I need a miracle cure for my poor nails

[baubletits]

As you can see from the picture, my nails are a state! Especially the middle and ring fingers, where the nail seems to flake and brake so easily. (Apologies for the dodgy old varnish, I don't usually paint them but DD wanted to play salons so the polish is courtesy of her)

I've tried an array of vitamins (vitamin D+calcium, biotin, evening primrose oil) but not seen any positive results (probably doesn't help that I'm not good at remembering to take them!) I've tried regular hot oil treatments with almond oil, regularly moisturising my hands and oiling my cuticles, wearing washing up gloves when doing the dishes, tried Sally Hansen's Miracle grow varnish and hard as nails varnish but they are still shit.

The only time my nails have felt really strong and grown and looked good was on a 2 week holiday in a hot country. I'm not sure if this was the sunshine, or the fact that I was applying suncream on what felt like an hourly basis. Got back home and my nails soon returned to their bedraggled state.

Does anyone have a guaranteed miracle solution that will make my nails strong and stop flaking and snapping?

It could be genes. I've always eaten so healthily asking enjoy it as much as si enjoy takeaways every weekend etc and...my nails have always been weak/breaking whereas my hair is thick and shiny healthy.

Joining as my nails are also shite, I eat loads of oily fish and I have really thick strong hair!
The only time I have has good nails was while pregnant, God knows why.
Sorry OP, I’ve got no tips but hoping to get some!

Nails are a reflection of health, but they may also be damaged due to knocks on the nail bed, harsh chemicals, detergents, and this can impact on their look / dry condition too. I'd take the nail length as low as you can, gentle emery board, definitely only using in one direction to avoid saw edges. Also do not round off the edges too much, as the upright edge of the nail is strong and sometimes rounding this off too much makes it more prone to tears. Get some almond oil to do a warm soak, which will benefit the cuticles and surrounding skin. You could also do a parafin wax manicure. Check out your local college, as I believe they still do this in a L2 beauty therapy and they are always looking for people to practice on / very low cost appointment. Works for feet too and a parafin wax pedicure is one of my favourite treatments.

Yep. My actual nails are a poor wide and shallow shape too.

Here you go. Awful as well as thin and weak. My diets excellent and I've been taking perfectil for months. Cutex nourishing oul/hardener helps a bit but I have lapsed.

I’ve found my nails have improved since taking biotin daily. I also take omega 3,6&9 combined and think that helps too.
Oily fish is really good. On Jamie Oliver’s recent programme a guest cooked a sardine lasagna which looked great and would probably work if you’re not keen on fish per se.
Sardines on toast with cheese - grilled - is delicious.

I started taking it for hair really but have noticed my nails are stronger and faster growing on biotin (12000ug daily)

No difference with the hair yet!

I got Margaret Dabbs nail & cuticle cream in my advent calendar it's made an amazing difference to my nails.

OPI nail envy, Burts Bees almond milk hand cream at night and Omega 369 supplements have sorted mine out.

I have had a similar experience to the OP of nails improving massively while on holiday in a hot country.
It could be the total break from housework/ gardening/DIY.
I think the clean eating and Mediterranean diet is good but would it boost nail health so quickly as to see an immediate improvement on holiday?
I think that drinking massive amounts of water while abroad is a factor and maybe the vitamin D boost from the sun.
I have also seen an improvement since using Rimmel Nail Nurse. I can actually see a tide line on my nails as the older pre treatment nail grows out.

Another fan of this. It's pricey but it genuinely works.

Right. I didn't do the dietary thing up thread. I succumbed to the easy win of CND rescue and their solar oil. They were FABULOUS for about 6 weeks then back to the old splitting, crumbling, flaking, sensitive, porous nonsense. I'm going to get protein powder from a shop and try that for 3 months. This is them today

my nails are terrible unless I take these. They are healthy and strong when I take them and go back to being weak and breaking if I stop.

https://amzn.eu/d/gyBrlaX

I didn't realise this thread had been resuscitated!

I have to say, increase in protein really does work!

I massively upped my protein and my nails got so strong, stopped flaking and started growing to the point they were getting too long and making my fingers feel weird and I had to cut them.

Unfortunately at the moment my protein is not great (started mounjaro and haven't been as protein focused while I'm getting into the swing of it) and I've noticed my nails have gotten softer and started splitting again.

I've just started tracking my food again and focusing on protein so hoping they get back to being strong again. Also, if you like protein powder, the Double Standard double chocolate whey protein powder is nice. I don't tend to experiment with flavours because it's expensive if you buy one you don't like so I stick with this one.

What level of protein do you aim for? I have 1g per kg bodyweight in my head but I'm not sure if that might be puppies...

I posted a pic in January and I've been taking the Gold Standard protein since about the end of February. I remember to have it around 5 times a week. It took quite a while to work and I nearly gave up about 3 weeks ago but I'm going to carry on because it's definitely having an effect. I need to learn to look after them now as they are still weak but at least they're there

Really pleased. Nothing else has worked. Thanks for the recommendation. 😊

I started taking biotin and collagen from Nutrition Geeks. My nails are rock hard now and my hair is looking better 🙂

Supplements to prioritise for healthy hair & nails:

• Biotin
• Vitamin C, E
• Collagen
• Zinc
• Omega 3

Always optimal if you can gain from your diet however (if you can).

I’d combine the above with a good nail strengthening treatment and cuticle oil, hand moisturiser to protect your hands & nails.