We women love to get our nails done, right? It makes you feel put together, and that pop of color brings a smile to my face. But if you care about what goes into your body, it is worth looking at non toxic nails and what is really in that bottle of polish.
Why I Gave Up on Nail Polish
When I had all the tiny babies, it was hard to find any time for myself, let alone paint my nails. During that season I gave up on polish.
It took forever to dry, and in all that drying time my nails would always get bumped by the kids and get messed up without fail. The other option was to paint them at night, but even if they felt dry in the morning, they would have sheet marks on them and all my time was wasted.
Yes, I gave up on regular polish a long time ago.
The Toxins in Nail Polish
On top of having no time, taking care of all the kids, and the forever drying time, there are the chemicals we put on our bodies with nail polish. Many traditional polishes contain ingredients that are linked to hormone and reproductive concerns, and our endocrine system does not need any more things messing with it.
A 2015 study by Duke University and the Environmental Working Group found that a chemical called TPHP, used in many nail polishes, showed up in women’s bodies within 10 to 14 hours of painting their nails. TPHP is a suspected hormone disruptor. You can read about it from Boston University School of Public Health.
Taking Care of You
When my kids grew up a bit, I finally had more time, and I got to paint my nails again. It felt amazing! I felt alive and put together. There is something to be said for taking care of yourself, mama.
These days I do not keep anything on my nails all the time. I like to give them a break between manicures, because I find that wearing polish nonstop leaves my nails dry and brittle.
When I do put something on for holidays, weddings and special events, I go for a gel or an instant-dry option so they can not get messed up. Seriously, it is a life changer, especially for busy moms.
5 Tips for Non Toxic Nails
- Read the label. Look for polishes labeled “10-free” or higher, which leave out common harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and TPHP.
- Give your nails a break. Go polish-free between manicures and keep your nails and cuticles moisturized with a natural oil.
- Be gentle with removal. Use an acetone-free remover when you can, and never peel or scrape off gel or dip, since it takes layers of your nail with it.
- Protect your skin from UV lamps. If you use gel polish, wear fingerless gloves or apply sunscreen to your hands before curing under the lamp.
- Keep it clean. With dip powder, use a pour-over method instead of a shared jar, which helps keep germs from spreading.
My Non Toxic Nails Pick
If you want a cleaner option, this company has gel and dip powder in so many colors, with simpler ingredients and no drying time. That means no dings and no wasted time!
Taking care of yourself does not have to mean taking on more toxins. With a few simple swaps you can enjoy beautiful, non toxic nails and feel good about what you are putting on your body. For more simple swaps, see my DIY non toxic cleaners.
