An Intricate Guide to Nail Health

"Your nails are as important as your body's health. Don't ignore them."

It's so easy for a lot of us to forget that our nails are a part of our body. They matter as much as our skin's health, because they are a part of our skin. 

Like slipping on a pair of new heels, or splashing out on a blow-dry, making time this week for a simple manicure and pedicure is finding new confidence in yourself, but our pursuit of glossy, chip-free nails comes at a cost – and we’re not just talking about the regular hit to our bank balance. Toxic chemicals found in nail polish, and removing gel polish can do serious damage to our health and the environment.

The good news is... Sustainable Nail Salons are popping up across Vancouver (PS. Line Spa is our favorite), and while many beauty brands have launched vegan-friendly ranges, with some boasting formulas free of up to 21 of the most potent chemicals. There's 

From getting your nails festival-ready with colorful glitter, to repurposing that gloopy polish at the bottom of your beauty box, here are 7 ways to have an earth-friendly nail routine.

"It’s just about providing another choice and
then people can make informed decisions."

1. Choose An Ethical Nail Salon.

        It’s an essential pre-weekend ritual for many, but Vancouver nail salons have been called out for their exploitative and unsafe practices. Yet sketchy regulation and licensing laws means it can be hard to tell if the staff are suffering for your shellac. That’s why Let’s Nail It, a campaign against slavery in salons has put together a list of the telltale signs of a substandard salon (withdrawn employees, too good to be true prices and uncomfortable vibes) and what to do when you spot them (report any suspicions to the Modern Slavery helpline).

Thankfully, you can up your salon game without sacrificing style.

At AMA in Brixton, you’re more likely to leave smelling like lemongrass than Lysol. Having veered away from chemical laced deodorants, body creams and shower gels seven years ago, it seemed like the natural choice for founder Ama Quashie who says, 'We try to keep everything natural and organic, down to our scrubs, our creams and the sanitisers we use, which come from certified organic UK brand Pinks Boutique. I didn’t want to demonise people who still want to get acrylics, it’s just about providing another choice and then people can make informed decisions.'

But, if you are making the switch from acrylics, Quashie recommends a good dousing of Jojoba oil, 'It’s really good for nail growth and strengthening bendy nails.'

"If you wouldn't give it to your best friend, don't send it."

    2. Send Your Unwanted Nail Polish To Charity.

        If that lime green nail polish you got for Christmas isn’t quite ‘you’, consider adding it to a care package for Give and Makeup. Set up by skin expert Caroline Hirons, the charity collects toiletries and clothes for women and children in need.

While no-one wants your old toothbrush, unwanted cosmetics in wearable condition are welcome. The charity says a good rule to go by is: if you wouldn’t lend it to your best friend, don’t send it.

"lasted longer than most products they've used for the same price!"

3. Invest In Non-Toxic Polish.

        Much like rib-crushing corsets and the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge, toxic talons are going out of fashion, with many brands stripping their formulas of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and toluene. This so-called 'toxic trio' of chemicals gives your manicure that smooth finish but can also lead to headaches, dizziness, reproductive abnormalities and cancer.

Thankfully, Quashie reckons we no longer have to choose between beauty and ethics. 'A lot of the early non-toxic brands weren’t on a par with regular polishes in terms of their range of colours and finishes, whereas now they are. We’ve even had customers who say our 12-free non-toxic gels lasted longer than most products they've used for the same price!

Here's a link to Sienna Byron Bay. Our first choice for Vegan, Sustainable, Non-Toxic Nail Polish.

"100% naturally derived ingredients."

4.Invest In A Natural Nail Polish Remover.

        There’s no point going all out on an all-singing, all-dancing eco polish if you’re going to stick with a chemical-laden nail polish remover.

Now, we’d love to say we found a DIY hack that could save your pennies and the planet but the white wine/cider vinegar and lemon combo simply didn’t do it for us (and we scrubbed hard). Besides, your digits are in safe hands as many brands are bringing out removers which forgo aggressive acetone and load up on nourishing essential oils.

At the pricier end, Kure Bazaar and Priti NYC (available from Naturisimo) offer oil-based formulas which managed to dissolve stubborn polish without the intoxicating petrol station fumes. The ginger-infused version from Kure Bazaar is refreshing AF and, somehow, only uses 100% naturally derived ingredients.

At under Twenty dollars, the acetone-free, Natural Nail Polish Remover from BKIND is both vegan and purse-friendly. Though its 'gentle' formula means you’ll need to set aside extra rubbing time to get your nails back to their natural state. A great trade-off from our perspective.

"Their fashion footprint with cotton’s production
process singled out as particularly destructive."

5. Swap Cotton Wool Balls For Organic, Reusable Materials.

        Stacey Dooley recently had everyone re-thinking their fashion footprint with cotton’s production process singled out as particularly destructive. So, while it might take seconds to wipe away your chipped polish with cotton wool, we now know the environmental consequences can last a lifetime. As well as being a super thirsty crop, cotton fields require pesticides and toxic dyes, which damage the environment, degrade soil and destroy habitats.

If this bothers you, pair a natural nail polish remover with Soil Association certified organic cotton wads from Simply Gentle. They might be pricier than what you’d pick up on the high street but the feel-good factor is worth the extra pennies. For extra eco points we looked into two zero-waste options: reusable rounds and peelable polish.

Tabitha Eve’s reusable bamboo pads are a one-time investment you’ll love if you’re developing a guilt complex about the contents of your bin. The rough felt surface soaked up polish more effectively than a cotton round would and they’re black too, so stains aren’t as obvious (just remember to wash after use to avoid the material hardening).

US-based brand Little Ondine specialises in a five-free peelable polish, mitigating the need for nail polish remover. The peel is not compostable though so make sure you pop those peelings in the bin.

"Just swap plastic-heavy glitter polishes for planet-friendly varieties."

6. Get Your Biodegradable Glitter Nail Art On.

        Interested in a manicure with maximum sparkle but minimal environmental impact? Just swap plastic-heavy glitter polishes for planet-friendly varieties.

While it’s great to see beauty brands bring out biodegradable glitter, not all are created equal. For that all important festival staple, we’d recommend EcoStardust’s extensive finer blends range. Not only is the star ingredient a compostable film made from eucalyptus tree (sustainably farmed obvs), the company also donates 10% of it’s profits to environmental charities. Plus, you can choose the amount you want and how it is packaged –either recyclable cardboard, biodegradable bags or aluminium tins. No pointless plastic, hurrah!

Better still, take a leaf out of Vivienne Westwood’s book and make your own nail art using upcycled scraps. Any clean shiny wrapper could be cut up into an enticing, on-trend geometric shape.

If you prefer the understated simplicity of matt polish, try this DIY cornstarch technique. Très eco-chic darling.

7. Re-Purpose Your Nail Polish Collection.

Feeling crafty? Pinterest is full of creative ways to repurpose your old nail polish.

Marble-effect mugs are a simple yet effective way to jazz up plain mugs, jars and planters. All you need is a large container full of warm water, some snazzy polish and a cocktail stick to swirl in your pattern. If you want to avoid a #nailpolishmarblingfail hold the polish close to the water when pouring or it’ll sink to the bottom and your polish and eco efforts will be wasted.