How can I strengthen my fingernails? Hit me with your recommendations!

[WordInYourShellLike]

My fingernails are rubbish - if I so much as try to pick a bit of tape off the roll they start flaking and splitting. I've tried specific supplements at different times with mixed results. For example, a few years ago I tried a particular brand of Silicea (it was a bit pricey but had very good reviews) and after the two month period of waiting for my nails to grow out, it made a considerable difference. Improved my hair too. So I tried it again recently, kept it up for three months - no difference at all! Maybe I need to take more of it, but unfortunately that would make it unaffordable. I take a few general supplements every day, including zinc, but none of these have helped. If you have the same problem, what have you taken that has genuinely made a difference?

You need to nourish the nail bed. Rub hand cream in to your nails especially the cuticle area a couple of times a day. It's not what you use but the massage effect which will in time strengthen the nail.

Then use OPI nail strengthener in the meantime to protect the nail surface.

Increase the calcium in your diet.

Essie do a range of varnish called TLC (I think it stands for treat love and colour rather than tender loving care).
You use it without a base coat - I usually use two coats, put a topcoat on (I use the Gel couture top coat which works well for me), and an additional topcoat layer every day or so, and take it off and start again at least once weekly.
Sounds a faff, but both TLC and the topcoat dry really quickly. I had a fast improvement, and with no varnish on could see the stripe between good nail/grotty nail. Also, with TLC my nails stayed strong if I had them bare for a few days; I used to use OPI Nail envy, but my nails went flakey again the moment I stopped using it.
Colours in the TLC are quite pale and muted - but if your nails aren't great, you probably don;t want pillar box red! On of my favourites is called something like "on mauve" - sounds ghastly, but comes out a greyish taupe colour.
Not used it for a while (or any other varnish) but my nails are in excellent condition now.

I have always had dreadful thin, bendy nails. I recently found a strengthened in Wilkos - it's quite possibly the best thing I've used or tried!

@Yellredder

I have always had dreadful thin, bendy nails. I recently found a strengthened in Wilkos - it's quite possibly the best thing I've used or tried!

Ooh Yellredder - tell me more! What's it called?

@BerniesMittens

You need to nourish the nail bed. Rub hand cream in to your nails especially the cuticle area a couple of times a day. It's not what you use but the massage effect which will in time strengthen the nail.

Then use OPI nail strengthener in the meantime to protect the nail surface.

Increase the calcium in your diet.

Thank you, that sounds like good advice. I use a lot of hand cream but have never thought to massage the nails. I'll start doing that now!

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

Essie do a range of varnish called TLC (I think it stands for treat love and colour rather than tender loving care). You use it without a base coat - I usually use two coats, put a topcoat on (I use the Gel couture top coat which works well for me), and an additional topcoat layer every day or so, and take it off and start again at least once weekly. Sounds a faff, but both TLC and the topcoat dry really quickly. I had a fast improvement, and with no varnish on could see the stripe between good nail/grotty nail. Also, with TLC my nails stayed strong if I had them bare for a few days; I used to use OPI Nail envy, but my nails went flakey again the moment I stopped using it. Colours in the TLC are quite pale and muted - but if your nails aren't great, you probably don;t want pillar box red! On of my favourites is called something like "on mauve" - sounds ghastly, but comes out a greyish taupe colour. Not used it for a while (or any other varnish) but my nails are in excellent condition now.

Thank you, I'll look into that. I've never used nail varnish other than very occasionally, and even then not for years and years. I do have some paint on treatments but I've always worried that painting anything onto the nails would somehow make them weaker over time - I think I need to revise my opinion!

I started taking vitamin D3 for other reasons

Since I started taking it regularly my nails are now strong and not brittle. They used to be like paper.

I also found my sensitive teeth improved and I can now enjoy ice cream and cold drinks without them causing problems.

I too used to have thin nails, I filed them to keep them neat and I bit them occasionally too.

My friend who has lovely strong nails said she simply cuts with nail clippers NOT nail scissors, then files lightly to remove the sharp edges only.

I've been doing this for several months now and it has really helped thicken my nails, and I no longer bite!

Wear good quality nail polish with a base coat and moisturise cuticles several times a day, change varnish weekly, it really help toughen up my weak nails.

NannyGythaOgg I've been taking vitamin D3 daily for nearly a year now and it hasn't helped my nails but now you mention the sensitive teeth, I hadn't thought about it but they are much better, I would never have thought to equate the two!

Thanks so much everyone, great advice. Has anyone else taken a supplement that they feel has really helped?

You want Dior apricot cuticle cream. Rub in to your cuticles every night and they will soon strengthen.

Eat Brazil nuts. The selenium is good for nails and hair.

Buy a tablet of jelly (they kind you use to make a fruit jelly for pudding). Eat a square, raw, every day. Your nails will grow. Try not to think too hard about why it works.

Raspberry is my favourite.

Learn to play piano

Mine have improved with daily Vitamin D, they were very strong when I lived in Chile.

Supplements helped me. I use wellwoman along with Vit D3. Made a huge different. I was was spending £££ on nail salons and now my nude nails look as good as the salon fake ones!

Feeling a bit gutted that vit D didn't work for me...!

Try different supplements..maybe skin&nails...

Take a look:

Have you tried OPI Nail Envy? It really worked for me when I had similar problems.

I know mine never grow with jelly, supplements, massaging the nail bed etc. At my advanced age, I've just about tried everything. anyways, @WordInYourShellLike it's called Essence Growth Booster. I've used it with some gel polish over and just on its own and it's made such a difference!

@Yellredder

I know mine never grow with jelly, supplements, massaging the nail bed etc. At my advanced age, I've just about tried everything. anyways, *@WordInYourShellLike* it's called Essence Growth Booster. I've used it with some gel polish over and just on its own and it's made such a difference!

Thank you Yellredder - next time I go near a Wilko store I'll be stocking up!

Thanks CamdenLurker I'll check that out too.

This is all such a help, I'm so grateful to everyone!

Never do washing up without rubber gloves. Or any cleaning, really.
Not very glam but does help.

Oooh, thanks for starting this OP = useful tips.

Mine grew most when I was pregnant and TTC, I'm guessing the folic acid made a difference