Crumbling nails, are gel overlays a really bad idea?

[BlackNoSugar]

My nails have started breaking - right down to the nail bed on some of them, which is really painful. My hair has got thinner too, and my skin is really dry - I guess it's hormonal (I'm 46), and I've started taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement to help things out.

But I have to do something about my nails, even typing is painful. I've got my nails as short as possible, hoping that will help, but they still chip and break.

I was wondering about putting on gel overlays - I know they're not good for nails, but I have to do something to stop my nails crumbling away too much, it's too bloody painful when they break so low down.

I figure the vitamins/minerals will help, so I'd only want to keep the gel nails until the new growth reaches the tip - three or four months (my nails grow pretty fast).

Is this a terrible idea?

I would not go down that route based on personal experience. I have strong nails, if my nails break they break right at bottom. I had one break and the others were long, i happened to be booked in for a manicure and the lady suggested a false nail on the short one so that it did not look so out of place. I only had it one for a couple of weeks but when i took it off my nail was so weak, it took around six months for it to be strong again. I would only put gels on toe nails and nowhere else, but that is just me.

Have a look at vitamin b supplement, it has to have all the b vitamins in it. You might want to have your vitamin d levels checked as well as a lot of people are deficient and don't realize it.

I'd be looking at your diet first, rather than cosmetic solutions.

What is your diet like?

I have gel nails once a month for two weeks and leave them bare for two weeks so that they can repair.

Gel does weaken the nail so I don't think it would be good for you, however a strengthening polish or nail oil would be good for you - I used to use Sally Hansen for strengthening but I'm sure I've heard of a new super one someone will be on here to tell you about soon. I think just clear polish often looks much more sophisticated than colour anyway.

I have only had gel nails a handful of times and each time I swear I will never do it again. Each time, despite being removed properly, they have left my nails wrecked for at least a couple of months afterwards. The last time I had them done, I developed a vertical split in one of my nails that went right down to the nail bed and was really painful. My nails have always been terrible - flakey and weak, ever since I was a child - but gel nails have always made them even worse.

I have prescribed myself a regime of nail oil, nail oil and more nail oil, and it does seem to be helping. Have you tried oil or anything like that?

I have the same problem. Nothing has worked to fix the problem in the long term but nail tek xtra does a brilliant job of holding them together. If I take it off they all beak again.

(sorry I had to go out)

Oh bugger. Thought I'd hit on a good idea

Diet is generally good BIWI, never had issues before, but think the dreaded menopause is starting so I figure that's probably the issue. Hoping the supplements will make a difference. But it will take 3 months or so for the whole nail to grow out so I wanted something to protect them for that long.

I'll look for a decent strengthening polish, at this point anything is better than nothing.

Sally Hansen strengthener and also almond oil once or twice a day. Get some omega 3-6-9 supplements too (unless you eat loads of oily fish). Nuts too.

Nooooooo gels! unless you plan to keep them on forever?!?!!?

Apply oil directly to the nail every day. Cheap vit e capsules cut open should be fine.

If you have a deep painful split you can also super glue it. Seriously! There are directions for nail repair on some bottles. Make sure the nail is clean and dry first, and squeeze out air (if there is any).

I've been using superglue on some of the splits (where the layers of the nail separate, if that makes sense?). Some of them just split right off, where the nail meets the nail bed. Those are the really painful ones.

You should get your thyroid tested. Those are symptoms of hypothyroidism which is fairly common in women over 45.