Do anyone else's nails do this?

[Goldmandra]

This is a picture of my thumb nail but it happens to my other nails too.

As soon as they are any length, they start to split low down and I have to cut them down really short again. The little white bit at the edge of the nail was almost invisible yesterday. By tomorrow it will be big enough to start catching on fabric.

I use a heavy moisturiser on them several times every day and I don't have to wash my hands more than normal for work or anything.

The split runs through the area where the nail is attached to my skin so it gets messy and painful. Any ideas of how I can prevent them?

Yes! Especially my thumbs. No idea why! Hopefully someone will be along with some answers.

Clear nail polish and strong nail top coat?

Yes, just my right thumb. I usually cut them at the first sign of it happening which stops it splitting, but I like mine short, yours is longer in the pic than I like mine.

Mine do that too. It always seems to be in the same place. Have tried keeping them really short, but it does not seem to make any difference.

Yes mine used to do this and it drove me mad. I now have gel nails and they always look lovely.

I've tried nail varnish and the strengthening top/base coats. It doesn't prevent or reduce the split in the slightest.

I've even put superglue on one nail in desperation which might have slowed the split a little but I'm not really sure.

My thumbnail in that picture is actually really long for me. My nails generally only have 2-3mm of white showing max.

I get this on thumbs and fingers. I put nail glue on at the first sign and, although it doesn't stop the split, it seems to slow it and prevents snagging until the nail has grown long enough for the split to have grown past the nail bed and I can cut the nail.

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This won't prevent it from happening but will allow it to grow out: a dab of nail glue or thin superglue, stick a tiny bit of teabag on top (double layer to absorb glue) and paint over when glue is dry.

Mine used to do this. I was anaemic. Now I’m no longer anaemic doesn’t happen.

Nails that never crack or break. More subtle colours available!

I didn't know you could buy nail glue.

I wonder if a can make the piece of teabag small enough to be inconspicuous? I don't really want to cover it with nail varnish because I'm worried that will dry my nails out and make the problem worse in the long run.

I've used nail glue before and it works a treat.

Do you cut your nails or file them? If you want to strengthen them, I suggest filing instead of cutting as the edge of the nail remains thicker. Also, given that it is always on the same area, I would try giving your nail a slightly different shape, a little bit more "square", not with such a big difference between the edge and the middle bit.
There are also some pharmacy products to strengthen your nails, they are clear and non-shiny and will strengthen them if you give them some time) I think a couple of weeks).

This used to happen to me all the time, and it was painful because it happened where the nail was still attached to my skin. I was forever catching them on fabric or when washing my hair.

After trying the tea nag method, the nail glue method... I discovered that getting my nails done every 4 weeks with a hard gel stops this.

I get it on several of my nails, was told years ago it is the result of filing them at the sides or filing them in a seesaw motion rather than one direction at a time.

My nails split quite a lot and I always keep them short as they also bend. However, in the past I have use something called New Skin on the split bits until it has grown out and stopped filing down the sides, which did stop it.

I don't use any polish/varnish or anything on my nails, am guilty of gardening and washing up without gloves, but it wouldn't make any difference as they have been this way all my life, and I prefer short, neat nails anyway.

Try Nailtiques formula 2 - it's a protein and a conditioner for the nail and very good for nails that are weak, brittle or bitten etc.

Mine do exactly that when I stop biting them and they start to grow.....so I get despondent and pick at them! I was recommended this by a beautician who said it's better for your nails than a strengthened. I bought a small bottle from Amazon to try.

Your nails are too strong. They don’t have any elasticity that’s why they are low breaking. If you put hardening stuff on they will be worse. Get some oil, nail oil or olive would do. Rub it in each night, it will improve your elasticity.

Great to have some new ideas. Thank you.

I generally file them but occasionally use clippers, e.g. today when I cut that thumbnail down short.

I use New Skin on paper cuts for which it is brilliant. It never occurred to me to put in on my nails!

@DobbyTheHouseElk, DD2 has some jojoba oil she paints on her nails. Would that work?

Yes jojoba oil is perfect, anything to improve the suppleness.

I’m a Beauty Therapist, and see this all the time. TBH filing or cutting isn’t going to make a difference, you have lovely healthy strong nails. But don’t over-harden them otherwise you will get those low breaks.

Totally agree with oil, you need flexible not hard nails, by the look of it you file to far down the sides too, I have excellent nails that rarely split but only file above never down the sides, past the pads of my fingers only.

Thank you.

Will start tonight.

I have been anaemic before and happen to have a GP appt tomorrow so might just ask about getting that checked.

I love MN

Another recommendation for Nailtiques formula 2. My nails were breaking at the same point on my thumbs, and flaking really low down. I now have the best nails of my life. They grow so long and strong that they now grow too long, and I have to file them back to a length I'm comfortable with. That has never happened before, I've always had to file or cut them due to peeling or snapping from weakness.

I'm on my second bottle of it and I wouldn't be without it. I got mine from Amazon.