemon slice for 30 to 60 seconds or you can dab a cotton ball in one tablespoon of lemon juice and rub it on the nails thoroughly. Let it sit for half an hour before rinsing your nails with cold water.
5. Use hydrogen peroxide scrub
You need a tbsp of hydrogen peroxide which is available at medicine stores and some water to create a mixture. Now, take an old toothbrush, dip it into the mixture and rub the brush on your nails for a minute or two. You can also directly dip your fingernails into the solution until the stains are gone.
6. Baking soda
The ultimate whitening agent, baking soda can be a great aid for fighting yellowed fingernails. Just follow the same method of hydrogen peroxide and you will be able to see the changes soon.
7. Denture cleaning tablets
You might have used these tablets to whiten your teeth. The same tablets can be used to whiten your fingernails as well. Just soak one or two tablets in water and soak your fingernails for 10 to 15 minutes depending on the severity of the situation. After rinsing, apply some moisturiser on your hands.
8. Whitening toothpaste
Toothpaste can be a magic and extremely versatile ingredient that comes really handy in such situations. Apply some of your regular toothpaste on your nails, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
9. Tea tree oil
In case the stains are not caused by nail colours but due a bacterial or fungal infection, then tea tree oil can be a great remedy. Rub a drop of tea tree oil on your nails, let it sit for a minute and rinse it off with warm water. This remedy works wonders for all kinds of nail infections.
10. Nail whitening pencil
If everything fails or if you are in a hurry to hide your nail stains then use a nail whitening pencil for immediate results.
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