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.
Avoid Nail Polish Remover
We all know that chemicals are bad for our skin, and that we should use more natural products as much as possible. But did you know it’s the same case for your fingernails? The nail polish remover we all know and love dries out your nails, whether it’s an acetone or non-acetone remover. Your best bet is to use a nail polish remover alternative, such as perfume or a natural nail polish remover.
Attractive Hair And Nails Are A Sign Of Health
Its not just about vanity the appearance of both hair and nails is a barometer of your internal health. No matter what issues you are experiencing, its important to address nutrition first. Include quality protein, healthy fat, and vegetable and fruit carbohydrates at each meal and snack. Reduce processed and sugary food consumption because those foods contribute to nutritional deficiencies that lead to poor hair and nail health. It may be necessary to complement nutritious eating with supplements, depending on your individual needs. Taking these steps will not only give you strong nails and shiny hair, but will assure of you optimal overall health as well.
Learn more about hair and nail health with these free resources:
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How Do You Get Rid Of Green Fingernail Fungus
Green nail syndrome responds well to treatment. Therapy consists of cutting the detached portion of the nail, keeping nails dry, and avoiding trauma to the area. Topical antibiotics, such as bacitracin or polymyxin B, applied two to four times per day will cure most patients if continued for one to four months.
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Nails Inc Nailkale Superfood Base Coat: 15 John Lewis & Partners
This powerhouse of nail strengthening goodies includes antioxidant kale extract, calcium, superfoods aloe vera, lemon, ginseng, pomegranate and grape, and vitamins A, C, E, F and H, to deliver high level hydration and nourishment to weakened nails plus anti-breakage and anti-splitting protection.
We found after only a couple of weeks use two coats applied three times a week nails looked smoother, brighter and healthier. And if you have gel nails, then Nails Inc also do a specific recovery treatment between gels, gel rehab, to rehydrate nails in just 30 minutes.
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Dry Brittle And Peeling Finger And Toenails
Brittleness is the quality of a substance or anything solid to break easily due to its quality to break or snap easily upon applying pressure or force. However much the hardness in our fingernails seems to be brittleness in them can make them dry out easily, get damaged and vulnerable to peeling.
Causes of brittleness include
Certain medications can also make them become brittle. Other than the above reasons, is also a sign of aging.
Tea Tree Oil And Vitamin E
A teaspoon of Tea Tree oil with a couple of drops of Vitamin E wonât only help you have stronger, healthier nails but will prevent nail fungus as well as successfully treat any existing infection. Rub it in as described above as often as you can and it wonât be long before you start seeing results.
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Cuccio Milk And Honey Cuticle Oil Is Super Moisturizing So You Can Keep Your Nails Strong Shiny And Gorgeous Not To Mention Protect And Nourish Your Cuticles
Promising review: “I really like this product! I try to take breaks from getting my nails done since between each set my nails get very thin and brittle. This helps to make them look strong, smooth, and natural! Also keeps my cuticles looking fresh and adds a nice little shine to my nails! I would recommend this product.” NMC
Price:$6.90
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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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.
How Are Brittle Nails Treated
The B complex vitamin biotin has been demonstrated to strengthen weak, brittle nails. Over-the-counter biotin supplements such as Appearex can be found in most chain drugstores. Studies appear to show that 2.5 milligrams of biotin daily will improve nail strength.
Since a nail takes about six months to replace itself, it may take at least that long for the benefits of biotin supplements to become apparent, but 2530 percent of people who try biotin see improvement within four to six months.
Another product that shows promise in the treatment of brittle nails is Genadur. Unlike biotin supplements, Genadur is available only with a prescription.
The significance of this product is that it is the first treatment for fragile, brittle nails that has been approved by the FDA.
According to Genadurs manufacturer, Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals, a once-daily brush-on application may produce results within two or three weeks.
