Broken nails do not bring happiness. A nail plate that has lost its natural color tone and smooth surface not only stands out but is also a clear sign that it's time to take matters into your own hands.
Attention! When do your nails signal a persistent problem?
If your nails break at the slightest impact, if your nail plate has started to split and peel, or if it has become so soft that it bends at the slightest touch, then it's time to give extra care to your manicure.
And this does not mean you should urgently look for the saw and scissors of the local manicurist. The first and most important step is to understand the root cause of your nails' brittleness.
Why do your nails break and bend?
The health of nails depends on the amount of keratin in them. This protein is the main component of the nail plate, and its name comes from the Greek keratos – horn.
The hard outer part of the nail, which we see and touch at the tip of our fingers, is actually dead cellular tissue that serves as a protective shield for the “living” keratin beneath it. As it grows, the nail gradually pushes out these dead cells.
Alas, with aging, our cells produce this vital nail ingredient more and more slowly, and this inevitably affects their appearance. They lose strength and their fresh pale pink color, start to split, delaminate, or bend.
The good news is that good food can stimulate the production of more keratin. The menu should be protein-based and include chicken, fish, or liver, as well as enough fresh fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C, thanks to which plant proteins are better absorbed.
The fact is, however, that our nails may look bad even if our years have not reached the "advanced age" category. The hidden enemy of healthy nails is mainly some of our bad daily habits.
Nail biting hinders, it does not help
For the caveman who was just discovering the wonder of metal, the knife, and the needle, this habit may have been an inevitable necessity. But today, when we know the nail file and nail clipper, such “animalistic” activities have no excuse.
If you are one of those who have developed the nervous tic of constantly biting your nails or are among those who consciously enjoy it – force yourself to break this habit. Biting slows nail growth and makes it more brittle.
"The digestive enzymes contained in saliva weaken the strength of the nail, and deeply bitten nails are a precondition for the development of fungal or bacterial infection", explain dermatologists.
In other words, the harm is clear, and the benefit – none.
You are addicted to disinfectant
The little bottle of alcohol-based liquid in the glove compartment of the car or in the handbag today is just as important as the protective mask. In pandemic conditions disinfection has become an automatic action. But we must have moderation in everything – even in disinfectant use.
Products with a high alcohol content have a drying effect and can make nails overly brittle. Therefore, avoid applying disinfectant on the nail plate or learn to alternate its use with applying moisturizing hand lotion.
And if the hygiene of your home is just as important as personal disinfection, opt for rubber gloves – put them on every time you reach for the cleaning product bottle.
Do not cut your cuticles yourself and do not use the "random" nail file
Actually, it is best not to cut the cuticles at all and not to deprive yourself of your natural protection against bacterial infection. "Cuticles are the seal that prevents water from entering under the nail and causing infections," explain dermatologists. But if you still want your nail plate to grow by a millimeter, use the services of a professional who knows where and how much to cut.
Well done if you have decided to shape your manicure with a file. And bad if you are used to filing your nails in both directions. This way you are unlikely to achieve the desired shape (for brittle nails, it is best to have a straight shape with rounded edges) and you risk thinning your nails, splitting them, and making them more brittle.
The golden rule is to file in only one direction – left or right, it doesn't matter, and each time you reach the edge of the nail, lift the file and place it back at the start.
You polish too often
Beauty salons today offer the latest generation gel polishes with a guarantee of flawlessly colorful nails for weeks on end. But beauty, as we know, demands sacrifices, and the sacrifice in this case is your nails.
All polishes, even the most high-tech ones, contain ingredients that remove the nail's natural moisture and weaken the nail plate (and removing gel polishes often leads to surface damage of the plate).
Experts advise keeping your nails away from polishes containing the solvent toluene and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate. And it's best to let them breathe, in their bare natural state, for at least a week or two before reaching for the colorful palette again.
You skip the nail base
One of the essential steps in shaping a manicure is applying a base before the polish. However, this crucial step is often skipped at home. Applying polish directly onto the nail plate can damage it.
The base acts as a barrier between the nails and the harmful ingredients found in polishes (which are responsible for their surprising durability). There are also bases with vitamins and calcium that nourish and stimulate nail growth.
Acetone nail polish remover is a Trojan horse
It not only smells like ethanol but also contains it and removes the natural oils from the nail plate. So the more acetone nail polish remover you use, the drier and more brittle your nails will become. Opt for acetone-free nail polish removers, as well as those containing oils that additionally moisturize the nail plate.
Your diet is lacking
Our nails are a mirror of our dietary habits. If you notice slight indentations on your nails that even look worryingly deep in the light, you may have low iron levels in your blood (a sign of early anemia and a reason for a quick blood test and a visit to your doctor). Foods you should consider include beef, legumes, spinach, oysters, and even dark chocolate.
If you notice unpleasant layering at the tips of your nails, as well as vertical lines on the plate, then you need to catch up on calcium intake. Suitable foods are eggs, dairy products, salmon, beef, and nuts. Plan B is to run to the local pharmacy and buy Biotin, 2.5 mg. Taking this dietary supplement daily should solve the problem.
