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Mavala Scientifique
by k2705
For several months last year I had gel overlays done on my nails so they looked good for my wedding, afterwards I decided to have a break from the overlays, the cost being the main reason but my nails were so soft and weak I only had to look at them and they would break. my mum told me to try Mavala Nail Hardener, she has several health ... problems and permanently has weak nails. I took her advise and bought some from Amazon
The Packaging
Mavala Sceintifique Nail Hardener isn't the cheapest nail hardener around with a small 5ml bottle costing £10.75. It is sold in a little gold, white and red box which, in my opinion, looks quite old fashioned. The front of the box informs the customer that this is Mavala scientifique nail hardener for soft, flaking and split nails. It also says that is a product from Switzerland. The box also gives all the relevant information you need to know about the product such as ingredients and instructions for use.
Inside the box there is a large information leaflet written in several languages, 9 to be exact.
Mavala is sold in a small 5ml glass bottle with a chunky red screw lid. Wrapped around the bottle is a gold label with Mavala Scientifique written in a red band around the middle, the instructions are also repeated on the label. Attached to the inside of the lid is a small brush like a regular nail varnish brush.
The Product
The nail hardener is a blue liquid, its not thick at all like most hardeners to be honest its more like water. It has a slight chemical smell in the bottle but this cannot be smelt once applied to your nails. The liquid is also clear against your nail not blue like it is in the bottle.
The instructions
Mavala nail hardener is different in that it doesn't just put a protective layer over your nails it actually penetrates right into the nail, mavala also advise against painting the whole nail and just use this on the tips of your nails as these are the weakest part. Painting the whole nail is a waste of the product and as its not cheap there's no point in applying too much. Once applied you need to hold you hand downwards for approximately 1 minuet until the product has soaked in. Mavala should be used once or twice a week until your nails are back in good condition then every other week.
Using Mavala
Its easy to use the product, I just applied it to the tips of my nails, held my hand downwards for the required minuet and that was it. The hardener just disappears into the nails like it has never been there. There's nothing to wear off or pick off!
Has it worked?
In a word, Yes! After just 2 applications I could feel my nails were so much stronger, they weren't flaking or splitting and finally I had something to file into shape and look nice. If you like to paint your nails then there's no problem using
Mavala under nail polish, the instructions do advise to use a base coat, apart from this though the hardener will in no way affect any polish you want to use.
My opinion
I've been really pleased with Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener, I particularly like the fact that it soaks right in and doesn't just coat the nail. Its invisible once its on and nail varnish can be used with it too. It is expensive to buy but Mavala state if used correctly and applied to just the tips of the nails this little bottle should last you a year, although I haven't been using this a year yet looking at my bottle I would certainly agree with this.
If you are suffering with weak nails that flake and split then I would certainly recommend trying this.
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Mavala Scientifique
by Dryad
My nails have never been the strong tools that some people seem to be blessed with. I swear my mother could cut glass with hers, whereas mine will bend right back on themselves when simply faced with opening a can of pop. When I discovered Mavala in my late teens I was able to grow my nails to a decent length for the first time, after a ... while of not being able to find it in shops for some reason it now seems to be back, and I am rediscovering its benefits.
I have used Nail Envy by OPI on and off for a few years and find it very good, however it is a bit pricey, and even though it can be bought in clear matt I don't always like the feeling of having something on my nails. When I take off the varnish my nails are a little stronger but soon revert to their peeling, bendy lilly livered selves. Mavala penetrates the nail and seems to make it stronger from within.
I feel that using a nail strengthener is not just a vanity as my nails as mentioned above are very weak, they peel and split easily, often tearing and breaking below the quick line which I'm sure most people have experienced and will know how painful it can be, this can also occasionally even set up an infection. They can peel and tear off leaving a rough edge which catches on everything including skin (which hurts), it doesn't always happen where I have access to a file to smooth the edge. I don't grow my nails very long but want to keep them looking their best (there's the vanity) and comfortable, to be able to scratch my leg without bending my nails backwards. Mavala reduces all of these problems and gives me nails that function at a 'normal' level.
