Going Short Can Strengthen Nails
“Whether you realize it or not, when you have long nails you’re constantly hitting them on your keyboard, the door, you name it. People underestimate how much of an impact this has,” says Tuttle.
Keep your nails short and give them a chance to grow out stronger and healthier than before. The other upshot: Nails that aren’t in great shape look healthier when they’re shorter, adds Holford.
Bannon adds that giving yourself a mini “manicure” even if it’s just as simple as filing your nails every two to four days can prevent breakage and snags. If your nails are really in need of some T.L.C., repeat these manis for two to four weeks to see results and stronger nails.
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Amazing Home Remedies To Cure Brittle Nails:
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil bestowed with healthy fatty acids works as an amazing natural moisturiser which helps to nurture and strengthen weak and brittle nails. It makes the cuticles strong and lessens dryness and peeling. Besides this, it also fortifies the nail beds, nails and promotes their growth.
How To Do
Take 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil, warm it mildly and apply on each nail while massaging gently for 4-6 minutes. This will enhance the blood circulation and retains moisture in the nails. Repeat this thrice daily for best result.
Apple Cider Vinegar
The vast reserves of essential nutrients such as potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium and vitamins in apple cider vinegar support to keep nails strong and healthy. Apart from this richness of malic acid and acetic acid exhibits potent antiseptic and antifungal properties that help to ward off nail infections.
How To Do
Take equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl, soak nails in this mixture for a few minutes and gently push down the cuticles. Do this once daily and after a week nails will become stronger and firmer.
Tea Tree Oil
The strong antiseptic properties of tea tree oil help to cure brittle nails caused by fungal infections. It also works wonders to treat discoloured nails and aids to repair and strengthen damaged nails. Other essential oils which have nail healing and strengthening properties includes lavender oil, jojoba oil, lemon and frankincense oil.
How To Do
Lemon Juice
How To Do
Sea Salt
Moisturize With Shea Butter
The application of shea butter can help nourish your nails and restore moisture, thus boosting the repair of brittle nails while promoting the growth of strong nails.
How to use:
- Use shea butter to moisturize your hands, including the nails, every day.
- You can also massage in shea butter to your nails for around 20 minutes before bedtime and leave it overnight.
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What Causes Brittle Finger Nails
There are different reasons for brittle fingernails, lots of contact with water, household detergents, cold weather, some nail polish can also dry your nails and continuous use make your nails weak.
Overheating in the house and sickness can also cause weak brittle nails, old age is also a known factor in making nails brittle, weak and splitting.
Harsh chemicals, some present in your cleansers are not friendly to your nails at all.
Iron deficiency can also affect your nails and so is the chlorine in swimming pools.
Lack of fatty acids and calcium, low levels of zinc, thyroid problems and low level of iron may also cause brittle nails: read more here.
Another cause of brittle nails is Acryl nails after you have stopped using acryl nails, you`ll find that your natural nails turn weak and brittle.
Fingernail Health Nutrition For Dry Brittle Nails
Dont give up your good nutrition habits just because youve finished growing big and strong. Healthy eating habits should be practiced throughout every facet of life, no matter how old you are. Your overall health, energy level and even your appearance depend on your quality of nutrition. What you eat affects everything from your hair to your skin to your fingernail health. Take a look at your fingernails are they smooth and perfectly rounded with a healthy pink glow? Or do you have to resort to applying fake nails or slathering on nail polish to cover up your unsightly fingernail problems? If you want healthy fingernails, you have to nourish yourself from the inside-outhealthy nailsFingernail Nutrition – You Are What You EatB-complex vitaminsbiotincalciumfolic acidvitamin Comega-3multivitaminCalcium-rich foodsalmondsflaxseedsvitamin BFlaxseedevening primrose oilFingernail CareQuick Beauty TipsWhat Do Your Nails Say About You?
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How To Cure Brittle Or Flaking Nails
Brittle nails, flaking nails and peeling nails are a common and annoying problem. You can cure brittle nails from the outside with a daily care regime that involves using a moisturising oil and applying a strengthening product. Just as important is to treat brittle nails from the inside, by taking supplements that boost the formation of strong, healthy nails, such as biosin, silica and collagen supplements. Fingernails normally grow at a rate of 3mm to 5mm per month, so the cells within your nail bed need a continuous flow of protein, vitamins and minerals. As nails are non-essential structures, they often miss out when building blocks are in short supply, and during times of stress when blood flow to the peripheries is reduced. Nails are therefore one of the first parts of your body to show signs of nutritional deficiency, causing them to become either brittle or to become soft and peel with flaking nails.
Remove Gel Polish And Acrylics Correctly
Okay, so technically this isn’t a repair tip, but do this first and it can save you from having to deal with a lot of potential problems. First and foremost, repeat after us: I will not pick off a gel manicure.