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A Biotin Supplement It’ll Help Grow Thick Healthy Nails Quickly And Just Might Be What Your Manicure Is Missing It’s Also Said To Be Great For Your Hair
Promising review: “Ive been taking biotin for a year now and have noticed a SIGNIFICANT change in how quickly my hair grows, its luster, and the length and thickness of my nails. My hairdresser has even noticed! I play guitar so I have to keep my nails reasonably short, but they used to be so thin Id have to cut them to the nail bed now theyve gotten thick and healthy! They grow so quickly I have to have them done every other week. They look beautiful and Ill never go another day without biotin! The pill is super small and easy to swallow. I swear by this stuff!!!” JEN A.
Price:$8.78
New Ways To Moisturize Those Brittle Nails
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A QUICKIE manicure in a storefront nail salon often looks good, but it may not be doing your nails any favor. A fresh coat of red can cover up a bigger problem, especially if you happen to be among the unfortunate 20 percent of the population suffering from something dermatologists call brittle nail syndrome.
Like bones turned fragile from osteoporosis, brittle nails are more likely than their healthy counterparts to break, peel, split and crack. The answer is not more calcium and vitamin D, as for bones, but more moisture. Lots of moisture.
“Think of it as like having dry skin,” said Dr. Richard K. Scher, a dermatologist in New York City. “When you moisturize, the dryness temporarily goes away, but when you stop, it comes back.”
Brittle nails are not a new problem. What is new is that cosmetics companies have begun paying attention, releasing dozens of products that claim to moisturize and nourish the nails and surrounding skin. Some 280 such treatments have come onto the market since 2003, according to the Mintel Global New Products Database, which monitors new product trends.
Some, like Bliss Manicure’s Best Friend, Nailtiques Nail Moisturizer, Creative Nail Design Solar Balm and Kiehl’s Imperiale Moisturizing Cuticle Treatment, are supermoisturizers, with ingredients like collagen, vitamin E, avocado oil and shea butter. They are meant to be massaged into the nails and surrounding cuticles.
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How To Strengthen Brittle Nails
Do you frequently wash your hands or do the dishes? Nails that fluctuate between wet and dry environments can become brittle. In fact, the most common reason for brittle nails is that they simply dried out.
If you want to strengthen your nails, there are several easy and inexpensive options:
- Moisturize. Try a dedicated nail oil or a hand lotion with alpha hydroxy acid or lanolin. If nails are soft but brittle, they may be too moist, so cut back on the moisturizer.
- Limit manicures. To strengthen brittle nails, limit the number of manicures you have to avoid subjecting nails to the chemicals in nail polish and polish removers. Especially avoid acetone-based nail polish removers. For soft, brittle nails, a layer of polish may actually help.
- Go natural. Remove all nail polish and leave them free of polish for a few months to give your nails a chance to recover.
- Avoid alcohol-based sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are a convenient way to keep germs at bay when soap and water arent available. But alcohol can dry out your nails and skin.
- Get a paraffin wax bath. As an indulgent nail treatment, an at-home paraffin wax bath soothes and moisturizes nails and hands. Soak your hands in the bath for 10 to 20 minutes then give the wax time to dry before peeling it off.
- Wear gloves. When washing dishes or working with cleaning fluids, wear rubber gloves to protect your fingernails.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 22, 2018
Best Essential Oils For Healthy Nails
September 1, 2020 by Andrea
Do your nails need more than a Biotin chewable for extra support, durability, and growth? Give your fingertips the toxin-free TLC that theyre in desperate need of with these 9 best essential oils for healthy nails.
Brittle, dull, and weak nails can be a real bummer for beautiful hands and sometimes even downright uncomfortable. There are many things that contribute to weak nails and nails beds including a history of nail-biting, working with water and chemicals, seasonal changes, having too many manicures with few breaks in between, and vitamin deficiency.
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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 Harsh Soaps And Cleansers
While you should be washing your hands more often than usual now, Gohara recommends staying away from harsh soaps and cleansers as they can further weaken and irritate nails. Gohara, who has a partnership with Dove, loves using the brand’s Foaming Hand Wash as a gentle option. We also love Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap, which smells like freshly squeezed lemonade.
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Ditch Nail Polish Removers That Contain Acetone
A nail polish remover loaded with acetone is harsh on weak nails and can dry them out something fierce. This can cause peeling, splitting, and those unsightly white, mottled marks, says Dr. Solomon.
