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Original poster

My nails are awful, is there anything that can help?

33 replies

GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 14:26

Bendy, split, awful. Whether I diligently rub oil in them, paint them with strengthening varnish, leave them alone, have gels, have proper manicure with normal polish- nothing makes a difference.
I take Vit D, Vit B, and biotin. Have been in Spain for a week, nada. I've tried Sally Hansen, Nailberry, Nails Inc, you name it.
Help MN nail gurus! I want to have smart grown up nails, not crap ones!

My nails are awful, is there anything that can help?
OP posts:
DameDoom · 14/08/2023 14:36

Leighton Denny Renovate is the only thing that works for my nails. It sinks straight in and has given my nails strength and they now look healthy. I get mine from Amazon - it’s a tiny tube but you only need a tiny dot so it does last.

Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 14:41

Thanks @DameDoom it's going in my Amazon cart!!

OP posts:
Ihatethemessimin · 14/08/2023 14:44

Collagen powder, my nails changed a lot in only about 4 weeks time

Augustus40 · 14/08/2023 14:45

Buy some jelly and eat it raw. Costs pennies but try three squares to start off with every two weeks. Stop once nails get stronger or they will get too hard. Especially toenails.

If you try this you will be so impressed but your hair will grow too!

Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 14:47

Collagen powder? Ok I'll have a look for that. Forgot to say I do take collagen capsules every day.
Jelly is definitely a strategy I can get behind 😁😁

OP posts:
FannythePinkFlamingo · 14/08/2023 14:53

Mine used to be terrible too as I was a biter for most of my 51 years. About this time last year I stopped biting and had gel polish put on constantly for about 5 months.

Whilst this allowed them to grow, it did leave them in awful condition. I stopped painting them with anything after that to let them recover as they would just flake and split all the time.

Now I slather them with Vaseline before I go to sleep every night and they are much stronger. I buff and shine them up with one of those 4 in 1 files. I'm still prone to picking the skin around them, but if I keep my hands well moisturised then I don't get skin that's ripe for picking.

My nails are awful, is there anything that can help?
Tiddlywinks63 · 14/08/2023 14:54

I’d stop having gels for a start, they wrecked my nails.
Keep them filed short, use cuticle oil twice a day and hand cream every time you wash your hands. Wear gloves for washing up.
I find eating Haribo improves mine too, luckily that’s easy to do!
Mine took 6 weeks to start really improving, I won’t be having gels again, just conventional nail polish or a coat of top coat for shine. Buffing may help too with a buffing paste.

fireflyloo · 14/08/2023 15:07

You could try getting a gel builder through a salon. This has worked for a few nail biters.

Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 15:54

Thanks for all the tips (esp the haribo ones 😁). I don't actually bite my nails, they are this short as I had to file them right down due to splitting. I do use handcream all the time, and rubber gloves. My nails are just shit.

OP posts:
Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 16:10

Tiddlywinks63 · 14/08/2023 14:54

I’d stop having gels for a start, they wrecked my nails.
Keep them filed short, use cuticle oil twice a day and hand cream every time you wash your hands. Wear gloves for washing up.
I find eating Haribo improves mine too, luckily that’s easy to do!
Mine took 6 weeks to start really improving, I won’t be having gels again, just conventional nail polish or a coat of top coat for shine. Buffing may help too with a buffing paste.

Completely agree, I last had gels a year ago and my nails were worse than ever afterwards. I've had them a few times as so many people say they don't damage your nails - I can comprehensively confirm that they do!
Will try all recommendations here and see what happens.

OP posts:
HorsePlatitudes · 14/08/2023 16:12

KETO

NorfolkSunset · 14/08/2023 16:20

You need BIAB. Let them grow using BIAB and then remove and use Nail Envy strengthener.

Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 16:25

@NorfolkSunset is that a gel thing? As I will stay well away if so, they never do anything other than make my nails even weaker.
I've used Nail envy to no avail.

OP posts:
Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 14/08/2023 16:28

Sorry for being a bit obvious ,but eat a good healthy diet . Unless of course you are on long term medication that can affect your nails .

Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 16:45

@Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 fair question! I think my diet is pretty good, lots of fruit and veg but maybe a bit too meat-heavy. I don't smoke and also stopped drinking alcohol recently. I don't eat much dairy which might be behind my terrible talons.

OP posts:
BerfyTigot · 14/08/2023 19:03

I agree about the haribo 😁

Also, have you tried rubbing almond oil into them -has improved the condition of mine a lot

5128gap · 14/08/2023 19:31

Keep them out of water as much as you can, especially hot water. Rub coconut oil into them, especially after washing your hands.

LunaNorth · 14/08/2023 19:35

I had BIAB today, OP, and my nails are like yours. They’ve reacted badly to gels in the past.

I’ll report back if you like.

LimeCheesecake · 14/08/2023 19:37

Rubber gloves for all household cleaning and washing up.

megacat · 14/08/2023 19:39

Olive oil. Just the normal stuff out of the cupboard. Mine were like yours and I stopped painting them with anything and rubbed in olive oil every night. Can't believe how strong and healthy they are now.
In my opinion all these strengthening treatments and any sort of varnish are what dry them out and do the damage however I can only speak from my experience.

jannier · 14/08/2023 20:00

My nails were wrecked after Chemo I started using Biab 3 months ago much stronger and the splits that ran quick to tip of nail are finally healing.

AgathaX · 14/08/2023 20:23

Mine were like yours for around 10 years. I think now it was perimenopause. I've had gels for the last 4 years or so but stopped earlier this year. Been using CND Rescue Rxx on them, several times a day, and they are really good and strong now. It's taken about 3 months but the difference is amazing. (It's also possible that HRT has helped too, but the CND oil has definitely sorted the post gels crappiness out).

Original poster
GetOurraMeWay · 14/08/2023 20:34

Thank you all. Looks like consensus is haribo/jelly, and oil of some kind.
@LunaNorth I would love to hear how you get on if you don't mind?
I'll do regime above and be diligent about rubber gloves, and will report back!

OP posts:
Sunnysideup999 · 14/08/2023 20:37

Def Jelly. And it sounds weird but you can rub the jelly on the nails and I swear this works too (as well as eating it).