Horrible flakey nails

[TheMoistWorldOfSeptimusQuench]

I used to have lovely strong nails, but over the last couple of years, for some reason they've really deteriorated. They flake from the top down, the tips are always weak and paperthin where so much has flaked off, and my middle fingernails both a have a point at which they split vertically unless I keep them filed right down.

I want nice nails again. Can't afford to have the sort of false nails they put on in salons (gel extensions?), and I don't like they way they look anyway. I just want strong nails that I can grow to a modest length and paint in pretty colours. Any ideas?

How is your diet? Have you considered some shiny coat healthy skin, eyes & nails multi-vitamins?

I have exactly the same problem but I do have gel nails. They are short at the moment and in a really nice colour but I waited three months since I had them done last as they split so easily. With the gel they get a chance to grow again.

Mmm good point pork (if I may call you that? ) diet is not bad most of the time, but may well try those.

Deste Did the condition of your nails underneath the gels improve after having them on, or was it just that they grew longer but then started splitting again once they were off?

Not sure what you can take/eat to help.

Get a good nail strengthener, OPI do some good ones.

False nails will make them worse and thiner, not sure about gel nails tho as I don't know much about them.

I would keep your nails short until they strengthen enough to grow and not break/flake.

When you file your nails go from the side to the middle and not straight across.

Also don't paint your nails too often apart from the strengthener, this I think can weaken your nails too (not 100% sure tho)

Went to a nail place today with the very same situation, and they said to sort the nail condition out first before getting anything else done - wear gloves for all washing up cleaning, use nail/cuticle oil every day (especially over the tips), paint on nail treatment stuff specifically for split and dry nails every day, and no filing with metal or glass files as the friction causes heat and that's bad for the splitting. I've no idea if that's good advice (I know nothing :)) but will give it a go anyway!

Oh and I've tried Perfectil supplements before and they were great, but now have store brand ones (can't remember which sorry) which are loads cheaper and have exactly the same ingredients, so will have a go with those too.

I have the same problem. I think a good handcream helps. I used to use Barielle, not sure if it still exists. It was for strengthening horses hooves or something.
Washing up and cleaning is a killer for nails, only use a cardboard emery board too.

Thanks for the advice. I never wear gloves, too much faff taking them on and off between jobs. I'm also hopeless at putting on handcream as I hate having greasy hands. So the skin around my nails is awful too, lots of splitting around my fingertips.

I see I must get myself to Boots and address my tardy ways!

You and me both then :)

Nailtiques Formula 2 will help with this. I have a similar problem. They were really bad about 10 years ago and this was the only thing that helped. Annoyingly, wearing nail varnish makes them revert to peeling again.

The other thing that helps is an actual horse hoof ointment called Cornucrescine which is a dark brown oily gloopy paste (nice!) but you only need to use a tiny little bit. Just a swipe of your fingertip across the surface of the product will give you enough for a whole hand of nails. It's very cheap too. this tin will last you for years!

Horse hoof ointment! Who knew?

My shopping list is expanding..

This was a tip off from a girl who had a horse. She told me that all her 'horsey' friends had very strong fingernails because they were always inadvertently getting this on their own nails when applying it to their horses hooves.

Cornucrescine? My lord that stuff reeks...OP, try almond oil. Rub a small drop into each nail each evening, that should help to moisturise the nail itself.

If your nails start flaking when you wear nail varnish have you considered it is the nail polish remover that is the problem. I have switched to an acetone free opi remover and my nails are tonnes beeter.

better not beeter.....

I did not soak them off properly so they flaked and split because of that. If I do it properly they are in better condition, the nails get a chance to improve because they are not subject to harsh treatment.

If you can tolerate them, wear gloves that are big enough to slip on and off really easily. That way you're more likely to wear them - works for me anyway.

I've also been using the Sally Hansen miracle cure treatment for mine. I stopped for a while and the flaking came back :(

Geronimo you need such a tiny amount of the Cornucrescine that you don't really notice the smell. Trust me, it will do a lot more for your nails that Almond Oil. I had peeling nails for years before I found anything that actually worked, including Almond Oil. The two things I mentioned both worked, and reasonably quickly too.

Burts Bees Lemon Cuticle Cream applied all over the nail and to the nailbed nightly will help greatly. It smells nice and lemony.

Nailtiques no.2 is really good. My nails were terrible and within 2 weeks of using Nailtiques daily I was having to file them down as they were too long. You can buy it on Amazon.

Ooh, I've actually got some of the Burts Bees stuff, mathanxiety, and had completely forgotten about it. Thanks for jogging my sluggish memory.
And thanks everyone for all the other suggestions and advice. Lots of things to buy and play with now.