In order to fully treat yellowed nails, the nails themselves have to be bare, with no layers of polish or varnish. Once all nail polish is removed, you can fully see the stained areas of your nails!
Rotate your nail to the left and right to make sure you’re also buffing the sides of your nail, not just the top, middle section. Only buff each nail for about 10 seconds. You only want to remove the very top, stained layer of your nail. [2] X Expert Source Mia RubieNail Artist Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
The lemon juice can lighten your nails much in the same way it can lighten hair when it is sprayed on and exposed to the sun. You could also squeeze lemon juice into a bowl and use a cotton ball to apply the juice directly to your nails.
Consider adding a few drops of lemon juice into this paste to give the mixture even more whitening power. Alternatively, you could also create a soak by adding the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda mix into about 1 cup of water, and soaking your nails for about 5-10 minutes.
After rinsing off the toothpaste, apply lotion to your hands and nails to keep them hydrated.
You can soak your nails in this solution a couple times a month, but be sure you soak then when your nails are bare, and free from nail polish.
Tea tree oil is a disinfectant and naturally fights fungus, which could help combat the yellowing of your nails.
Zinc supplements are commonly used to help treat yellowed nails. If there’s no medical condition causing your yellowed nails, you may simply have to wait for your nails to grow out before they return to their normal color. [8] X Expert Source Mia RubieNail Artist Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
A base coat also serves as an anchor for the colored polish to hold onto.
Using lighter or sheer nail polish colors can give your nails a break from the harsh dyes found in darker polishes. If you do want to use a darker color, be especially sure to use a good-quality base coat to protect your nails. [9] X Expert Source Mia RubieNail Artist Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.