Nail help please before I call an ambulance!

[valiumredhead]

Ok, slight over reaction

I have always had really quick growing, strong nails. Never needed any treatments and weren't affected by varnish or the way I filed etc. People used to comment on how lovely they were

Well, that will teach me to be smug about them as they are a right mess now!

Always split at the ends, a couple really badly. They look really weak and out of condition.

I have used Sally Hansen Miracle Cure - it did work but do you keep on using it?

Do I need to take supplements and if so and what sort - I looked in Boots and couldn't find anything specific?

I am this close to painting nail glue on the ends to seal them and give them a chance to grow.

I have a Leighton Denny file - they are still growing fast so need cutting once a week, should I use clippers then file or just the file? Maybe its the clippers that are making them split?

Any suggestions gratefully received

I'd stop filing for a while and just clip them. Mine always go stronger when they haven't been filed.

Someone told me that buffing really weakens nails. No idea if it's true, but I stopped doing that.

Don't know about supplements. Take a multi vit with extra calcium?

I don't buff, so it's not that.

I take a multivit but not extra calcium...

Will try the non filing and see if it helps, thanks :)

A nail oil helps strengthen nails, I've found. I put it on just before bed.

Which one do you use empress?

Also, are you drinking enough water? Wearing gloves when using cleaning stuff?
Could it be the weather? My skin has gone flaky and horrible because of the weather. Come on, Spring!

Water - yes, drink loads and yes I use gloves when I remember

Nails often dry out and flake in the colder weather.

I would apply almond oil to them and the cuticles as often as you remember, apply a decent hand cream on top.

Buffing is a good way of removing the dead/ dry layer on top and boosting the blood supply to nail plate. Buffing is fine as long as you don't use something too abrasive or overbuff. Once weekly is fine.

Keep nails shorter and square if you can. Square with a rounded corner is the strongest shape.

File away any snags on the free edge, file one direction only.

Hopefully you will see an improvement in a few days.

Don't be tempted to apply glue, gels or any temporary solutions as in the long run it can cause more damage.

I have almond oil - will do that!

They can't get any shorter and are still split

Will resist nail glue

I can highly recommend bio gel 'lavender base'
It's a treatment you paint on once a week which will increase the moisture in the nail plate. Looks pretty too!

Ok, well keep them short for the next few weeks, file them back once a free edge appears. The free edge will be weak and damaged/ dry anyway so will probably spilt. Don't be tempted to grow them until they are in a better condition.

Nail Magic is fab for splitting nails. I started using it as a basecoat on recommendation of a manicurist and it transformed my nails.

Never heard of Nail Magic

OK, I think that I am a bit of an expert on nails, having faced the same issues as you valium. This is what works for me:

Do not ever buff. Buffing takes away the top layer and weakens my nails. My nails are so weak that they cannot handle buffing. If your nails are strong, then buffing is great as it makes them smooth and nail polish lasts longer.

If you can, stop clipping. The Leighton Denny file is truly excellent and you can buff in any direction you want, as opposed to other normal nail files.

Moisturise like mad, whatever works for you. I like Neutrogena hand cream, L'occitane nail cream, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream on the cuticles, or oil on the cuticles. Use whatever you like, but do it often (at least a couple of times a day and before bed).

Skip the nail polish for a while and use a nail hardener religiously. OPI nail envy is very good, you use it every other day and take it all off at the end of the week. You should be able to get a good deal on it on ebay. I also use Renunail and to be honest I prefer it. I think it is more efficient but you need to apply it every day and it does take 5-10 minutes to dry as opposed to almost no time with OPI Nail Envy. You can get it from amazon.

Keep nails as short as you can until they recover and you get new, strong, growth (about 3 months). Short nails are more elegant and are in fashion at the moment anyway.

I do not believe in supplements. I think that if you have a decent diet, then supplements are just another multivitamin.

Wear gloves for washing up and when outside in the cold.

A manicure always works for me, my nails always grow stronger for the next couple of weeks after I had them professionally cut and filed.

Good luck xxx

As a beauty therapist I would have to disagree with last poster re buffing, sorry!
Buffing is like exfoliation for the nails.

There is no point in applying expensive creams to the skin if its only going to sit on a layer or dead skin and not penetrate, same with the nails.

You have to remove the flaky (dead) nails for anything to sink in. Buffing also increases the blood circulation to the nail plate promoting healthy growth.

Air on the side of caution, never use an abrasive buffer, just something very soft with a light motion.

The oil I use contains vitamin E, it's just a Boots own brand. I use it over the top of nail polish every evening. I also buff occasionally, though use the 'shine' side most of all.

A good nail polish seems to help too. I use Essie, with Seche Vite top coat.

Thanks for all the advice!

I have ordered the Nails Inc oil pen and will use it religiously, I also ordered the mavala strengthener before I had seen the Nail Magic recommendation so if I don't get on with that I will order Nail Magic.

Will stop clipping and only file!

I'll update in a week or so and hopefully there will be some improvement!

I use OPI cuticle to go oil. It's in a little tube with a brush applicator. It's lovely, smells nice too.
I do it every other day and have stopped painting my nails for the time being and they're looking really healthy and strong.
I also use OPI original nail envy once a week.