We all want beautiful, strong nails. But sometimes we don’t know how to get what we want. We need a few tricks up our sleeves and some help from the pros to get us there.
Nail strength, or lack thereof, is a common problem for women. Nails that constantly break and split are not only frustrating but also embarrassing. There are many reasons nails can become brittle like age, genetics, health problems like thyroid disease or anemia, use of acrylic nails (which do not allow the nail to breathe), constant handwashing with harsh chemicals in soaps or detergents (such as dishwashing soap) and using polish remover which contains acetone. If you suspect your nails need strengthening, there are some things you can try on your own before seeing a doctor about it.
Home remedies to strengthen brittle nails
Often, women will not think about their nails until they are dry and brittle. Nails that are weak or brittle may result from too much nail polish removal with acetone-based products, exposure to chemicals in household cleaners, or excessive use of hand sanitizer. If you are noticing your nails becoming weaker each day, there are some tricks you can do to strengthen them up! If you’re looking to strengthen your nails and keep them in tip-top shape, then here’s a list of some tricks:
Put Vaseline on the cuticles every night before bed – this will keep your cuticle from drying out and cracking, which could lead to infection, and help prevent hangnails by keeping the skin around the nail moisturized.- Apply a base coat containing silicon oil – this will provide an extra layer of protection
- Stop biting your nails with your teeth – this is hard, but if you want strong nails, you need to stop doing something that harms them so badly.
- Rub petroleum jelly onto your cuticles twice daily – this will help moisturize and protect them all day.
- Drink plenty of water (8 glasses per day) and eat foods rich in biotin like eggs, salmon, avocados, cheese;
- Wear gloves while washing dishes;
- Apply cuticle oil on cuticles every night before bed, and lastly – stay away from nail polish remover!
Home treatments to cure damaged nails
Nails are something that most people take for granted. However, our nails can be brittle, weak, or dry, and we don’t realize it until they start chipping off.
Many things can damage nails, including nail polish removers, harsh chemicals, and even daily tasks. Damaged nails are often dry or brittle, which can lead to peeling of the nail bed. Fortunately, you can do some easy home treatments to help restore your nails to their healthy state.
The first thing you need is a good manicure set with different shapes and sizes of files for each type of nail shape. For example, if you have short, thin nails, choose a smaller file, whereas if your nails are on the thick side, then use a larger file size. The second step is soaking your hands in warm water for at least 10 minutes before filling them down because it softens up the cuticle so that they don’t touch your fingernails.
