“Bastien Gonzalez and his team of experts answer your questions on how to best take care of your feet, hands and nails.”
“Bastien Gonzalez and his team of experts answer your questions on how to best take care of your feet, hands and nails.”
First, nails must be dry when they are cut. Cut the top of the nail straight across using a chisel or a nail clipper, and lightly file the corners. You should never cut deep into the edges because this can cause ingrown nails. Choose a glass file for its softness and long-term effectiveness.
File your nails regularly to maintain a perfect line. Bastien recommends always keeping 1 or 2 mm of the white part of the nail, as this will avoid future problems.
If one must choose between them, regular nail polish is best, as they are less aggressive for your nails. Like all things that are easy and convenient, one tends to ignore the downsides.
Gel nails are the manicure equivalent of ready meals – quick, convenient and tasty-looking, but not exactly good for you. What you really should worry about that gel nail polish will replace the nail and over time, with regular use your nails will become very weak and brittle.
Do not forget that in line with a healthy life we need to care about the nails and feet same way as we take care of our bodies, eat healthily and keen our skin hydrated.
Why is it that women wear nail polish for weeks on end? Polish should be viewed as make-up for the nails. It should be applied only for special occasions, as after three days the pigment will start to burn the nail plate and discolour the nail, you will get this plastic effect of the polish, which will start to dry the nails and make them change colour and break.
We are not against the occasional use of nail polish, but not on a regular basis. Most people are not aware that gel, varnish or other applications are unhealthy for the nail if worn for longer than three days. We focus on wellbeing and treating the nails and skin as part of our healthy concept.
Bastien Gonzalez nail treatments include a special buffing technique, a skill which he acquired from his great grandmother.
We do a high gloss buffing of the nail, which is completely natural and makes the nail healthier due an increase of blood circulation on the nail bed.
We are fond of buffing as it makes the nails look naturally shiny and beautiful. But not all buffing is the same. Bastien relaunched his buffing technique 20 years ago and after that many salons began using his technique to boost natural shine.
Even so, they do not know the secret, which is in Bastien’s potent ‘magic’ cream and use of a chamois leather buffer. Buffing with chamois leather is the best treatment for nails as it supports the microcirculation of the blood under the nail and brings life to a part of the body where blood circulation is not usually optimal. Cold feet and cold hands are very common for women. So buffing is a super good touch, but only when it is done properly!
Bastien recommends giving some rest to your nails. You can follow this rule: change the colour every three days, the night before you paint them again, use some oils and take some supplements for stronger nails.
Also, when your nails are very weak you must create a micro vibration to stimulate the blood circulation – it will make the nail stronger and buff them with chamois between colour applications!
If you can, try to give a break the rest of the time. When the nail can be so beautifully natural, healthy and shiny – there is no need for polish.
Remove varnish regularly, and reapply on occasion. A classic application consists of a base coat, one or two colour coats and a top coat. It is important to let the varnish dry between each stage to avoid early flaking.
For the colour, shake the product vigorously so that all the components fuse together; soak the brush, and make sure to remove the excess from one side. The nails on little toes are often short, so you don’t need to dip the brush for each nail.
If you notice your nails yellowing or the appearance of white marks: this is caused by the products in the varnish, which is toxic to your nais. An important rule therefore is not to keep it on for more than 4 to 5 days.