Ava Monroe
Strong nails can be a sign of good health, but sometimes our nails are weaker than we would like. There are several ways to strengthen your nails, including taking a biotin supplement, drinking enough water, eating a nutrient-dense diet with sufficient protein, and using nail lotions and oils. It is also important to be cautious when using nail hardeners, as they can make your nails too hard, leading to brittleness. To prevent this, ensure your nails are well-moisturized with cuticle oil and consider wearing gloves when washing up or doing chores that involve submerging your hands in water.
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What You'll Learn
Use nail hardeners sparingly
While nail hardeners can help strengthen your nails, they should be used sparingly and with caution. Overuse of nail hardeners can lead to your nails becoming too hard and, subsequently, brittle and prone to breaking. This is because very hard nails can lack the flexibility needed to withstand pressure without snapping or crumbling.
Therefore, it is important to balance the hardness of your nails with their flexibility. To achieve this, you can take a number of steps alongside using nail hardeners. Firstly, make sure your nails are adequately moisturised by using cuticle and nail oils, such as jojoba oil, at least once a day. This will help to seal your nails and prevent water from swelling the cuticle and separating the layers of keratin, which can cause flakiness and tenderness.
Additionally, try to avoid submerging your hands in water for long periods, as this can cause your nails to become brittle. When you need to wash up or do chores involving water, wear gloves to protect your nails and maintain their moisture. Keep your nails polished at all times, and opt for acetone-free nail polish removers to avoid dryness, peeling, and splitting.
If your nails are still struggling despite your best efforts, consider consulting a healthcare professional or dermatologist. They can advise you on any underlying conditions that may be causing your nail issues and prescribe a prescription-strength nail treatment if necessary.
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Moisturise with cuticle oil
Cuticle oil is a moisturising product for your nails and cuticles. It is most commonly made up of vegetable oils, and sometimes contains vitamins and citric acid. Cuticles that are exposed to excessive cold, sun, chlorine, or salty or soapy water can become chapped, cracked, and dry. In these cases, cuticle oil can help to moisturise your cuticle and nail, restoring it to health.
Cuticle oil can be purchased with vitamins or other ingredients, such as Vitamin E and antioxidants. For example, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream includes Vitamin E and antioxidants, while Opi Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil contains Vitamin E and has a brush application. Dior Crème Abricot is another option, although it is more expensive.
Cuticle oils can extend the life of a manicure, whether it's gel or polish. A moisturising cuticle oil keeps nails flexible so they bend but don't break. A little goes a long way, and it's a great option for anyone who wants impressive results without spending a fortune.
If you're looking for a cuticle oil with a brush applicator, you might want to try CND Solar Oil, which contains jojoba oil and vitamin E. This combination provides serious hydration to your cuticles.
Celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann has bottled her years of wisdom in a nourishing cuticle oil. This oil contains vitamin E alongside aloe, panthenol, apricot kernel, and wheat germ. It's convenient to throw in your bag and use whenever your nails need some hydration.
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Take biotin supplements
Biotin is a B vitamin and an essential nutrient that can be found in some foods. It is also available in supplement form. While consuming a variety of vitamins and minerals through food contributes to growing and maintaining healthy nails, biotin supplements may help restore brittle nails.
Biotin is most plentiful in organ meats like liver, and it’s also found in eggs, salmon, pork, beef, seeds, nuts, and sweet potatoes. For most adults over the age of 19, a daily biotin intake of 30 micrograms is considered adequate for optimal hair, nail, and general health. If you consume a diet containing these and other foods, you probably don’t need to take a supplement.
However, individuals with a biotin deficiency often see their nails improve after they increase their biotin intake through diet or supplementation. A recent study from Switzerland demonstrated a 25 percent increase in nail plate thickness in patients with brittle nails who received biotin supplementation. Twenty-two of thirty-five (63 percent) showed clinical improvement, and thirteen (37 percent) reported no change in their condition.
It is important to note that taking too much biotin can interfere with some laboratory tests, which could lead to inaccurate test results. It may also interact with some medications. Therefore, it is always good to consult a healthcare professional before taking any supplements, especially if you are taking medications or living with a chronic condition.
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Drink enough water
Drinking enough water is crucial for nail health. Nails can become brittle and prone to breaking and peeling if they don't retain enough moisture. Drinking water helps nails stay strong by keeping them hydrated and preventing dryness.
It is important to distinguish between drinking water and the water used for cleaning or bathing. While drinking water is essential for nail health, soaking nails in water for extended periods can have the opposite effect. Nails are made of many thin layers of keratin, and when they absorb water, these layers can swell and separate, leading to dryness and brittleness. Therefore, it is recommended to wear gloves when washing dishes or performing household chores that involve harsh chemicals.
To maintain nail health, it is crucial to strike a balance between staying hydrated by drinking enough water and minimizing prolonged exposure to water during daily tasks. This balance will help your nails retain the necessary moisture to stay strong and resilient.
Additionally, it is worth noting that while drinking water is essential, it is only one aspect of maintaining nail health. A well-rounded approach includes a nutrient-dense and varied diet rich in protein, the use of nail lotions and oils, and, if needed, supplements like biotin, also known as vitamin H or vitamin B7, which supports nail health.
In conclusion, drinking enough water is a simple yet effective step towards achieving hard and healthy nails. By staying hydrated, you provide your nails with the moisture they need to resist breakage and maintain their strength.
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See a dermatologist
While there are many at-home remedies and lifestyle changes you can make to strengthen your nails, it is important to see a dermatologist if you are experiencing any nail concerns.
Dermatologists treat a wide range of nail conditions, including fungal infections, discolouration, brittleness, and breakage. They can also help identify and manage any underlying health conditions that may be causing your nail issues. For example, yellow nails can indicate lung disease or rheumatoid arthritis, and dark streaks under the nails can be a sign of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Other conditions that may be indicated by nail symptoms include diabetes, anemia, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia areata, and various infections.
If you are experiencing redness and swelling around your nail beds, this could be a sign of an infection known as paronychia, which requires antibiotics. Green or black nails can result from injury, but may also indicate a bacterial infection. Nails that lift up from the nail bed, or onycholysis, can be caused by injury or infection and should be examined by a dermatologist. Grooves or pits in the nails, known as pitting, can signify underlying conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, or alopecia areata. Thick, hard-to-cut nails may be a result of psoriasis, poor circulation, or other conditions.
By examining your nails, dermatologists can help identify and address any underlying health issues early on, preventing them from progressing and ensuring you receive appropriate treatment.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to strengthen your nails and make them harder, including:
- Taking biotin supplements
- Drinking enough water throughout the day
- Eating a nutrient-dense diet that is also high in protein
- Using nail lotions and oils
- Taking prescription-strength nail treatments
You can try moisturising your nails with a good cuticle and nail oil, such as jojoba oil or almond oil. Applying oil at least once a day will nourish your cuticles and help seal your nails.
Yes, it is important to note that constant use of nail strengtheners can make your nails too hard, leading to brittleness. Therefore, it is crucial to balance hardness with flexibility. Additionally, avoid filing your nails in a back-and-forth motion as it can weaken them. Instead, gently file them in one direction only.