You are not taking in enough fluids
Our body is made up of over 60% water, various quiz shows like to remind us. It is logical that this life-saving fluid also has a beneficial effect on our nails. Conversely, its lack leads to their permanent weakening.
It is important to stay hydrated (even under water restriction), because this preserves the natural moisture of the plate and keeps your nails healthy and elastic. Specialists advise to consume on average 1.5 liters of fluids per day. So don’t skip the bottle of mineral water. The afternoon fresh juice is also a smart choice.
Your nails will give you away. Types of brittle nails.
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) distinguishes two categories of brittle nails – hard brittle nails and soft brittle nails.
Unusually hard nails:
- have no flexibility at all
- they are dull
- completely dehydrated
- break even at the slightest touch
Soft nails bend at the slightest touch and rarely manage to grow beyond the fingertip. In both types, layering and the appearance of horizontal or vertical stripes can be observed.
Damage to the nail plate can also signal malfunction in the body. Damaged nails can be a consequence of various diseases such as:
- skin diseases (psoriasis)
- infectious diseases (nail mycosis)
- anemia
- endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism)
- anorexia
- bulimia
- circulatory system diseases – Raynaud's disease (when horizontal lines appear on the nail plate)
The good news is that in only 15% of cases does the nail problem indicate a more serious internal disease. Usually, we and our own bad habits are the enemy from within.
Conclusion: How to deal with the problem?
-
Switch to a balanced diet, get enough calcium and vitamins. Include dietary supplements containing the necessary vitamins and minerals for nail growth and strength (biotin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin E, iron, omega-3 fatty acids).
-
Don’t even think about biting your poor nails. Nail biting should be a thing of the past, and the nail clipper and file should become your best friends.
-
Trim your nails straight and as short as possible, slightly rounding the edges (this will minimize the risk of breaking on contact and pressure, as well as from hitting the keyboard, which has become an essential tool of our work today).
- Always use a file in one direction and choose one with a finer surface.
-
Wear gloves when using cleaning products and do not spray disinfectant on your nail plate.
- Let your nails breathe for at least two weeks before reaching for the nail polish palette again and avoid acetone nail polish remover.
-
The nail base is basic, so don’t skip it. Apply hand and nail cream and moisturizer at least twice a day.
- If your nails are too hard, treat them with almond, coconut, flaxseed oil, or even olive oil instead of a hardener.
- Save the hardener for softer and brittle nails.
-
Hydrate yourself – drink enough fluids, your nails will thank you.
Special care: products that help
In addition to dietary supplements with minerals and vitamins, oils for hard and brittle nail plates, or hardeners for softer and fragile nails, it is good to use some cosmetic products daily that help restore the nail plate and stimulate the growth of healthy and elastic nails.
The Biotrade hand and nail series pays attention to both the hydration of the skin on the hands and the strength of the nail.
-
The cream Keratolin Hands 5% Urea hydrates, moisturizes, and nourishes the skin of the hands and is suitable for frequent use (especially if you are reluctant to give up almost hourly use of disinfectant).
-
Maxi Balm nail hardener is rich in vitamins A, E, and lanolin (which hydrates the nail plate). The balanced formula of Maxi Balm nail hardener nourishes the base of the nail plate, maintains its good hydration, and softens the cuticles.
This innovative product protects against brittleness, splitting, and cracking and accelerates the growth of new healthy nails. For optimal results, rub the product into the base of the nail plate twice a day for at least 4 weeks.
The strength of your nails is in your hands
Broken nails do not bring happiness. A nail plate that has lost its natural color tone and smooth surface not only stands out but is also a clear sign that it's time to take matters into your own hands.
Attention! When do your nails signal a persistent problem?
If your nails break at the slightest impact, if your nail plate has started to split and peel, or if it has become so soft that it bends at the slightest touch, then it's time to give extra care to your manicure.
And this does not mean you should urgently look for the saw and scissors of the local manicurist. The first and most important step is to understand the root cause of your nails' brittleness.
Why do your nails break and bend?
The health of nails depends on the amount of keratin in them. This protein is the main component of the nail plate, and its name comes from the Greek keratos – horn.
The hard outer part of the nail, which we see and touch at the tip of our fingers, is actually dead cellular tissue that serves as a protective shield for the “living” keratin beneath it. As it grows, the nail gradually pushes out these dead cells.
Alas, with aging, our cells produce this vital nail ingredient more and more slowly, and this inevitably affects their appearance. They lose strength and their fresh pale pink color, start to split, delaminate, or bend.
The good news is that good food can stimulate the production of more keratin. The menu should be protein-based and include chicken, fish, or liver, as well as enough fresh fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C, thanks to which plant proteins are better absorbed.
The fact is, however, that our nails may look bad even if our years have not reached the "advanced age" category. The hidden enemy of healthy nails is mainly some of our bad daily habits.
Nail biting hinders, it does not help
For the caveman who was just discovering the wonder of metal, the knife, and the needle, this habit may have been an inevitable necessity. But today, when we know the nail file and nail clipper, such “animalistic” activities have no excuse.
