It’s probably a good thing that I like to keep my nails short – because their tendency to break prevents them from growing much farther than the tip of my finger. While keeping my nails on the trim side does help to prevent breakage, it’s not actually getting to the root of the issue. Why do my nails break and split so easily when they get to a certain length?
The truth is that brittle nails are a fairly common issue among women, mostly because nails tend to become harder, more stiff, and thus more fragile as we grow older. Couple that fact with my admittedly poor diet and my habit of failing to drink enough water can result in nails that are constantly cracking. Thankfully, there are several proven ways to strengthen nails and prevent breakage – so, where to begin?
Looking back on it, my nails looked their absolute best during my pregnancy. Thanks to an abundance of folic acid, prenatal vitamins or a specialty vitamin targeted towards healthy nails (usually including biotin) can really help to keep your hands at their best. If you’d prefer to go straight to the source, you can actually apply a vitamin treatment directly to your nails as well.
You can also eat your way to better nails! If your diet is rich in green leafy vegetables like spinach, nuts and lean red meat, your nails will receive lots of crucial nutrients. Since nails are made of protein, start there if you make no other changes, and be sure to drink plenty of water. This keeps everything hydrated, but especially nails and cuticles.
Thinking back on a time when my nails were at their frailest brings me to my high school days when I insisted on getting a full set of acrylics. When my mother finally forced me to have them soaked off, my underlying natural nails were paper thin, red, and so very weak. Coming from the health field, my mom did her research and instructed me to soak my nails in a bowl of jojoba oil and Vitamin E nightly. Just 10 minutes each night had my nails looking strong again in no time.
Like skin, nails absorb water, so soaking them can cause them to weaken and become more susceptible to damage. If you’re someone who likes to soak her nails during a DIY or treat-yourself manicure, you are opening yourself up to a whole mess of trouble, especially if you file (or have your nails filed) after their spin in the water dish. Opt for a water less and be sure to only file in one direction if you are shaping your nails to prevent unnecessary breakage. I like to replace the water soak with just a drop of nourishing oil applied to the cuticle and nail bed and I’ve found doing this nightly helps to keep my nails strong and healthy and growing long to the trend of the season.
If you practice them regularly, the preceding tips will truly help to ensure that your hands stay gorgeous. If there is a particular way that you like to keep your nails healthy and strong that I have missed, please be sure to leave a comment and let me know!
