10/14/2026
Effects of Water Part 4
The process by which water leaves the nail plate, known as "desorption" not dehydration. This is the opposite of absorption. The nail plate will never become completely dehydrated, as that would be impossible. However, when excess water is absorbed, e.g. by soaking, it will return to the plate's normal state of hydration as excess water evaporates. This process can take several hours, depending on the amount of absorbed water and temperature/humidity of the air. Desorption is typically much slower than absorption. Nail plate desorption begins quickly as water near the surface evaporates. It is followed by a slower phase of gradual release of water molecules from deeper within the nail plate. It takes time for the water molecules to migrate to the surface, since the nail plate is naturally hydrophilic (water loving) and wants to hold on to water molecules. Higher humidity levels can slow or prevent desorption of water from the nail, leading to chronically elevated moisture levels. Higher air temperatures can increase the rate of water absorption and desorption, whereas colder conditions slow these processes down- demonstrating some of the effects that humidity and temperature can have on the nail plate.
~Doug Schoon, Author of Advanced Chemistry of Nails