Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem, especially among women. Many people inevitably develop ingrown toenails because they wear shoes such as pumps and high-heeled shoes that squeeze their toes, but it is difficult to cure by oneself.
The best way to cure ingrown toenails is to go to a dermatologist or a nail salon for ingrown toenail correction, but this time we will show you how to improve ingrown toenails by yourself. However, there are some precautions to be taken, so please read this article to the end.
*This blog is written by a manicurist in Japan. The information contained in this article is available in Japan. Please note that it may be different in other countries.
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail is a deformed nail with the end of the nail curled inward.
Because the nail curls in, it easily damages the skin, and if bacteria get into it, they can cause inflammation and a condition called “onychomycosis” (nail inflammation). Another similar disease is “ingrown nail,” which also causes inflammation.
In some cases, ingrown nails are not particularly inflamed and do not cause pain. However, even in such cases, standing or walking for a long time may cause pain, so it is better to treat ingrown toenails if possible.
To cure ingrown toenails
Dermatology
To cure ingrown toenails, first go to a dermatologist. They will look at the condition of the nail and diagnose the disease. Many hospitals/clinics also offer a procedure to correct ingrown toenails, so please contact your local dermatologist.
Nail salons
For non-inflamed ingrown toenails, ingrown toenails can be corrected at a nail salon instead of a dermatologist.
Not all nail salons can provide this service, but we recommend nail salons that have a large advertising campaign for ingrown toenail correction, such as “Specializing in ingrown toenails. You can rest assured that a manicurist with extensive experience and knowledge of ingrown toenail correction will provide counseling and correction.
Also, depending on the extent of the ingrown toenail condition, many nail salons will provide cute gel or artwork in addition to the correction.
How to fix ingrown toenails on your own
It is possible to remedy ingrown toenails on one’s own. However, if they are painful or inflamed, absolutely not! Always go to a dermatologist for treatment.
Please note that the method introduced here is intended for people with ingrown toenails that are not painful or inflamed.
Maintain some length.
In the case of ingrown toenails, if the free edge (white growth) is kept just short enough, the next time it grows out, it will curl and grow back even more.
Keep the free edge at a certain length. In my experience, many people do not experience pain as long as the length is maintained.
However, please note that it is easy to make holes in your socks lol.
Put acrylic on it.
If you keep some length, you will most likely not have pain, but it does not improve the curling condition. This is where acrylics used in sculpture can be used.
The acrylic naturally hardens and strengthens over time, lifting the nail upward. Here is a before and after of acrylic on a curled nail.
Can you see that the edge of the nail has been raised? It is easy to see when you look at the overlaps ⇓.
The red line is the after nail position and the blue line is the before nail position.
This is the first correction with acrylics, so this is the extent of the improvement, but it will improve as you continue.
However, please note that putting acrylics on the feet will inevitably lead to green nails. Also, acrylics are difficult to handle, so I do not recommend it to those who are not familiar with it.
Let us show you what you actually need to improve ingrown toenails with acrylics and how to do it!
What you need to improve ingrown toenails with acrylics
Let’s start with what you need.
All the products in this article are all used by professionals and only those that I have actually used myself. Please note that there are cheaper products and some that come as a set, but I cannot recommend products that are of low quality or that I have never used.
Acrylic Powder
Acrylic powder that hardens when taken with a brush containing acrylic monomer. We recommend colors close to your own nails, such as clear, pink, and natural.
Acrylic monomer (acrylic liquid)
Acrylic monomers are necessary for curing acrylic powders. Choose one from the same manufacturer as the acrylic powder.
Sculpture brush
A brush that contains acrylic monomer to take acrylic powder and shape it. It must be for sculpture, not for gel.
Pre-primer
Acrylics (sculptures) will not hold up well if moisture or oil is left on the nails, and in some cases, green nails may result. Be sure to use a preprimer to remove moisture and oil from the nails.
Primer
Primer is necessary to improve the adhesion of acrylics.
Nail file
Nail files required for shaping. There are different types in terms of coarseness, but we recommend the 180 grid as it is easy to use.
Sponge Buffer
Finally, a sponge buffer is needed to polish the acrylic.
How to improve ingrown toenails with acrylics
Now that you know what you need, let’s see how to do it.
Prepare the nails
First, shape and lengthen the nails, and then scrape the nail surface with a file to improve adhesion to the acrylic. Be careful not to shave too much, as it is OK if the gloss disappears to some extent.
Apply pre-primer
Apply pre-primer to remove moisture and oil from the nails.
Apply primer
Apply primer to enhance adhesion with acrylic.
Putting on the acrylic
When the primer is completely dry, place the acrylic. Place the acrylic from one end of the nail to the other.
Smooth out the bumps. Do not put it on up to the root.
It does not have to be that thick, but if it is too thin, it will not lift. About the thickness of a credit card is OK.
Lift the edge of the nail until it hardens.
After finishing placing the acrylic, lift up both ends of the nail. Hold until cured!
Shaping
Once cured, file and shape the surface, finish with a sponge buffer, and you’re done!
Gel can of course be applied over this. However, as I mentioned earlier, acrylics on feet tend to turn into green nails. If possible, we recommend using a color that is transparent to your own nails so that you can check for green nails at any time.
Also, be sure to remove and reapply the gel once a month (to prevent green nails).
Check out the video!
The series of steps is also available on video. Please check it out too!
A must read! Notes.
We have shown you how to improve ingrown toenails on your own, but we would like to reiterate a word of caution.
- Always go to a dermatologist if there is pain or inflammation. Never treat it yourself.
- Do not do this if you are not used to handling acrylic.
- Be aware that putting acrylics on feet can lead to green nails.
I hope this helps anyone who wants to fix their own ingrown toenails!
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