Mavala are an independent Swiss company and have been around for quite some time, it was founded, in 1958 by Mrs Madeleine Van Landeghem, introducing their Scientifique hardener to the U.K. In 1959. They have now expanded their nail care products, and added hand care products, cosmetics and skin care to their range. I have not been able to find specifics on animal testing on the website, but they are included on many cruelty free lists, so I will definitely be looking out for some of their other products, and will read the box and insert carefully before discarding this time to check this out.
Mavala Scientifique is packaged on a card that can be hung on a hook, the box which contains the bottle is part of this card, the whole thing is white, with red writing, and a picture of a nice finger with healthy nail. The product itself comes in tiny 2 or 5ml glass bottles with a red lid, just like a small (no frills) bottle of nail varnish. The bottle may be small but it lasts for ages. The liquid inside is an almost emerald green and is painted onto the nail tips, again like nail varnish, however the liquid sinks into the nail rather than coats it. The liquid will sometimes sit on the nail for a few seconds before completely sinking in, but will very quickly be absorbed.
This product is in no way a nourishing product for your nails, it is a simple but very effective nail hardener, I have never tried anything quite as effective. The formula contains formaldehyde, which is considered the bogeyman of nail hardening ingredients as it can be toxic, but it is the gas emitted by the chemical which can be hazardous, and unless you plan to use this as an inhalator there should be no problem. The product has been used for 52 years with no adverse effects as far as I'm aware. It is however very drying on your nails, cuticles and surrounding skin, so although this will harden your nails you will also need to moisturise them or the nail could become brittle, and snap defeating the purpose of the product. You will also need to moisturise and protect the cuticle and surrounding skin or it could also become dry and even hardened, if you get the product onto this skin wipe it off. I find that a decent hand cream rubbed around the cuticles and onto the nail when using on hands is often enough.
Mavala do make a cuticle cream (nourishing and protective) and other products aimed at moisturising and nourishing the nail and nailbed which they recommend you use in conjunction with the hardener - which of course puts up the price of the system. When I first used this product all those years ago I was not aware of the need to condition my cuticles, and must admit that they did sometimes get a little dry, once I noticed this I used olive oil and handcream to help and that seemed to do the trick.
If the hardener does get onto the skin either side of the nail or cuticle (and you don't notice to wipe it away) it can give you a case of 'green finger'. My nails like to split horizontally right at the junction between finger tip and free edge, or just on or above the quick. So I want to be able to take the hardener right up to the edge of the nail, I have found this makes it difficult to avoid 'green finger' as it can bleed out onto the skin and run under the finger nail. However if I put a little vaseline on the skin either side of my nails this helps to prevent the staining and potential dryness. It may all sound a little 'faffy' but I tend to do it while watching t.v. and don't find it a chore at all.
The recommended usage of this product is twice a week on the free edge of the nail itself, it is not recommended that you take the hardener all over the nail. Once the nails show signs of becoming stronger you can reduce usage to a few times a month. You cannot apply this product over nail varnish, and you are advised to apply on clean bare nails, which have no oily residue on them. So moisturising should be done after application. You should also not apply under the nail edge, I did this once and ended up with a green stripe along the 'quick' line, it took ages with a nail brush to get rid of it. I have to admit that my nails are so rubbish that I have never followed the guidelines, and apply this several times a week, and touch wood I have seen no ill effects so far (unless you count mouldy looking fingers). Of course I wouldn't recommend that you do as I do, but do as Mavala say.
You can buy Mavala in many places, Boots at £5.50 for 2mls, and Debenhams sell it in a bigger 5ml size at £11.50, and online, where it seems to be sold in the 5ml size for similar prices to Debenhams between about £10 and £12.
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