Help with flaky peeling thin nails

[MeditationTrain]

Hi guys,

I keep my nails clipped short and work a lot with my hands (typing at work, twins at home). I would like my nails to look neat and polished but they are thin and they peel and chip constantly. I think part of it is that I hate the feeling of Marigolds and am constantly washing. I’ve given up on any nail colours (even gels chip within a few days) but can you recommend any products which keep my nails groomed and polished? Luckily, my nails are so thin I never get ragged cuticles. I’ve tried shaping with a file but they’re so thin it kind of ‘tears’ at the nails, if that makes any sense?

Are there any miracle products to stop them chipping, shape them and maybe even add a glossy look?

My nails are similar to yours OP - they flake at the tips and nail varnish chips within 24 hours. The only thing that prolonged the chipping time was by using Seche Vite top coat and OPI Nail Envy strengthening base coat - so those are worth a shot if you need your nails painted for a special occasion and want them to last.

Thank you @reservoircats i will give the Seche vite a go, but I’ve lowered my expectations well past coloured nails to just basic presentable nails

Nailtiques Formula 2 was a miracle worker for my peely nails.

Nail Envy is brilliant for flaky nails - takes a couple of weeks to see the difference but stick with it and you'll be amazed!

I find mine have improved a lot since taking a multi vitamin with biotin in either boots or chewy vites
I also try and leave them bare most of the time and rub almond oil a couple of times a day.

I've tried loads of products for my nails, as they're the same as yours op - brittle, flaky, peeling - but nothing that I've painted on has ever worked. I've tried OPI Nail Envy, Sally Hansen, Nailtiques, Nails Inc - they've all dried my nails out and made them a lot worse. They are just starting to look a little better now, recovering from the last stuff I painted on them in May (that was Nails Inc).

For me, applying hand cream every night and rubbing in some nail oil or almond oil seems to be the thing that works best as it keeps them moisturised - although mine are never going to be great. I would love to have decent nails as I think they do make you look more 'polished' - I'm very conscious of how short and scrappy mine look.