Consider Upping Your Biotin Intake
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin B coenzyme that you can find in supplement form at health food stores. Dermatologist and NYC-based nail health specialist Dr. Dana Stern told INSIDER that an amount between 2000 mcg and 3000 mcg is the recommended daily dosage for biotin in supplement form. She also advises that since nails grow slowly, you should expect to see biotin benefits in 4 months for fingernails and 9 months for toenails.
What about other dietary sources? Dr. Stern says that its an extreme rarity to see biotin deficiency in this country, but trends like juicing can sometimes lead down that path. Naturally, biotin-rich foods include cold-water fish such as salmon, almonds, peanuts, Swiss chard, and eggs. Its definitely a plus when foods;are good for us AND good for our nails.
It’s worth noting that not all experts are unanimous about whether biotin can actually improve your nail strength, so proceed with caution.;
Virtually everyone has heard that acetone-based nail polish removers are bad for your nails. But Dr. Stern said that even ethyl acetate ones are still solvents. Its true that non-acetone removers are less drying, but all nail polish removers still dry out your nails to some degree.
If you must use them, Dr. Stern advises not using them more than once a week. If possible, take a 2-4 week break in between polish removals, because that step is far more damaging to your nail than the actual polish.
Mavala Switzerland Clear Nail Polish Has A Super Bitter Aftertaste And Is Ideal For Anyone Whose Nails Are Worn
Promising review: “This stuff is amazing. I’ve been a terrible nail-biter since I was a young child, and I tried everything to stop. I hated my hands and was so ashamed of how they looked, but I couldn’t help it. I tried rubber bands, mindfulness meditation, Pavlok, and all sorts of other ‘no bite’ polishes that looked awful and washed off too quickly/didn’t taste bad enough to be a deterrent. I committed to putting a layer of this on every other day, and it’s now been three months and my nails look amazing. The urge to bite has lessened, but I don’t think it will ever go away, so I plan to use this polish for years to come. The taste is so strong and immediately bitter, and it really lingers on your lips and tongue for a while. It’s an amazing product, and I highly recommend it.” Lydia G Morgan
Check out our post “This Miracle Polish Just Might Get You To Stop Biting Your Nails” to learn more about why this product rules.
Avoid Biting Your Nails
People often bite their nails out of boredom, nervousness, and various other reasons. While they may not realize the consequences of nail-biting immediately, years of this habit can damage the nails severely.
Repetitive nail-biting over a long period can shorten the nails, destroy the cuticles, and even damage the nail bed. In addition, it increases the chances of developing a bacterial or fungal infection.
Therefore, quit this habit at the earliest to preserve the health of your nails. Applying a bitter-tasting polish on your nails may help control the habit. Also, try to determine the physical or mental triggers that initiate this habit and work to improve the condition.
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Consider The Use Of Supplements
If weak nails are caused by an underlying nutrient deficiency, such as an iron deficiency, you can consult your doctor on the use of supplements. ;
The following supplements are often suggested to improve nail health and can be taken upon consultation with a doctor:
- Vitamin B9. Also known as folic acid, vitamin B9 can be found in legumes and whole grains and is essential for cell repair and therefore in restoring nail health. Consumption of vitamin B9 supplements can help strengthen your nails and lower the chances of peeling or breakage.
- Keratin. As discussed above, keratin is a protein needed for nail strength. Therefore, the use of keratin supplements and even keratin oil can boost your nail health.
- Biotin. This water-soluble vitamin has been shown to boost nail strength. It is suggested to consume about 30 µg of biotin every day, and the requirement can be met with the help of supplements. Biotin supplements can improve nail health in 49 months of use.
Apply Cuticle Oil Daily
Cuticle care is always a good idea, problem nails or not. That’s because dehydrated, frayed cuticles can lead to damaged nailbeds and infection if they’re left untreated ; rehydrating and moisturizing that surrounding skin is key for top-notch nail care. Add a cuticle oil to your daily routine: Many options include fatty acids and vitamins that nourish the nails and fill in any micro-cracks in the skin.;
While using the dropper daily is enough to keep nails healthy, chief educator of Paintbox Evelyn;Lim says you can use a cuticle oil up to three times a day if your tips are feeling especially dehydrated . “Apply cuticle oil at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Why not?”;
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How We Test Nail Strengtheners
Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain products; you can read more about our product review methodology here.
According to our;Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any nail strengtheners from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at;;and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
The Best Nail Growth Treatments And Strengtheners
The world might be starting to reopen, but our nails on the other hand, are still in hibernation mode. To get them nail-art-ready, invest in a nail treatment that’s designed to promote growth and strengthen, so you’re ready for your full diary of social obligations.