If you are one of those who have developed the nervous tic of constantly biting your nails or are among those who consciously enjoy it – force yourself to break this habit. Biting slows nail growth and makes it more brittle.
"The digestive enzymes contained in saliva weaken the strength of the nail, and deeply bitten nails are a precondition for the development of fungal or bacterial infection", explain dermatologists.
In other words, the harm is clear, and the benefit – none.
You are addicted to disinfectant
The little bottle of alcohol-based liquid in the glove compartment of the car or in the handbag today is just as important as the protective mask. In pandemic conditions disinfection has become an automatic action. But we must have moderation in everything – even in disinfectant use.
Products with a high alcohol content have a drying effect and can make nails overly brittle. Therefore, avoid applying disinfectant on the nail plate or learn to alternate its use with applying moisturizing hand lotion.
And if the hygiene of your home is just as important as personal disinfection, opt for rubber gloves – put them on every time you reach for the cleaning product bottle.
Do not cut your cuticles yourself and do not use the "random" nail file
Actually, it is best not to cut the cuticles at all and not to deprive yourself of your natural protection against bacterial infection. "Cuticles are the seal that prevents water from entering under the nail and causing infections," explain dermatologists. But if you still want your nail plate to grow by a millimeter, use the services of a professional who knows where and how much to cut.
Well done if you have decided to shape your manicure with a file. And bad if you are used to filing your nails in both directions. This way you are unlikely to achieve the desired shape (for brittle nails, it is best to have a straight shape with rounded edges) and you risk thinning your nails, splitting them, and making them more brittle.
The golden rule is to file in only one direction – left or right, it doesn't matter, and each time you reach the edge of the nail, lift the file and place it back at the start.
You polish too often
Beauty salons today offer the latest generation gel polishes with a guarantee of flawlessly colorful nails for weeks on end. But beauty, as we know, demands sacrifices, and the sacrifice in this case is your nails.
All polishes, even the most high-tech ones, contain ingredients that remove the nail's natural moisture and weaken the nail plate (and removing gel polishes often leads to surface damage of the plate).
Experts advise keeping your nails away from polishes containing the solvent toluene and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate. And it's best to let them breathe, in their bare natural state, for at least a week or two before reaching for the colorful palette again.
You skip the nail base
One of the essential steps in shaping a manicure is applying a base before the polish. However, this crucial step is often skipped at home. Applying polish directly onto the nail plate can damage it.
The base acts as a barrier between the nails and the harmful ingredients found in polishes (which are responsible for their surprising durability). There are also bases with vitamins and calcium that nourish and stimulate nail growth.
Acetone nail polish remover is a Trojan horse
It not only smells like ethanol but also contains it and removes the natural oils from the nail plate. So the more acetone nail polish remover you use, the drier and more brittle your nails will become. Opt for acetone-free nail polish removers, as well as those containing oils that additionally moisturize the nail plate.
Your diet is lacking
Our nails are a mirror of our dietary habits. If you notice slight indentations on your nails that even look worryingly deep in the light, you may have low iron levels in your blood (a sign of early anemia and a reason for a quick blood test and a visit to your doctor). Foods you should consider include beef, legumes, spinach, oysters, and even dark chocolate.
If you notice unpleasant layering at the tips of your nails, as well as vertical lines on the plate, then you need to catch up on calcium intake. Suitable foods are eggs, dairy products, salmon, beef, and nuts. Plan B is to run to the local pharmacy and buy Biotin, 2.5 mg. Taking this dietary supplement daily should solve the problem.
You are not taking in enough fluids
Our body is made up of over 60% water, various quiz shows like to remind us. It is logical that this life-saving fluid also has a beneficial effect on our nails. Conversely, its lack leads to their permanent weakening.
It is important to stay hydrated (even under water restriction), because this preserves the natural moisture of the plate and keeps your nails healthy and elastic. Specialists advise to consume on average 1.5 liters of fluids per day. So don’t skip the bottle of mineral water. The afternoon fresh juice is also a smart choice.
Your nails will give you away. Types of brittle nails.
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) distinguishes two categories of brittle nails – hard brittle nails and soft brittle nails.
Unusually hard nails:
Soft nails bend at the slightest touch and rarely manage to grow beyond the fingertip. In both types, layering and the appearance of horizontal or vertical stripes can be observed.
Damage to the nail plate can also signal malfunction in the body. Damaged nails can be a consequence of various diseases such as:
The good news is that in only 15% of cases does the nail problem indicate a more serious internal disease. Usually, we and our own bad habits are the enemy from within.
Conclusion: How to deal with the problem?
Special care: products that help
In addition to dietary supplements with minerals and vitamins, oils for hard and brittle nail plates, or hardeners for softer and fragile nails, it is good to use some cosmetic products daily that help restore the nail plate and stimulate the growth of healthy and elastic nails.
The Biotrade hand and nail series pays attention to both the hydration of the skin on the hands and the strength of the nail.
This innovative product protects against brittleness, splitting, and cracking and accelerates the growth of new healthy nails. For optimal results, rub the product into the base of the nail plate twice a day for at least 4 weeks.