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A Harper’s Bazaar report gathers nail-care advice from salon founders and other professionals, focusing on hydration, gentle filing and avoiding cuticle damage. Experts say gel manicures need not automatically harm natural nails, but application, removal and timely maintenance matter.
Harper’s Bazaar has published a professional nail-care guide that recommends regular hydration, gentle cuticle treatment and careful filing, while stressing that gel manicure damage can depend on application and removal. The report draws on comments from nail and hand-care professionals and offers practical advice for people who want manicures without neglecting the natural nail beneath them.
The report’s central advice is to build simple care into daily routines rather than rely on occasional treatments. Peach Bling founder Sandra Wei recommends applying cuticle oil daily, ideally before bed, and using hand cream to help keep the surrounding skin and nails hydrated. She suggests looking for oil containing jojoba, while noting that regular protection from water and cleaning products can also help limit dryness. Wei advises wearing gloves for dishwashing and cleaning because water and harsh detergents can contribute to dry, weak nails.
On cuticles, Olive & June vice president of education Olivia Van Iderstine advises against cutting live skin, which helps protect the nail bed from bacteria and infection. She says gently pushing back cuticles and removing only excess skin can improve their appearance and help polish adhere. The guide recommends softening the area first with cuticle oil or warm, soapy water, then using a clean orangewood stick or metal pusher with care.
For nail length and shape, professionals favor consistent, gentle filing to reduce snags that may become splits or tears. Margaret Dabbs favors crystal files but cautions against overfiling. The report also says gel polish is not automatically incompatible with natural nail health: Wei describes Japanese gel systems as using limited preparation and flexible, fine layers, while the guide notes builder gel as another option. Keeping a gel set for no more than four weeks is advised in the report, and lifting or cracking is a signal to arrange removal rather than peel it off.
Daily Habits That Protect Nails
The advice matters because many common manicure-related problems can arise from routine handling rather than from a particular nail color or shape. Peeling off chipped or lifting polish, cutting living cuticle tissue, aggressive buffing and overfiling can all put stress on the natural nail or surrounding skin. The report’s recommendations give readers ways to reduce those risks without suggesting they must give up manicures.
The guidance also underscores that nail care is not one-size-fits-all. Hydration and gentler handling are emphasized as recurring habits, while gel safety depends partly on the technique used and how the product is removed. The report says nails may grow more slowly and retain less moisture with age, which can contribute to brittleness and vertical ridges; it frames this as a reason to maintain hydration, not as a reason to avoid nail treatments altogether.
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Care Beneath the Manicure
The guide is framed against changing manicure trends, including new finishes, shapes and longer-wearing gel systems. It argues that attention often centers on the polish, even though the condition of the natural nail remains part of the result. Krisztina van der Boom, founder of London nail studio DryBy, previously told Harper’s Bazaar that manicures should be judged not only by color or wear time but also by care for the nail underneath.
The professionals cited represent nail studios and hand- and foot-care businesses, rather than a clinical trial or formal medical guideline. Their comments provide practical expert recommendations, but the source does not present comparative research establishing that one oil, file type or gel system is best for everyone. Its product references are examples within a beauty publication’s guide, not proof of clinical benefit.
“Cuticle oil is the one product I would never skip.”
— Sandra Wei, founder of Peach Bling
Limits of the Expert Guidance
The source does not provide clinical studies comparing the effectiveness of specific oils, files or gel systems, or establish that any manicure method is risk-free. Wei says Peach Bling prioritizes formulas without HEMA and TPO, ingredients she associates with gel allergies and sensitivities; the report does not quantify those risks or assess every product formulation. Individual reactions and nail conditions may differ.
It is also unclear from the report how its four-week recommendation applies across all gel products, application methods or personal nail-growth rates. The guide does not offer medical advice for persistent pain, changes in nail color, infection or recurring breakage. Its recommendations are general care guidance, not a diagnosis or substitute for professional assessment when symptoms persist.
Applying the Advice at Home
The report does not announce a new product, policy or scheduled follow-up. For readers, its practical next steps are to moisturize hands and cuticles regularly, wear gloves for wet cleaning, file gently and avoid peeling polish or cutting living cuticle tissue. Anyone choosing gel can ask a nail professional how the product will be prepared and removed, and should arrange care if the set lifts or cracks rather than pulling it off.
People experiencing ongoing nail or skin problems may need advice specific to their circumstances; the guide does not identify a single remedy for those concerns. The key point from the professionals is to treat application and removal as part of nail care, not just the finished manicure.
Key Questions
Does the guide say gel polish is always damaging?
No. It says gel polish does not have to be a deal breaker for nail health. The professionals cited emphasize gentle preparation and careful removal, while advising that a gel set should not remain on for more than four weeks.
Should I cut my cuticles?
The guide advises against cutting live cuticle skin because it helps protect the nail bed. It says gently pushing back softened cuticles and removing only excess skin can be an alternative.
How often does the report recommend using cuticle oil?
Peach Bling founder Sandra Wei recommends daily application, ideally before bed. This is her professional advice in the report, not a clinical dosing rule.
What should I do if gel polish starts lifting?
The report says lifting or cracking can signal that removal is needed. It advises against peeling the product off and emphasizes careful removal to help protect the natural nail.
Source: harpersbazaar.com
