Any nail experts able to advise?

[changingnameforthispost]

I've had a problem with ridges on my right hand ring finger for some time, but now the ridge has split. I think it could be because I've had 2 shellacs done earlier in the year ( in April and in May). Since then all of my nails have been really fragile, and break as soon as they get longer than 2mm in length.
I'm using hand cream ( Body Shop and Kiko) a few times a day, but nothing else, and also filling broken nails to keep them short.
Is there anything anyone can recommend or something I could do?
I do have a horrible habit of fiddling with my cuticles, but don't bite my nails.
Many thanks

[oneburgerofham]

I don't have any answers for the ridges, but I use Lemony Flutter from Lush. I rub it in my cuticles every night before I go to sleep and it has made my cuticles much softer, and it seems to have helped my nails grow stronger too.

[changingnameforthispost]

Thanks Oneburgerofham, I'll try anything, almost!

[oneburgerofham]

It's good because it lasts for absolutely ages, and is also fab for dry elbows!

[ellie264]

I'm not sure specifically about your ridges, but I recommend OPI Nail Envy for fragile nails. I have heard that coconut oil is good too, that you buy from the Asian section of supermarkets.

[LuckySantangelo1]

Stay away from shellac! Awful stuff if your nails are damaged/weak in any way. Start taking a cod liver oil & vit d. Try and get some sunshine. File it down so you run less risk of tearing it. None of these things may work but are worth a try!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Did you see the nail techs shellac certificate?.

[gingerbreadmanm]

dont know how to improve but express nails in the meantime may help to cover.

please dont go to any salons that use an electric file to remove the nail. they are so damaging

have all nails removed professionally ( but not with an electric file, acetone and a light buffing should do).

a nail hardener and vitamins might work in the meantime. in sure i read on mn rubbing vaseline into ur nails twice a day does them good.

[Oblomov16]

I have exactly the same thing and have been told by two nail salons that there is nothing that can be done.
I don't think mine was caused by shellac, I think I must have slammed it in a car door or similar.

[Fluffycloudland77]

If the matrix of the nail has been damaged then the split will always be there, if the matrix is OK the split will grow out.

There's nothing you can put on it to make a difference to that either way.

You can use cnd solar oil to strengthen the nails but only buy it from a salon where the techs can show you their certificates & ask who the suppliers are. Only sweet squared and ellisons sell solar oil in the uk, you have to send proof of your training to buy it.

There's a lot of fake shellac out there.

[goiaba]

OPI Nail Envy might help! It really does strengthen the nails, at least it was the only product that worked for me.

[changingnameforthispost]

Wow, thank you all for the replies, I like the look of the solar oil and the sound of the jelly babies.
I'm going to keep them short and tidy, and stay off the shellac.