We tested some of the best available, to see which ones really deliver results. Below are the ones we rate.
How we test
We asked over 1,000 women to trial over 42 brands of nail growth treatments and strengtheners for a one-month period; the products ranged from oils to polishes to creams.
For nail growth products, testers assessed whether they prevented breakages and peeling, if they helped with growth, and if nails were left looking healthier and stronger.
For strengthening treatments, testers noted whether the products helped with any flakiness, as well as if they had an impact on smoothness and strength.
Both types of product were also judged on how easy they were to apply, their drying time and how often they needed to reapply.
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Remember Toenails Count Too
Everything that applies to your fingernails applies to your toenails, which experts say may be even more prone to problems due to careless pedicures. “Because feet are more often inside shoes — a dark, moist environment — fungus can grow more easily,” says Ravits. If you get regular pedicures, experts say take your own instruments and never let the tech dig under the nail or around the cuticle. Moreover, Ravits says cutting toenails at an angle — instead of straight across — increases the risk of ingrown toenails, which can be painful and sometimes develop into an infection.
Cut Back On Gel And Acrylic Manicures
They may be touted as an easy alternative for people who have trouble growing their nails, but frequent gel or acrylic manicures can cause your nails to peel, weakening them in the process. These manicures also expose your digits to excessive amounts of acetone in the soak required to remove them, which is very drying to the nail, says Dr. Klein. If you prefer to keep these types of manicures on rotation, make sure to either give your nails time to breathe between applications or save them for special occasions.
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Makartt Nail Files Are Gentle Enough To Use On Thin Brittle Nails Without Causing More Damage Yet Strong Enough To Still Get The Job Done Some Reviewers Even Use These Files For Removing Gel Nail Polish Without Soaking Them In Acetone First
Promising review: “These are very good for even my thin, brittle nails. Just enough grit to take down excess nail but not tear up the nail. I don’t have thick nails but these are not flimsy; they are rugged enough that they would work well on thick nails too. The grit stays on the file well so you can use them for a while before needing a new one. The fact the files are washable doesn’t matter to me but for someone who does a lot of nails, these are great.” DeeDee
Price:$7.85
Why Do I Have Hard Calloused Skin Around Fingernails
Before we tackle how to get rid of the calloused skin around your fingernails, lets look into why it happens in the first place.
Because fingers are one of the most used and exposed parts of the body, it shouldnt be surprising to see that the skin around and under your nails may suffer. This especially goes for people who dont take good care of their skin!
Well, dont worry, as this is simply a natural process as the skin forms hard. The thickened area is just a response from repeated friction, pressure, or irritation. Your skin is actually doing its job and while it isnt harmful, it can become irritated.
This is because when you apply pressure on your fingertips, the delicate skin would be pushed under or against the sharp edges of our fingernail. With the constant friction, it would cause your skin to lose moisture, and once overly dried, it would become vulnerable.
The response to your skin is to pile up the dead skin cells, which makes the area thicker and more resilient. Meaning, your skin is just trying to protect you!
But of course, calluses arent aesthetically appealing and youd want to get rid of it, which is understandable.
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Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream Will Harden Soft Fragile Nails Help Them Grow Back Nice And Long And Prevent Splits Chips Peels And Cracks
It’s fortified with calcium, vitamins, hydrogenated jojoba oil, and smells like coconuts!
Promising review: “This is a new product for me. My nails were seriously damaged by using nail salon acrylics. After a few months of wearing them, I found out I am reactive to the chemicals that literally caused a dissolving of my nails under the acrylics. Very painful and my nails continued to shred, even after the acrylics were removed. This is the only product that stopped the shredding; which allowed my nails to grow. No more pain! I love this product!” Kimerie
Price:$7.99
Do Not Clip Or File Your Nails When They Are Dry
Nails are made of layers and their natural oils are the glue that keep layers together. Clipping or filing dry nails will cause your nails to split and separate.
The best time to clip or file your nails is after a shower or bath or after washing your hands, when your nails are softer and less likely to split or break.
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What Can You Use Instead Of Nail Strengthener
Most people dont realize that you dont need to nail strengthener in order to have strong, healthy nails. All you need is to add some ingredients like tea tree oil or manuka honey and apply them on your nails and cover them with a protective coat such as liquid wax or gel. What you do next is simply keep doing it every day until you see good results. You dont need any other products for that.
What was discovered by one reviewer, is that you can apply one coat of gel-based nail polish on your nails and then wait until the night before you sleep and peel off the base coat and apply the new gel one coat lighter than the one you just applied.
