When nails are weak they can break or flake off and painful cuticles can form around them. Despite the many beauty tips dispensed by sites and magazines, there are only a few really effective ways to make them stronger and healthier. What can really improve the health of your nails is a healthy diet and a routine of daily gestures aimed at moisturizing and caring for them gently.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Strengthen Nails
Step 1. Moisturize your cuticles with oil
When they are dehydrated, nails become brittle. To prevent them from cracking or flaking, massage your cuticles daily with a moisturizer or natural oil. You can also use petroleum jelly or an ultra-rich hand cream to seal the moisture inside the fabrics.
Step 2. Consider taking a biotin supplement
It generally only works well if your nails are extremely brittle, but it might be worth a try. A daily dose of 30 mcg of biotin is sufficient to prevent a deficiency. Some people take more (2.5mg) to strengthen their nails, but to avoid the risk of side effects, it's best to ask your doctor for advice.
See your doctor beforehand even if you are already taking medications or other supplements or if you have diabetes
Step 3. File your nails carefully
Model them with a fine-grained file (at least 180), avoiding those in metal or those in low quality cardboard. Remember that you have to move the file in one direction and not back and forth like many do. Sanding the jagged or uneven ends of your nails is helpful in preventing them from breaking, but be sure to do it with due care.
- Nails must be completely dry when you model them.
- Go for an oval shape, rather than a square or pointed one, to reduce the pressure on the nail.
- Never file the nails on the sides, they could weaken considerably; plus you run the risk of developing an infection.
Step 4. Maintain a balanced diet
Many beauty sites and magazines promote the intake of specific foods and supplements, however the evidence to support these methods is inconsistent. In general, a balanced diet that provides plenty of vitamins and minerals should be sufficient to prevent nail problems. Some people may benefit from taking a calcium, iron, zinc or vitamin B supplement, but only if their diet is deficient in these substances. Consult your doctor for more information on this.
- Don't believe the myth of garlic and jelly as nail strengthening remedies. They do not produce relevant effects by eating them or using them as a compress.
- Protein is essential for nails to grow, but very few people in developed nations are not getting enough.
Part 2 of 2: Prevent Nail Damage
Step 1. Don't share manicure tools
Use them exclusively for the care of your nails. Sharing files, brushes, and other manicure tools can cause infections to spread, so you may end up with swollen, red cuticles and severely weakened nails.
Beauty salons can also be lacking in cleaning manicure tools. For this reason it is best to bring your own from home or ask for them to be sterilized
Step 2. Leave the cuticles alone
The cuticles at the base of the nails have the function of protecting them from fungi and bacteria. Cutting them or pushing them backwards could become infected, consequently the nail bed could be irreparably damaged.
False nails covering cuticles can be just as harmful. It is better to use only the tips rather than the whole ones
Step 3. Don't use nail hardeners
They generally promise results that have not been tested and are rarely worth the risk. Although nails may initially become harder, they are likely to become even more brittle and prone to breaking over time.
Step 4. Change polish
The products of some cosmetic lines, especially those that contain formaldehyde, considerably weaken and dehydrate the nails. Try switching to a different brand for a few weeks and see what happens.
- Some dermatologists recommend not wearing nail polish for more than 5 consecutive days.
- Try using a hand cream instead of the clear base, to further safeguard the health of your nails.
Step 5. Be careful when removing the nail polish
Never remove it by scratching or scraping it off your nails. The right thing to do is keep your nails in contact with a nail polish remover until the polish comes off easily. Since nail polish removers tend to dehydrate the nails, it is important to massage them with a specific hand cream immediately afterwards, or with a natural oil or petroleum jelly.
There are controversial opinions as to which nail polish remover is best for keeping nails strong and healthy. Acetone tends to dry them out a lot, but as it acts faster, the time it stays in contact with the nail is reduced. Try both categories of nail polish remover, with or without acetone, to see which one works best for you
Step 6. Minimize damage caused by wear
When doing manual work, soaking your hands for a long time while doing housework or exposing yourself to chemicals in detergents, you put your nails to the test. Wear protective gloves whenever possible while performing these activities.
- If nail fatigue is unavoidable, remember to at least moisturize your cuticles several times a day.
- When you type on your computer keyboard, do it with your fingertips and not your fingernails.
Advice
- If you break your nail, fix it with nail glue or tools from a nail repair kit.
- Classical guitar players can harden their nails in many ways to achieve a cleaner sound. For example, dipping the tip in nail glue and then in the acrylic powder that is used to rebuild them and then file them. Generally these methods tend to weaken the nails, which consequently break and flake off more easily, so they are only recommended for those who play the guitar.
Warnings
- When you bite your nails, you cause them to tear and the edges to become uneven. Read this article to find out how to get rid of this bad habit.
- In rare cases, weak nails are a symptom of a disease. Talk to your doctor if none of these remedies seem to work.
