Nail advice

[Dakota16]

I'm having difficulty trying to grow my nails out. I'm trying to keep them just past the fingers/thumbs, but they keep breaking. I'm not really doing anything grueling, just everyday activities. But without fail, two or three of them end up breaking almost as soon as I get them grown back out. Is there anything I can do to make them stronger?

[Rylie M]

There's specially formulated nail polish and remover that help with strength I can confirm some work a friend of mine is trying to grow hers out to and she swears by it plus i've noticed my own are stronger then they were. If your worried about wearing colors fear not it comes in clear coat. I use Orly nail defence myself.

[Briana]

There are soooo many things that can affect nail health and strength.  It can be anything from your general health & nutrition to specific illnesses to genetics.  It can even be from using too many "nail strengthening" products/polishes and acetone based removers.  With that being said, what Rylie suggested tends to work for many people I know that just have plain old "weak nails" despite being healthy and in good nutrition.  How you file them can also have an affect on their strength.  There's lots of info out there on how to trim and file them correctly.

One thing I'll throw out there - don't fall for the many oral products you'll see promising stronger nails.  They are usually just gelatin caps (disguised under big words for each of the 9 essential amino acids we all need) and they don't work.  Been studied to death and they just don't have any measurable effect.  One exception to this is Biotin (vitamin B7).  For some people this helps with skin and nail conditions barring other issues that are causing it.  Definitely check with your doctor - they should be able to assess and make a recommendation. 

[MarcieMarie12]

Biotin also helps with hair growth from what I have heard. Though that could be a double edged sword for MTFs....

[tracy_j]

I used to have problems other than that which work brings and did initially use the strengthening clear varnish for a while, doing a basecoat, middle and topcoat - the top coat being a clear matt finish as with my job nail varnish is counter to the dress code. This was excellent and I found thicker nails in not time. Beware of nail polish remover. It is a solvent so will deplete your natural oil and likely make your nails brittle. Using nail oil, or at least hand cream after removing polish is essential, and I would personally let my nails recover for a day or so after.

This was time consuming but I have found no real need for it now. I use hand cream which is formulated for nails as well at least twice a day and massage well in. Apart from what I think is good diet, this appears to have helped greatly. I have also limited my use of solvents at work and either use gloves or moisturise immediatly after use, or ideally both.

Many models say - moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! They are usually referring to their faces but I think this is at least as important for hands and nails.

Tracy

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

All my cis friends swear taking prenatal vitamins has helped their hair and nails but I'm not sure how, or if, that would work for us. Nail strengthening polishes only work to an extent. In my case, I got acrylics. 

[Ravin]

8 hours ago, Lizzie McTrucker said:

All my cis friends swear taking prenatal vitamins has helped their hair and nails but I'm not sure how, or if, that would work for us. Nail strengthening polishes only work to an extent. In my case, I got acrylics. 

My husband used to take prenatal vitamins, partly for this reason.

[TessaLee]

My nails started delaminating and breaking/splitting and the condition lasted for over a year, and then I started using GNC Women's Hair, Skin & Nails Soft Chew, and after 6 months, my nails were healthy again. (Biotin, Collagen, Lutein, Silica etc)

[tracy_j]

I can see that vitamins could help if there is deficiency. I used to have a number of ongoing minor issues years ago, but these days I have a massively varied diet with many different fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs (just in normal cooking). I eat less meat than in my earlier days  but am not vegetarian. I can only say that good diet and being active seems to me to make a big difference to general body health. Many of my earlier body issues appear to have gone.

Tracy

[Guest]

I've tried the biotin for nails and hair and frankly I'm not sure if it really helped or not. However, the hard clear coat that is put on after the polish does help a lot! But I break nails pretty easily, they'll rip off. I kinda always have to wear gloves unless my nails are really short.