Her rec? Tenoverten Non-Acetone Polish Remover. Its essential oil-based, removes polish in a matter of seconds, and feels very gentle on nails and cuticles, she says.
Commit To Monthly Maintenance
Which brings us to our next point: monthly maintenance. Whether you opt for a DIY manicure or take a trip to the salon, a regular tuneup is key to keeping those tips strong. Your nails can tell you a lot about your overall health, so use that time to make regular check-ins as well. “When you take your nail polish off, check your nail color and the strength of your nail plate before you go ahead and apply polish or treat your nails,” says Lin.
If a bare nail is more your thing, Lim still recommends proper nail hygienethat is, keeping them clipped, cleaned, and filed. “Take your fingernail and raise the free edges to see if there are any snags, and you can smooth them out. That’s a great way to maintain your nails,” she says.
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How To Strengthen Nails: 9 Expert
Even if you have immaculate, smooth-to-the-touch nailsnary a fray in sightkeeping them strong is an entirely different story. Sure, your nails might not feel dry, or brittle, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely off the hook. You wouldn’t shrug off your daily skin care routine just because you don’t see any blemishes or areas of concern, would you? Same goes for nail care: The best offense, after all, is a good defense.
Experts would agreethey’ve weighed in on nine ways to strengthen your nails, so you can keep those tips in tiptop shape:
Become A Nail Filing Master
Go with a soft nail file to keep the edges of your nails smooth, says Dr. Klein. With rougher grains, you run the risk of making tears in the nail, which can lead to peeling and hangnails.
File your nails in one direction, using long and swift strokes. Back and forth see-saw motions will cause the nail to splinter, says Dr. Solomon, who recommends using the Deborah Lippmann Smooth Operator 4-Way Nail Buffer.
The micro-fiber material its made from is very gentle on the nails, but still manages to achieve a clean shape, she says.
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Give Your Nails Some Love
Cant make it to the nail salon for a manicure? Take matters into your own hands and start caring for your nails at home with these tips:
- Keep em short. Keep your nails on the shorter side to minimize surface area, since thats where water and chemicals can be absorbed.
- File your nails. Do this daily to keep them smooth and help prevent breakage and splitting. File in one direction using a fine emery board.
- Biting is a no-no. Avoid picking or biting your nails or cuticles.
- Buffing. Buff your nails every few days in the same direction as they grow. Dont use a back-and-forth motion. This can make splitting worse.
- Get hard. Apply a nail hardener to strengthen those bad boys.
- No acetone. Use nail polish removers that dont contain acetone.
- Pause the polish. Give your nails a break from polish to allow them to breathe. Constant use of polish can weaken your nails.
- Avoid acrylic and gel nails. If you do glam those nails up, avoid constantly using gel or acrylic nails. These can also weaken nails, and UV light that nail technicians use to dry gel can have a similar effect.
Brittle Toenails: Causes And Home Remedies
Written byDr. Victor MarchionePublished onJanuary 20, 2017
Brittle toenails arent something to be ashamed of, as many people suffer from this condition. You may feel that due to your brittle nails, you cant enjoy wearing sandals in the summer or open toe shoes to events. Theres no denying that brittle nails look unsightly, even if you try to pretty them up by applying nail polish.
Brittle toenails appear as if the nails have been chewed on, because the nails look uneven and split at the end. Furthermore, even though initial growth of the nail looks good, once it grows beyond a millimeter past the end of the toe, the same chipping and uneven process begins againmeaning you need to keep your toenails quite short to keep them looking good.
There are many different causes for brittle toenails, but the specific condition onychorrhexis refers to an ailment that causes lengthwise ridges on the surface of the nail.
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Stronger Nails: Keep Your Nails Hydrated
Rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into your cuticle and the skin surrounding your nails every evening before you go to bed or whenever your nails feel dry. Not a fan of petroleum jelly? Substitute castor oil. Its thick and contains vitamin E, which is great for your cuticles and promotes stronger nails. Or use olive oil it also works to moisturize your nails.
