To just want nice nails for once in my life ?!

[NormaNameChange]

Long story short. Persistent nail biter my entire life , despite endless encouragement to stop. Spent most of my 20s and 30s wearing false nails as I was so ashamed of how scruffy my bitten nails looked. Reached the point where I could do them myself to save time and money.

Went on holiday in August - my one time a year I wear no bra, dont take my straightners with me (let the curly unruly mop do its own thing) and most importantly... dont wear nails! Well, they started growing and I made a resolution to stop biting them all together and I did. I should add I'm now over 40 so it was about time.

However, despite my best efforts, everytime they get a decent length they snap, flake, bend and generally end up looking shit again. I currently have six decent nails (broke one this morning changing the bed) the others look awful.

AIBU to ask for your luscious long nail secrets? What do you use, take?

Thank you in advance

I have shellac nails but they start chipping within days. I am the talk of the nail technicians. 😳

Never bitten my nails. They’re just incredibly weak no matter what I try to strenghthen them.

And salons refuse to acrylic my nails because the nails are just to weak to support acrylics.

Just get your nails done with gellish or shellac!

Definitely OPI nail envy, it's brilliant stuff, and also their Avoplex nail oil too.

meltingsugar i would LOVE nails like yours, that would make me very happy. Mine are much worse

I used to o bite my nails and I found painting them with a hardening base coat, bright colour and a top coat stopped me biting them where the bitter tasting nail varnish didn't. The bright colour reminded me not to bite and the hardening base coat/top coat made it nigh on impossible to bite my nails even when I tried. Once I'd got out of the habit I stopped using the colour and just used the hardening treatment to help strengthen my nails. At first I kept them short and neat until they were a bit stronger, then I let them grow and kept them nicely filed.

Don't buff your nails too much as that can weaken them.

I found taking high strength vitamin D and omega 3 helped stop my nails splitting as much.

I use Barry M 7 in 1 base coat on my nails all the time and try to have one week in four with no coloured nail varnish on. Cuticle oil and a good hand moisturiser helps keep the nails moisturised and the skin round the nails looking good too. Whenever I've started getting lax with moisturising the skin round my nails starts looking awful within a few days.

You say that OP, but honestly mine still break a lot! It's rare they look like that photo for long. I think some people must be better at being super careful with their hands, that or they have magic nails. I've not met many with lovely long nails on every single finger.

I stopped biting mine when I got too vain as a teenager. Painting them helped as a visual deterrent.

I now mostly wear a strengthener or base coat only and only paint colours occasionally as I wear hard on nail varnish and can’t keep it on more than 24 hours. Shellac also weakened my nails for 6 months.

Regular use of oil or cuticle butter, a good diet and multi vit, washing up gloves and weekly application of a strengthener are my top tips for growing good nails. Mine are now truly beautiful and so strong that they are hard to cut with scissors (I have to get DH to help with my right hand and he refers to them as my hooves!). I can’t remember the last time I broke one.

Another vote for Nail Envy. Transformed my nails and comes in a variety of colours.

Shellac has ruined my nails. Get a biosculpture gel put on. 3 weeks, no flaking, lifting, peeling. Helps mine grow so much!!!

Gosh... so much awesome advice! Amazing. Some differences of opinion on shellac and gels it seems, but almost universal advice on moisturing, vitamins and a coating of some description which is fab. Thanks. I shall be back to update in a month of two - maybe with pictures if I'm no longer ashamed of my hands

I use Nailtiques Formula 2. It's FANTASTIC. It strengthens the nail to stop breakage and peeling. I get mine off Ebay for around about £15. I honestly cannot recommend this product enough. I saw results within the first couple of weeks. I was dubious when first told about it but I can assure you it does the job.