Brittle Nails, SOS!
Let’s chat about those brittle nails and the things that can be done to make them stronger. No need to feel ashamed about your nails, I am totally in the same category. Nails that are strong can handle a lot of abuse, but we aren’t here to talk about those lucky souls, so go away. Just kidding, this post has a lot of good info for you, too.
I often try to relate nails to hair because it’s a little easier to understand. Hair and nails come from the same protein, keratin, so they are kind of similar (heavy on the kind of). There is no way to control our natural hair pattern (without altering it). Whether it’s straight, curly, dry, oily, or frizzy, you search for products that work for your hair type. Same goes for nails.
Apply Cuticle Oil
If you have brittle nails, you must, must, MUST, always apply cuticle oil to hydrate the nail. This is one of the best products you can use for brittle nails.
HYDRATION.
It can be something as simple as coconut/olive oil, or you can spend a few dollars and buy a fancy oil. I don’t really care what you use, but for the love of GOD please use something! Dry nails are like dry hair and you would add moisture to your hair when it’s dry, wouldn’t you? So be sure to treat your nails the same.
You’ll want to apply oil on a regular basis with or without having them polished. I oil my nails at least 3 times a day and I know that sounds excessive, but hey if you want results you’re going to have to work for them! And trust me, oil will help tremendously.
Use A Light Cured Polish
To stop my nails from being a royal pain in my ass, I apply a light cured polish to help protect and keep them strong (like Gelish in my above and below photos). I also keep my nails quite short. The longer nails are, the easier it will be for them to break. A shorter length works best for me because my natural nails don’t have the strength to be longer. #knowyourlimits
If your manicures are done correctly, a light cured polish can be extremely useful in preventing painful cracks and splits. It’s not going to necessarily transform them to be rock hard, but it will add a layer of protection to prevent breaking.
I happen to know of a few more products that can help with strength. Gelish carries two products to help, VitaRecovery and VitaStrength. These products are light cured and need an LED or UV lamp. It can be used on top of a base and underneath your nail color. Or on top of a base coat on it’s own, sealed with a top gloss leaving your nails with a beautiful clear shine.
Apply a Protein Polish
Another product I recommend is CND RescueRXx. This product contains powerful protein ingredients that should be applied to the natural nail daily for 2 weeks without removing the prior coat. Click here to view their clinically proven results.
With (a lot of) TLC and consistency, you’ll be well on your way to a happier, healthier set of natural nails!
Are you someone who has brittle nails? I am!
Karita Coghiel
Hey Again! I have a question about cuticles! I think, think!, I have quite thick or big cuticles, which causes my nails Polish to gunk up And gather around the bottoms of my nails, ruining my manicure, do you think I should start cutting my cuticles? How can I managed my out if control cuticles!?
chia
Hello!
You should absolutely trim those cuticles! If you are uneasy about carefully removing the cuticles with a cuticle trimmer, you can easily push them back in the shower with your nail. If you are using this method, always try to do it when you’re in the shower or freshly out. They will be much easier to push back while they are wet!
Tran
Hi Chia!
I wash my hands a lot at work (and in general), so my cuticles are constantly dry. I cut them every time I paint my nails, but about 2 days after I start to notice dryness around my nails.
I’ve started applying coconut oil every night.
Do you have any tips on keeping the cuticles looking clean and fresh?
chia
Hello! Honestly, the best thing you can do is keep them hydrated as hell. You’ll need lots, lots, and lots of oil to defeat the dryness. The more, the better!
Aimee
Hi which color/brand is the red nails here? I want to find a red just like this but I want it to get it from a nearby drugstore (I live in Vancouver, B.C). If this color/brand is not found in any Canadian drugstore, can you suggest any dupes of the exact same red? Example, Essie, Revlon, Sally Hansen, OPI, etc.
chia
Hello! Thank you for your message. The red is called Tigress Knows Best by Gelish and should be applied by a professional for best results as it is a light cured polish. It is very similar to Big Apple Red by OPI and I’m certain you can find OPI locally around your town. I hope you can track it down!