Winter Whites & Tea Stained Nails
The end of December might feel like a strange time to be talking about tea-stained nails. But as we’ve been talking more about nail polish permeability and how soak-off systems interact with acetone, it felt like the right moment to explain staining as well.
Sometimes staining is obvious. Turmeric, or self-tanner leaves a clear mark. Other times it’s subtle. The color slowly shifts. A shade that once felt crisp starts to look dingier day by day, without a single moment you can point to as the cause.
As someone who wears dark colors regularly, I see this on my own nails pretty quickly. My nails get what I jokingly call “the greys,” a muted, dull cast that comes from pigment transfer over time.
And sometimes it happens all at once. A bright white suddenly turns tea-brown almost overnight. In my experience, this has happened most often after exposure to certain hand sanitizers or sunscreens.
If you’ve ever noticed a yellow or brown cast creeping into a once-fresh light gel, you’re not imagining it. Here’s what’s happening and how to minimize it.
Why light gels discolor
Discoloration in light gels is almost always staining, not product failure. Light gels behave like light fabric. They don’t cause stains, but they reveal them.
Soak-off gel systems are intentionally permeable so they can be removed safely. That same permeability allows pigments from daily life to migrate slowly into the surface layers of the coating.
Darker shades mask this. Sheer and milky colors do not.
As the top coat wears down, staining becomes more noticeable.
How to reduce staining
Oil consistently. The top coat is your main barrier. When it stays intact, staining happens more slowly. Regular cuticle oil use helps maintain flexibility and reduces surface wear.
Be mindful with known stainers. Coffee, tea, spices, self-tanner, and hair dye are frequent culprits. Also hand sanitizers and sunscreens. Gloves help, especially during cleaning or hair services.
Top coat choices that help
No soft gel top coat is stain-proof, but the more durable polishes will help. Currently the most durable stain resistant polishes in our chosen lines are:
#1 Kokoist Ultra Glossy Non-Wipe Top Coat
Or for Shellac Purists CND Shellac Duraforce