These Expert-Approved Tips Guarantee Stronger Nails
If your nails are feeling weak or are constantly breaking, you'll want to read this expert advice.
If you are the sort of person who can grow your nails to a length that has people asking whether or not they are real, just know that you are blessed. For the average person, growing their nails can seem like quite an impossible task (which is why there are always many searches for "how to grow nails" on Google). Take me, for instance. With what can only be described as teeny-tiny nail beds, my nails will always appear short at first glance. Plus, without a strong grounding for any sort of growth, they’re prone to snapping, snagging and breaking.
Usually, I try to make time for a manicure once a month. After a professional shape and tidy, and once I have gel nail colour applied, my nails feel impossibly strong, like nothing could break them. In fact, it’s when I have had a manicure that my nails are able to grow their healthiest. But since taking a break, and with my below-par at-home manicure skills, it’s safe to say my nails aren’t looking their best. While some are brittle and snapping left, right and centre, others are paper-thin, flimsy and weak.
So, I thought it was about time I tried to do something about it. In a bid to improve my nail health, I reached out to those in the know to find out exactly what it is that’s causing my nails to play up and finally find out how to strengthen nails once and for all.
It turns out weak nails occur for many reasons, but the outcome is almost always the same. "Nails are made up of three visual layers of skeletal cells that are held together by oil and moisture to make them strong from within,” explains Mavala’s nail expert, Lynn Gray. When nails start to flake, become weak and break, this is usually because there is not enough oil or moisture in the nail.
So what can be done? Keep scrolling for all of the top tips that experts guarantee will help strengthen your nails and stop breakage, including nail strengthener recommendations, nail file tips and more.
How to Strengthen Nails, According to Experts
1. Wear Cleaning Gloves
"Having your hands in water a lot, gardening and even using chemicals (like cleaning products) without gloves can all have an effect on nail health,” says Belinda Price, an OPI educator. So if you're thinking of doing a big spring clean, trust me when I say it’s time to put on those rubber gloves if you want to protect your nails.
2. Avoid Gels and Acrylics
While earlier I said that my nails usually feel their best after a gel manicure, as it turns out, this could actually be making my weak nails worse in the long run. Yes, experts have told me to take a break from different types of manicures. "For stronger nails, definitely avoid having gel or acrylic manicures. Acetone [the chemical used in removers for such things] dries the nails out, so use a non-acetone remover for normal polish,” says Gray. Not only will acetone dry the nail, but with gel nails, peeling can occur, which can cause serious damage. And while we strongly advise you never pick at lifted gels, the temptation is always there.
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3. Use Nail and Cuticle Creams/Oils
You’ve heard it before, but I’ll say it again: Cuticle oil makes all the difference. I get that it can be a bit fiddly and annoying to use, but since I have a little bottle on my nightstand, I have been applying it religiously (alongside my hand cream) every night, and my nails look so much better for it. "You should use a specialised nail treatment to keep them healthy. Go for something that nourishes nails, counteracts dryness and helps restore elasticity to the nail plate to strengthen,” advises Gray.
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4. Use a Nail File
I hate filing my nails. The minute that file touches my nail, it sends a shiver down my spine that makes me want to run far away. Therefore, I was understandably gutted when I discovered that filing is key if you want to maintain strong, healthy nails. "Always carry a nail file on you to smooth out any little tears in the nail before they completely tear away,” says Gray.
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5. Use a Nail Strengthener
Finally, if your nails still need an extra helping hand, there are specific products you can invest in that are sure to improve their condition. "If you want to strengthen your nails, you need to look after them with a nail hardener. Give yourself a mini manicure once a week. Lightly buff the nails and then treat them with a hardener to give instant moisture,” says Gray.
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