How to Whiten Stained Nails At Home, According to the Pros

Reviewed by Evelyn LimFact checked by Anna Harris

Dark nail polishes can look amazing, but they often stain your nails which is extremely frustrating. Thankfully, most stains caused by nail polish are superficial and can be removed with the right ingredients, technique, and a little bit of patience.

To best understand how to get rid of stained nails, we tapped two nail experts and a board-certified dermatologist. Below, they explain why nails get stained in the first place, how quickly they can be restored to their natural state, and nine easy ways you can do it from home.

Meet the Experts

• Sigourney Nu?ez is a professional nail artist and Sally Hansen partner.

• Diane Madfes, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

• Julie Ventura is the founder of nail education platform NailKnowHow.

What Causes Stained Nails?

"There are many things that can cause nail stains," says Ventura. "Chemicals from cleaning products, dyes from clothing, smoking, and even health problem like deficiencies and infections can cause nails to be discolored." However, she says the most common cause though is the pigments in nail products. "Our nail plates are made of layers of keratin which are super porous, and the [nail polish] pigments can wedge in there over time," explains Nu?ez.

How Quickly Can You Whiten Stained Nails?

How quickly you can fix nail stains will depend on the cause of it. "Some causes like pigments and dyes are typically only affecting the surface layers of the nail place and can be removed with a single treatment," says Ventura. "Other causes like smoking, chemical stains, and health problems tend to penetrate the deeper layers of the nail plate. In some cases, you may just have to wait for it to grow out."

See below for nine easy ways to whiten surface-level stained nails at home.

Buff Away Surface-Level Stains

Some stains are very superficial and can be taken care of quite quickly. "If the nail staining is cosmetic, a gentle buff with a fine grit buffer can help gently remove some of the yellowing," confirms Nu?ez. "Using a light touch and very little pressure, use a spongy buffer to lightly buff away the discoloration."

Soak Your Nails In Vinegar

Dr. Madfes and Ventura both suggest soaking your nails in a white vinegar and warm water mix to help lighten stained nails. "Try mixing a tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of warm water and soak for 10-15 minutes," suggess Ventura.

Coat Your Nails In Whitening Toothpaste

Another DIY hack to lighten nails is to apply a layer of whitening toothpaste to your bare nails as a mask. First, use a buffing block to file and shape your nails to smooth them out and remove superficial stains. Then, evenly coat the tops and undersides of your nails with toothpaste and use a nail brush and gently scrub your nails. For some, scrubbing your nails will do the trick, but if your nails are still stained, apply another coat of toothpaste and let it sit for at 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

Apply Nail Strengthener

Dr. Madfes says to keep nails happy and strong by applying a daily strengthener to fortify the nail as it grows out. She recommends using the ISDIN SI-Nails ($32) strengthener on bare nails daily as it's formulated with hyaluronic acid.

Coat Your Nails In Baking Soda

Baking soda is widely used to cut through grease to clean, and it certainly puts up a good fight against yellow stains. To create this lightening paste, mix two teaspoons of baking soda with warm water. Then, apply the paste to the tops and undersides of your nails. Let it sit for at least five minutes before rinsing it off.

Use Super-Gentle Exfoliants

When buffing the nails, consider a hybrid treatment that will nourish the nails while working to reverse damage. Ventura suggests using ORLY's Cutique Cuticle + Stain Remover ($7) as it moisturizes the nail and its surrounding skin while working as a super-gentle exfoliant. In fact, she says it's one of her favorite nail-whitening hacks.

Use Press-On Nails

Give your nails a break from potentially-staining nail polish and opt for press-ons instead. "They don't cause damage," says Dr. Madfes, adding that they also allow the nails to grow out underneath.

Always Use a Base Coat

If you do want to continue wearing nail polish, Nu?ez says to always use a base coat as it "will help prevent and reduce staining." She recommends Sally Hansen’s Double Duty Base + Top ($6.50) as "the base coat not only works like a double sided sticky tape and helps the polish adhere to the nail plate but also grabs the color for longer wear."

Use a Color Corrector

Offset discoloration with a sheer, tinted color correcting nail treatment, like the Sally Hansen Repair + Rescue Illuminating Color Corrector ($14). Nu?ez says this tip is especially helpful for people with weak, thin nails that likely wouldn't respond well to buffing surface-level stains.

Related: The 15 Best Nail Strengtheners to Treat Brittle, Damaged Nails