“Picking off gel is probably the worst thing you can do to your nails,” says celebrity manicurist Geraldine Holford. “The immediate effects are harming the nail plate because you’re removing the top layers of the actual nail along with your polish,” she explains.
“The long-term effects are thinning of the nails, harm to the nail bed, and irregularities on the nail plate and in growth patterns.” No thank you.
ORLY’s Senior Product Testing Manager, Kelly Bannon agrees, adding that even if you soak your nails to remove the polish, you can still damage your nails if not soaked long enough or if the topcoat barrier is not broken, prohibiting the remove to reach all the gel layers. She strongly recommends having your gels removed by a professional top prevent any damage.
Pro tip: Whether you’re having gel or dip removed, ask your tech to cover your hands in hot towels while your nails are wrapped up in the acetone-soaked cotton pads the heat will help speed up the process, explains Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of Olive & June.
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How To Cure Brittle Nails
Whether your nails are weak, brittle, flaking or peeling, I strongly recommend using Solar Oil to nourish your nails and cuticles. This blend of almond oil, jojoba oil, rice bran oil and vitamin E sinks in to improve the water resistance of your nails, improves nail strengthen and flexibility. I keep Solar Oil by my keyboard and apply it before I start typing every morning, and when I finish at the end of the day. It smells divinely of almonds.
And, to shape fragile nails, only use a glass or crystal nail file. These are finely ground and are less likely to cause chipping or peeling than a traditional emery board, as they help to seal the ends of your nails. File in one direction rather than using a sawing back-and-forth motion which shreds keratin and promotes splitting and flaking.
Take A Closer Look At Your Shampoo
If youre using a shampoo that is drying or aims to strip oils , it might be drying out your nails and causing weak or brittle nails. Try changing up your shampoo for a couple of weeks and see if you notice a difference.
If youve tried multiple things for several weeks and havent noticed any change in your nails, see a dermatologist. They can take a look at your nails and ask you questions about your routine and overall health.
If need be, they can prescribe a prescription-strength nail treatment that can help to strengthen your nails.
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Cause: Low Thyroid Levels
Sweat is your body’s natural moisturizer. Low levels of the thyroid hormone, called “hypothyroidism,” lessens how much sweat your body makes. The result is drier hair, skin, and nails. Along with brittle nails, you might have other symptoms like aches and pains, fatigue, weight gain, and memory problems.
Sea Salt And Wheat Germ Oil
Although many people ignore it in their beauty routine, your nails also need to be exfoliated. Particles accumulate on the surface which cause it to gradually deteriorate.
Sea salt is perfect for adding to this treatment because of its texture and nutrients. Applying it directly will get rid of dead cells, smooth your cuticles, and leave your nails looking shiny.
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Your Nails Dry Out As You Age Losing Their Natural Oils Which Act As A Glue To Hold The Nail Layers Together
If you have thin fingernails and dry skin to begin with, you can expect this to happen to you “sooner rather than later.”
Exposing your hands to harsh soaps, cleaning products, solvents, and rough work makes the problem worse because it pulls natural oil from your nails and damages the nail keratin protein. At first, your nails begin to “fray” on the edges, becoming brittle. Eventually, the layers split.
Nail hardeners make the problem of nail splitting worse, too. This is because the alcohols, formaldehyde and other chemicals in the nail hardeners really dry out your natural oils.
Biotin For Brittle Nails
Biotin is a B group vitamin which can improve the strength of brittle, splitting nails. Studies in which nails were examined by scanning electron microscopy showed that taking biotin supplements increased nail thickness by an average of 25% in those with brittle fingernails, reduced splitting and caused the arrangement of cells on the back of the nail to become more regular. In a study involving 45 women, taking 2.5mg biotin supplements per day for six months, 91% showed definite improvement in nail quality, with none of them considering treatment ineffective. Noticeable effects are normally seen within 2 to 3 months of starting to take supplements. As a bonus, it will strengthen your hair, too.
However, in one study, around one in three women showed no significant improvements, suggesting that biotin deficiency is not always involved in poor nail quality. If biotin doesnt work for you, then take a silica supplement .
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Brittle Nails: What To Do
Both externally and internally, you can fight against brittle nails on your hands. There are care varnishes to protect the pins
You can also use Sililevo under cosmetic nail polish to protect and strengthen the nails simultaneously.
For this purpose, a thin layer of water-soluble nail polish is applied to the affected nails once a day in the evening.
The varnish forms a transparent protective film, and the building blocks penetrate the nail overnight.
The nail polish cares for and strengthens the nails with HPCH , silica, and sulfur. This film protects the nail plate from external influences and, at the same time, prevents the nail from losing moisture.
It is best to use it as a 3-month cure.
Tips To Get Stronger Nails And Prevent Splitting
Along with these useful home remedies, you can also follow some healthy tips in order to get healthier and stronger nails.
