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Style & beauty

Nail strengthening

(68 Posts)
Noname Wed 05-Jul-23 11:21:27

Hi all! I’m sorry if this has been asked before (I did search!) but can anyone recommend a product to strengthen nails please. I have a healthy and balanced diet but due to my work (hands constantly in water), my nails are weak 😫

veejay Fri 25-Oct-24 16:48:08

Started taking biotin for hair loss,didn't help, but my nails grew very fast and longer than ever before

annodomini Sun 18-Aug-24 11:55:15

My post a year ago:
In the past, I have used Nail Envy and found it effective. However, now my nails are a mess again. Some of them are really strong, but others are inclined to split and peel. Most are ridged and pitted. My diet hasn't changed much over the years and the menopause is 40 years behind me. I'm at a loss to explain why my nails are so unsightly and about what I can do about them.
In the year since then, I have been taking a vegan collagen supplement which has worked wonders. My nails no longer split and chip. I can grow them a bit longer without expecting them to break. My hairdresser has remarked that my hair is thicker and I also attribute that to the collagen.

FlexibleFriend Sat 13-Jul-24 15:41:44

I take vitamins for various reasons and since taking vitamin E have had great nails and hair which is a welcome side effect.

MayBee70 Sat 13-Jul-24 14:32:40

JackyB

I can't understand people who say they started taking a supplement or changing their diet and noticing an immediate effect. As I said above, it has taken me three years of vitamin D and B12 to notice any difference, which is logical, because nails don't grow that fast.

I’ve resurrected this thread because, after many many years of having nails that split vertically I’ve realised that they’re now growing normally. I still have the ridges but they don’t seem to result in the nail splitting. All I can assume is that it’s down to me starting to take VitD at the start of the pandemic?

Latachaudhary Thu 12-Oct-23 15:04:25

Staying hydrated will help your nails retain moisture and remain strong.
duniakagyan.com/how-to-strengthen-nails/

Lilymae Fri 21-Jul-23 15:51:52

OPI Nail Envy is great

SachaMac Mon 17-Jul-23 19:17:13

Another vote for Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, also working from the inside, marine collagen capsules.

Esmay Mon 17-Jul-23 17:43:43

I don't have great nails - I start off with gloves on for gardening then find it hard to garden properly with them on .
Now I'm wearing disposable surgical type gloves with more success .

I'm using O'Keefes hand cream at night , which has made my hands smoother and softer .

I've tried Nail Envy and now Sally Hansen's nail hardener .

I'm wondering if my great love of nail polish is damaging my nails so I'm trying Sally Hansen's Pure .
The dark colour went on very nicely and the pale colours are a bit streaky , but okay with an extra coat .

BrandyGran Sat 15-Jul-23 09:30:14

Nails do grow fast. Watch them grow week by week after you apply clear varnish!

JackyB Tue 11-Jul-23 06:55:57

I can't understand people who say they started taking a supplement or changing their diet and noticing an immediate effect. As I said above, it has taken me three years of vitamin D and B12 to notice any difference, which is logical, because nails don't grow that fast.

NotSpaghetti Mon 10-Jul-23 20:32:10

Any further advice for improving thick unsightly toenails please? ... as we are talking nails!

5beam2 Mon 10-Jul-23 20:14:52

Since I've included pumpkin seeds on my breakfast my nails have become much stronger

annodomini Sun 09-Jul-23 11:34:10

In the past, I have used Nail Envy and found it effective. However, now my nails are a mess again. Some of them are really strong, but others are inclined to split and peel. Most are ridged and pitted. My diet hasn't changed much over the years and the menopause is 40 years behind me. I'm at a loss to explain why my nails are so unsightly and about what I can do about them.

HeavenLeigh Sun 09-Jul-23 11:06:36

Mavala scientifique everytime don’t need much either sold in chemists

win Sun 09-Jul-23 11:04:37

I have been on HRT since 2001 but sadly it never made a difference to my nails, skin nor hair. It definitely helps with lubrication and making you feel much more alive without the hot flushes and other side affects of the meno pause. The difference to my nails happened when I started to take Biotin. brilliant stuff and with the Collagen on top of that, there is no stopping them now.

gulliver12 Sun 09-Jul-23 10:37:36

Noticed my nails were much stronger then realised why. I'd started HRT. If it makes your bones stronger it patently does the same for nails but I had never thought of it.

qnbee91 Sat 08-Jul-23 22:07:05

I have been taking biotin for about 8 months. My nails have never been better.

win Sat 08-Jul-23 21:00:37

I take both Collagen and Biotin, started off with Biotin for 3 months and added Collagen as I have had severe inflammation in my arm tissue. It was recommended by my Osteopath. They work on healing tissue, skin, nails and hair, and I have never in my life had long nails. They are now claws that have to be filed right down every 5 weeks. Collagen is a bit pricey but worth every penny.

AngieP Sat 08-Jul-23 20:32:01

OPI Nail Envy is my go to.

5beam2 Sat 08-Jul-23 19:42:43

A sprinkling of pumpkin seeds on my cereal has really strengthened my nails. They used to split and break but since I've been adding these my nails are much stronger.

Celia1475 Sat 08-Jul-23 19:21:18

Take Lysine tablets 1000mg two daily on an empty stomach. I started taking it as a prophylactic for herpes and after 4-6 months I realised both my nails and hair were much stronger. I wasn’t taking any other supplements. A very happy side effect! After 6 months I dropped down to one tablet first thing in the morning, more beneficial taken well before food although might say differently on the product directions. I’ve been taking lysine regularly now for nearly 3 years and my nails have gone from flakey to strong and my hair is blonde! ( in my 50’s it became dull and I dyed it) I’m now 70 and I like to think the lysine has helped and that others can benefit from it too.

SewnSew Sat 08-Jul-23 18:50:33

Definitely Vitamin D for nails and hair as mentioned before, but also try CeraVe hand cream to keep your nails and cuticles healthy and moisturised. It's available from larger Boots sores and online.

Youcantchoosethem Sat 08-Jul-23 18:18:34

Remember that splitting nails is a sign of thyroid issues - hypothyroidism. Menopause also causes massive issues. I now take try round medication and HRT as well as a collagen supplement and Vitamin D and Calcium supplements (was recommended at quite a high dose by GP). My nails are better now than they have been in years and hair and skin are also improved! Another benefit of collagen if peri menopausal or menopausal is that ligaments and tendons also become more rigid and collagen again helps them stay more flexible.

Other sign of thyroid issues is cold hands/feet and fatigue - feeling really exhausted.

Kathmaggie Sat 08-Jul-23 18:18:18

My dry flaking nails have responded to daily moisturising with nail oil. Superdrug do an excellent one reasonably priced. Might take a few months but definitely worked.

Smileless2012 Sat 08-Jul-23 17:48:37

I used Sally Hanson Advanced Hard as Nails and it's very good.