Flaky nails

I have tried everything for this, including various vitamins and minerals. The only thing that works for me is Rimmel Nail Nurse. I think it's about £5 but lasts quite a while. I apply it a few times a week, removing the old stuff and re-applying. It makes your nails really strong and hard (well it works for me). Worth a try maybe.

NAN , do you massage your cuticles every time you put on hand cream ?
takes a while BUT does work .

Thanks KatyK I will go down to Boots tomorrow and get myself a bottle.

No I don't Nonu, I will add that to the regime. Thanks.

Mine started splitting a couple of years ago where I have ridges. I used to buff the ridges till I read that was the weakest part of the nail. I now keep my nails cut more square'ish than pointed and massage argan oil into the bottom of the nail [round the cuticle] each night [in fact, while I'm watching telly I'll rub several lots of oil on]. I coat just the ends of the nails in hard as nails and they're back to how they used to be. Sometimes I take off the hard as nails in the evening and put the oil all over the nail till the next day. Even the ridges aren't as bad. Although I always wear rubber gloves for washing up and housework I found that my nails dried out when I had a bath etc. I then treat myself to wearing nail polish for special occasions [but take it off afterwards]. Katy; my hard as nails is running out; I'll check out the stuff you recommend when I go shopping. Someone on here recommended Mavala a while back [but I haven't found it in the shops]. I've also got some of those cotton gloves that you put on at night to help the cream be absorbed. Going to bed takes me hours these days ....

phew Tegan , sounds as though it does , I felt puffed out reading about it !!
Laugh .

NanKate - it's with the nail varnishes on the Rimmel racks. I can never find the blessed thing, they usually put it somewhere near the bottom. It's a clear-ish liquid with a slight pinky tinge and the writing on it is not very clear (well with my eyesight anyway). I hope it works for you

The one I find most effective is OPI Nail Envy. I have found it in John Lewis but it's much cheaper to search for and buy it on Ebay, usually post free.

I have never heard of argan oil Tegan but on researching it on Internet it looks like a must have item - I might even slap a bit on my face !

Thanks KatyK for your advice on locating the nail strengthener on the Rimmel display if I can't find it I will try ordering it online and I believe they will deliver it to my own branch of Boots.

Haven't things changed in chemists since the time they just had large bottles filled with coloured liquid in the windows. Also the only cosmetics were Ponds lipsticks and a little round cardboard container by Bourjois called rouge now known as blusher. I suppose our mums didn't have much time for make up and polishing their nails.

It's surprising I have these dodgy nails when you consider I have never scrubbed a floor or used carbolic soap.

I have an old powder compact of my mums, so she must have used loose powder, but that's all. One of my friends moved to a new flat and I went to visit her [I must have still been at primary school]. We went into her older sisters room and I can remember that she had some white pearl nail varnish and I thought it was the most sophisticated thing I'd ever seen. Something I don't remember but I was told about a couple of years back by someone that lived next to us when I was a child [she contacted me via friends reunited]; this lady gave me some make up and she said my mum was absolutely furious about it. I guess there was still a school of thought that only wanton women painted their faces . Argan oil is great for hair as well; my hair is really thin but since I've been using it it's strengthened it considerably.

I still have the very pretty powder compact my Mum gave me in my late teens. I can't remember when - if ever - I last used loose powder.

I thought compacts were for pressed powder - wouldn't it have to be rather deep to hold the loose stuff?

I tried the nail envy, but it didn't work for me, also tried a Sally Hansen one. Might give the Rimmel a go, and if that doesn't work I will just resign myself to having crap nails!

I remember a horrified reaction from my mum when I first used makeup!

Loose powder - there was a little round screen on top to keep it under control.

Bought my Argan Oil and it smells gorgeous Tegan. I have rubbed it into the cuticles and await a response from my nails. You mentioned Mavala nail polish you can get it at big John Lewis stores. They have a lovely colour range. I often find I have bought the same colour twice - just a senior moment !

KatyK I found the Rimmel polish and as soon as the above oil has soaked in I will put on a coat of the varnish.

Ana with regard to the loose powder you just put a bit into the compact at a time. I now need heavy duty foundation and powder to make me presentable !

Phoenix watch out for my posts on my journey to decent nails to see if you want to buy the Argan Oil and Rimmel. I too used number of Sally Hansen products and they all just dried out and peeled off.

I hope it works NanKate

Almond oil worked for me but I can't seem to get it now.

I used to get it from The Body Shop. Would Holland and Barrett sell it, perhaps? In fact, I've just looked and I've got some in my bathroom cabinet; I bet it's all of 10 years old [maybe more ].

It's certainly widely available on the internet. Holland & Barrett sell it too.

My nails are terrible . I use Sally Hansen products on them, and have taken Calcium tablets, but nothing seems to make them grow, or stop them splitting. I'll have a look for Argan Oil and try that ,as well as the Rimmel Nail Nurse. Thanks for the ideas.

My nails seem to get better when I take vitamins, however they are not good, have one very 'ridgy' nail . Bought some avocado oil from Boots , suppose it only works if you use it regularly.

I heard less was more with makeup when we get older - certainly even loose powder seems to accentuate my wrinkles.

Well I have rubbed in that argon oil, then put 2 coats of the Rimmel special varnish on and so far so good. I am the eternal optimist and expect everything to work. I do hope this time next week I can report back I have 10 nice looking nails, not just the usual 8 !

The recommended nail strengthening tip years ago was to eat a cube of jelly every day. Not sure if it worked though!

I might add the jelly recommendation to my regime. So far I am making good progress with my two dodgy nails, having used the varnish and oil I have no flaking at all - we could be looking at a miracle here thanks to the Gransnet Pals

More news in a few days.