Healthy Diet Split and brittle nails are one of the tell-tale signs of lack of nutrients in the diet. It is important to bring about a few positive changes in your lifestyle and follow a healthy food chart in order to have strong and healthy nails, beautiful skin and thick hair. The diet should be rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Some of the essential nutrients for healthy nails are vitamins A, B vitamins, C, D and E along with folic acid, iron, calcium, zinc, and biotin.
File Your Nails Smoothing the rough edges of your nails using a file and keeping it well-rounded prevents chipping a peeling of the nails. But it is necessary to file only in one direction, because, filing back and forth can weaken the nails.
Buff Your Nails Use an inexpensive four-sided nail buffer to buff your nails. Buffing increases blood supply to the nail matrix, the tissues present underneath the nails that produce new fingernails. Buffing also smoothes the uneven edges and adds a natural shine without the use of chemical-laden polishes.
Protect Your Nails From Water Excessive exposure to water can make your nails soft and brittle because water strips away the natural moisture from skin and nails. Therefore, wear dish gloves while washing dishes and cleaning.
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What Causes Flaking Nails
A tendency towards weak, bendy nails that flake or peel easily is often hereditary, but can also result from an irregular supply of protein to your fingertips.
One protein building block that is especially important is cystine, whose disulfide bonds help to glue the keratin fibers together to increase nail hardness.
Thin nails have also been associated with low levels of magnesium, silica, vitamins A and D.
Nails with poor water resistance soon soften when the hydration of the nail plate increases from the normal level of around 18% to become greater than 25%.
Aways wear gloves when washing dishes and keep your hands out of the bath water when enjoying a long soak
Use A Natural Exfoliator
Sometimes nails need exfoliation, too. Don’t take a scrub to your fingers, however . Instead, opt for a gentle, natural chemical exfoliator. Research suggests that glycolic acid can help with restoring nail strength. It’s a common skin care ingredientin peels, pads, or serumsso simply rub it in your nails once a week.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.
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Dont Overdo The Hand Sanitizer
Because hand sanitizers are typically alcohol-based, constantly applying the stuff can dry out your nails and leave them super brittle. If you have to use hand sanitizer, try not to get it on your nails, and dont overdo it, says Dr. Solomon. Using hand sanitizer wipes can make it easier to avoid the nail area during applicationor if you prefer the liquid variety, make sure to slather on moisturizer afterward to balance the scales.
Strengthen From The Inside Out
Along with addressing nails from the outside, all the experts we spoke with agreed that the right supplements can help strengthen your tips from the inside, out. One good option? Collagen. An essential protein for hair, skin, and nails, ingestible collagen peptides are easily incorporated into your daily routine and can help promote healthy nails.
“Collagen has really made a difference in the health of my nails. They feel resilient and stronger,” says Holford. Try: NeoCell Super Collagen Powder. Another good option? Biotin. The B vitamin is one of Tuttle’s top picks for strengthening nails. Choi adds that along with supplements, you can also get these internal benefits by focusing on incorporating biotin-rich and collagen-synthesizing foods in your diet, such as salmon, avocados, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and nuts and seeds.
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What Causes Brittle Toenails
As previously mentioned, there are a variety of causes for brittle toenails, some more serious than others. Causes include:
- Eating disorders as they contribute to vitamin deficiencies
- Solvents to remove nail polish
- Keeping feet in water for prolonged periods
Uncovering the cause will help your doctor determine what mode of treatment will be most successful in treating your brittle toenails.
Avoid Contact With Water
Dont stop washing your hands or shower with gloves on, but do pay attention to ways you can reduce the time your nails spend in contact with water, because excessive water contact can weaken nail structure. For example, consider wearing gloves while doing the dishes or other wet work.
You know how soft and bendy nails get after a long bath? Consider this: The nail is like a sponge. It is 1,000 times more absorptive of water than the skin, for example, and so water can easily diffuse into the nail, Dr. Stern says. Excessive water exposure can put significant strain on delicate nail cells , which can lead to brittleness, peeling, and breakage, she says.
This is also why soaking nails before a manicure is bad practice. Not only does this make your nails more vulnerable to infection, according to Dr. Green, but it also doesnt allow nail polish to adhere as well or last as long.
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Caring For The Toenails
To have a strong toenail, it is important to have a proper nail care. Keep the skin intact and the nail beds healthy. Applying a moisturizer and cuticle oil can help prevent infection and keep the nail bed healthy.
A healthy nail bed is essential for a healthy nail. File your nails regularly. If you notice any tears, you have to attend to it right away to prevent further damage. Pay particular attention to what you eat. Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Eat a well-balanced diet and increase your intake of vegetables, fresh fruits, vitamins, and minerals.
It is embarrassing to have brittle and unhealthy nails. Severely brittle nails can sometimes lead to serious infection, which causes intense pain and lifting of the nail bed. If your toenail is brittle, do not be afraid because treatments are available.
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