The result will be great nails that peel off with very little effort on your part. Another reviewer reported that she applied one coat of nail polish and used manuka honey gel and then cut the excess gel with scissors after about 20 minutes and applied one coat of tea tree oil.
What she got was great results. She did not however, mention whether the nails stayed this color after use.
So, if you still want your nails to last long but you also dont want to spend a fortune on manicures and pedicures, what can you do instead? You can always start by applying one coat of nail polish and then doing simple maintenance tasks such as clipping your nails or applying acrylics to your nails after every pedicure session.
Does Biotin Really Work For Nails
Studies show biotin is effective for the treatment of weak, brittle nails, says Fran Cook-Bolden, MD, founder of Skin Specialty Dermatology in NYC. This benefit was first discovered when horses were treated successfully with biotin supplements for brittle hooves. Fun!
However, even if you are healthy, you may not be getting enough vitamin B7. Dont worry thoughyou can up your intake by eating more eggs, goat cheese, berries, cauliflower, coconut, lime, and avocadoall biotin-rich foods. Or talk to your doctor before taking one of the biotin-based nail-strengthening supplements below.
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Drugstore Mascaras That Never Flake
No one likes a flake. And while you can forgive your best friend who keeps ditching you to rewatch the Office, a flaky mascara is completely unacceptable. Theres nothing worse than perfectly applying your mascara only to find it rimming your eyes or all over your cheeks a few hours later. Not only it is a pain, its completely avoidable with the right p…
Strengthen Your Nails By Giving Them A Break
“While there’s no scientific evidence that keeping your nails polish-free will make a difference, anecdotally I can tell you that we totally notice a difference in the strength and health of the nails when our clients do take a break,” says Tuttle. Choi and Holford agree all three recommend keeping your nails au naturel for at least a few days after sporting a gel, acrylics, or dip.
If you really need to keep them polished, use a nail strengthener as a base coat, suggests Holford. You can also look for a color that contains strengthening ingredients.
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Choose Your Nail Products Wisely
The use of different nail polishes to increase the appeal of your nails is a common practice. However, nail polishes that contain toxic chemicals must be avoided as they can weaken your nails and make them brittle. These chemicals include camphor, formaldehyde resin, TPHP, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and xylene.
Moreover, the use of nail polishes is often coupled with the frequent use of nail polish removers such as acetone. These products can strip the natural oils from your nails, leading to weak and brittle nails. The chemical-laden nail polish removers can also dehydrate your nails and cause discoloration, keratin granulations, splitting, and peeling.
It is suggested to use alternate products such as acetone-free nail polish remover pads for this purpose. This also eliminates the risk of gamma-butyrolactone poisoning, which usually happens when children accidentally ingest acetone-based nail polish removers that contain this harmful compound.
Another common nail beauty product to stay wary of is acrylic nails and acrylic gel manicures, especially from unlicensed salons. This artificial nail technique can increase the risk of nail and cuticle infections and conditions such as contact dermatitis.
Wear Gloves For Chores
When doing the dishes, cleaning and gardening, wear gloves. Detergents and cleansers are harsh on your fingernails, causing drying, spitting and peeling. Soil and gardening can also cause damage to your nails.
As Dr. Tanzi pointed out, the best way to take care of hands and nails is to avoid drying them out. Frequent hand washing with antibacterial soap is very harsh, she says. I recommend washing with a gentle cleanser, which will sanitize just as well as harsh products and a good moisturizer afterward to lock in the hydration. At night, a thicker moisturizer on hands with a rich cuticle cream will keep hands/nails looking great.
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Home Remedy Nr 2 Olive Oil & Lemon
This is one of the best natural ways to grow your nails faster and makethem stronger! Soak your nails in a mixture of three tablespoons of olive oiland one tablespoon of lemon juice for 10 minutes. Follow this home treatmentfor about 10 minutes every day to strengthen your nails.Simply applying warm olive oil to the ends of your nails also serves as aneffective treatment to grow your nails.
The Cause Of Weak Nails
Weak nails are nails that are too moist. The excess moisture makes your nails soft, causing them to tear easily. Though there are nail hardening products on the market, you should be aware that these hardening products contain ingredients like formaldehyde, and prolonged use of formaldehyde may cause the opposite problem: brittleness. Because of this, most dermatologists do not advise the use of nail hardeners.
People who are prone to nail damage:
- People who change their nail polish almost every day are more susceptible to nail damage because most polish removers contain acetone and formaldehyde.
- Older people also experience more nail damage because nails dry out as we age.
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