Help with nails

I have found one of the best treatments and strengtheners for nails is almond oil. Just massage it in any old time. Very cheap from Boots - about £1 for a bottle which lasts for ever

thanks heleena! I'll have to look see if I can get it here or I'll get it when I'm in the UK later this month.
Would coconut oil work? I've got some of that for if I get livestock in my hair from the GC!

Coconut oil works on lodgers, as we call them? Must try that. I don't know if it works on nails though - the oil not the lodgers

Love the lodgers and livestock references
When my first grandchildren were tiny I had a lot of contact with children through work. I sometimes got lodgers! It was my dread and nightmare that my grandchildren's first experience of nits would those 'caught from nana'

Were talking about this on another thread somewhere, as I was getting vertical ridges on my nails and they were splitting [always had very strong nails]. Started using Protect and Perfect nail cream and, a couple of weeks later, it seems to be working. Also, if you buy one of those nail files in three sections and you buff your nails with the more abrasive section it gets rid of the grooves [sorry; does that make sense?]. I found that the Body Shop one worked better than the Boots one. In fact, The Body Shop sell a cream which is a lot cheaper than Protect and Perfect as well. I went there when I was 'got' by one of those people in a shopping centre that grab your hand, put some cream on, rub your hand and then buff your nails, then try to sell you a very expensive hand care package.[very naughty, because if you put cream on and rub your hands, they do look nice, cause all the old lady veiny appearance goes, temporarily]. I went straight to The Body Shop and they sold me the same stuff for a fraction of the price.

Have had pretty thin weak nails all my life....genetic, Mum had them too.....we ate jelly cubes till they were coming out of our ears because someone said the gelatine was good...huh!

I now keep very high quality handcream (usual Crabtee & Evelyn or similar - makes easy presents when folks ask) everywhere in house, at all sinks, by bed etc etc. I just keep them moisterised at all times topping up with nail and cuticle cream when I remember. Nowadays they are not too bad but nails definately get dryer as time creeps on!

As far as the hair livestock go . the coconut oil has to be liquid so you may need to put it into a bowl of warm water as it can be solid at low temperature. Put an old towel around your shoulders then just keep rubbing the oil into your hair and when your hair is completely soaked (gosh, I'm scratching as I type - talk about auto-suggestion!) put an old shower cap on and tuck all your hair into it and leave for a few hours, I leave for 4 or 5 hours. Then shampoo off. Hair will be left beautifully conditioned and livestock will be drowned. I believe the oil prevents them from breathing - hence the need to leave in place for a few hours. It also soaks into any eggs and drowns them too.

Thank you for all your help re nails. I shall add all your suggestions to my UK shopping list and try them out.
Maybe I shall soon be able to have nails that don't look as if they've been bitten down to the quick

Do you think that buffing up your nails might thin them a bit, crimson? I bought one of those kits from Jenners in Edinburgh. I was 'grabbed' by a demonstrator of the product while I was wandering aimlessly round the store! The product is called Gadi, and has a 3-sided 'file/buffer', some cuticle oil and some hand/body lotion. I must say that the product works very well, and my nails look very nice, but wonder if they are as strong as they might be, if I didn't use it ?

I suppose they do thin the nail, but it's the vertical ridges that cause the splitting at the ends, so it's the lesser of two evils, I guess. I used to have such nice nails as well. Strange thing is, my toe nails now grow like mad and I almost need a hacksaw to cut them!

This may seem an odd thread for me to post on, but, I used to play classical guitar and have very thin nails that split easily. I was advised to massage the nail beds as often as possible to encourage blood flow, seemed to help. When they spilt I used to cover the nail with a small piece of tissue and varnished over the top with a nylon reinforced nail varnish, not pretty, but it worked.

Seems ironic, doesn't it, crimson? Nails on your hands getting weaker and toe nails becoming stronger when it should be the other way round for ease of trimming.

Thanks for that, pompa. SD suggested having acrylic nails fitted - similar effect but slightly prettier

Oddly enough, the finger nail that started splitting was the finger I had an accident with years ago and for a long time I had no feeling in it but the feeling has been coming back slowly. So I blamed that for the problem until it started happening to another.

Nanafrancis, unfortunately I have the same problem with a split that goes down the nail, and when you accidently push it back it splits further and really hurts. I don't really think there is anything you can do because if like mine you can actually see a very fine line all the way down the nail, which I presume means it is growing with the weakness already there. Must be the nail bed that is damaged. I had acrylic nails for a couple of years, and hoped that it would have grown out when I had them removed, but it's exactly the same, and I have tried rubbing with all sorts of potions but no change. so alas I think it is something that can't be mended. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Crikey; didn't realise you meant that the nail splits all the way down.that sounds really sore.My nails seem to be having a not splitting phase at the moment, but my hair is falling out. I give up!

I think you may be right, helshea. I just hoped someone would know of a cure! I'm grateful that I can keep it under control by constant nail trimming.

nanafrancis and crimson Try a supplement of vitamin B7, also known as biotin. This is what vets give to race horses to strengthen their hoofs. Nails and hair are made from the same substance so it strengthens both.(It will also strengthen your toenails crimson – but all blessings in life are mixed.) It works if you take it daily, but you won't notice any improvement for a few months.

Just a thought, but have you checked that it isn't a fungal nail infection? Your GP could do a test for it.

No, it's definitely not that, crimson.

I'll try the vitamin b7 and see if that helps.

I have to clip my nails all the time as they split both ways, and if I use a file it makes them worse. Maybe I should try the biotin myself.

You can avoid all the time and trouble with nails by going to a nail salon every 3 weeks for acrilic to be painted on top and the varnish NEVER chips and nor do the nails. It is the most wonderful invention ever and soo strong . They also make older hands look elegant and fingers longer!!

Fact, acrylic does dreadful things to your nails long term. It can leave nails thin and weak.