Last week, during my routine nail appointment, I found myself entranced by the sight of another woman’s nails. They were unnervingly dark, a stark contrast to the vibrant colours around us.

But whether you prefer a French tip, emo black or long acrylics with eye-catching designs, you might wonder this: Can painting your nails be bad for you? The answer is a bit complicated ...

That’s all fine and dandy—unless years of being a devoted gel- or acrylics-wearer have left your nails in need of some serious TLC. To be fair, it’s not that these types of manicures are ...