Split nail remedies

[Evanandjoesmum]

Happy New Year!

I have always had cack nails - they used to split horizontally at the quick but now I'm seeing more vertical splits/chips. It hurts.

I had acrylics on and off for about 6 years, experimented with dips and doing my own gels. Acrylics looked and lasted best (a bit thick and fake looking but gels peeled or chipped and so did Biab) but grew out super quick; 10 days was about the max before the cuticle end looked shonky. Getting them redone every two weeks was expensive and a pain to go into town etc.

I've been mending the splits with false nail glue and tissue paper, and using rimmel nail nurse. I take collagen and a multi vitamin daily and have done for about a year. I have hypothyroidism but levels are normal since the summer on 125mg daily of levothyroxine.

Basically, my nails look bollocks and often hurt. I would like them to look nice and groomed. Can anyone please suggest any tricks I am missing or is it best to return to £70 a month at the nail shop? Cheaper ones are out there but I liked the one I used cause I knew the staff weren't trafficked/modern slaves.

Thanks in advance for any ideas

Thread right below implies jelly might work so I will try that! Someone else on that thread says Adeline but google gives me nothing...

Adeline was a typo for Vaseline.

Vertical splits are tricky. I have really strong nails, but I have had a vertical split on one nail for years that I can't get rid of. I think if the nail bed is damaged you can't repair it.

Ah, Vaseline! Worth a try, thank you

I think I'll have to get back to the nail shop to have any hope of looking groomed tbh

I've just purchased the Opi Nail repair which is meant to be amazing

How is the rest of your skin? I had a variety of skin problems, some so minor that I just thought this was just how my skin was, and some so severe that I ended up on strong steroids and other meds. I had nails that always chipped and split - again, I thought that this was just how my nails were. I had no idea that any of these things could be related.

As part of my treatment I had patch testing, which identified that I was allergic to several things. Once I had cut these things out of my life my skin began to heal. Still needed steroids for a while (still do if I slip up and have a reaction).

After a year or two I realised that my nails are growing and no longer chipping and flaking. They're not massively strong, but survive day-to-day life looking presentable, even without varnish.

I notice two very strong correlations: if I get an allergic reaction on my fingers and don't manage to damp it down quickly, or if I have a period of illness or severe stress, then 5-6 months later my nails all break.

Vaseline at night. One week will restore your nails. File gently each day.

@Aparecium thank you for your considered response! I don't think I'm allergic to anything and skin is generally quite good and not reactive. I have had some awful stressed times over the last few months and years though, as well as probs peri menopause and thyroid illness. I am working very hard to address all the difficulties though and maybe this will help.

Vaseline has two votes so I will give that a go and eat jelly 🤞

Thank you for replies