Ridgy, flaky, splitting nails - Help!

[RudeBarbandCustard]

My nails are a split, flaky mess and have been for years.

I have deep ridges on all of them, and after they get a couple of milimetres long they will split along one of the ridges, so I have to cut them down. Recently, they've also become flaky at the ends.

I have tried some 'nail strengthening' paint, but it just acts like an undercoat and holds the nail together while its on, but when I take it off it ruins my nail.

I'm deficient in something aren't I? I'm vegetarian, and rubbish at taking vitamins. But I'm also TTC, so I am concerned that I'm lacking something vital...

Please help me Style and Beauty Experts!

Mine are they same. I've tried everything. Nothing helps :-(
Nail Tek Xtra holds them together well without making them worse but it doesn't do anything towards a long term solution.

You need perfectnail tablets! I got them from boots for about £10, took them every day and all of a sudden beautiful, long shiny nails. I think even the ridges went.

What's in the tablets Rocksie is it just vitamins (I could google it of course..)

I do worry that my nails are a symptom of a deficiency in me, and that I really ought to start taking vitamins and sort it out.

If you are TTC, I would start taking pregnacare, you need the folic acid and in my case, my nails were never better

I'm not sure what's in them i'm afraid (and just seen should read perfectil, not perfectnail!

Rub a little oil into nails and cuticles every day. Jojoba or sweet almond oil are pretty good. Problems with nails are often a zinc deficiency. There are good vegetarian sources of zinc (spinach, chickpeas, brown rice, dark chocolate, kidney beans) but it's one of those things you need to make a real effort with as most of the richest sources of dietary zinc are meat/seafood based. B12 is difficult to get in a vegetarian diet so look at fortified foods like cereals, plant milks with added vits. Folic acid would help too (cruciferous vegetables).

My nails have always been like this - vertical ridges and very flaky - I have psoriasis in my nail bed - might be worth checking you haven't.

Get a Leighton denny buffer (M&S sell them) to improve the circulation and appearance of the nails (smooths the nails and leaves them shiney)

I use Avoplex oil on my cuticles too

I've been taking perfectil and using solar oil no no avail. My hair is lovely from the vitamins though.

I have gel nails done twice a year. It wrecks my nails.
They flake really badly after they've come off.
I eat a good diet so can't believe I'm deficient in anything.
I have tried Avoplex but I think it's a bit emporers new clothes.

I use Nailtiques Formula 2+. Takes a few months of diligent application but it's made the difference between nails like you've described and reasonably good nails. You paint it on every day for about 5 days and then take it off and start again.

Another similar thread suggested Rimmel's Nail Nurse Nail Rescue which is similar but I don't find it as effective.

Nailtiques is the one product I'd choose if I was only allowed 1 beauty product for ever. It's about £10 from Beauty Bay.

Try it, but keep going for a few months. Good luck. I feel your pain!

Here's the link in case you want to try it!

www.beautybay.com/nailcare/nailtiques/proteinformula2plus/

Ooh thanks everyone.

I found a jar of coconut oil in the cupboard so I rubbed that into my nails last night.

Might try the Nailtiques as well.