Strengthen Brittle Nails
Do your nails break easily? Do you find it difficult to keep your nails beautiful? Are your nails weak? Do they slip?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, continue reading the article. We will give you instructions for strengthening brittle nails.
Weak and brittle nails – why?
Doing home or gardening, handling harsh chemicals without protective gloves, lack of hydration, nail fungus, and cold temperatures can lead to nail brittleness and breakage. Often the nail breaks painfully just at the fingertip.
If you wash your hands by hand, clean a lot, or work with different materials at work, it is very possible that your hands and nails will dry out. Many of us want to keep our nails shiny and beautiful, but how does this work out? Let’s take a closer look at the correct maintenance of nails:
Wear dish gloves
Also remember to wear protective gloves when washing the floor or windows, or when doing other household chores where your hands get wet. Detergents contain chemicals that can damage the skin and nails. In addition, constant contact with hot or cold water further dries your hands.
Eat more protein and fatty acids
Sometimes nails become brittle because the body lacks a decent amount of important nutrients. Take a closer look at your diet and, if necessary, add light meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables and soy to your diet – this will increase the amount of protein. You get fatty acids from dairy products, vegetable oils, seeds and nuts, and fruits like avocados.
Repair your nails immediately
If the nail breaks, cut or file it clean as soon as possible. Sure, this is annoying if you’ve grown other nails long. To try nail repair, drop a drop of transparent glue to tear and place a piece of tea bag fabric on top of it. Allow to dry, file evenly and stop the nail.
Keep your nails short
Short nails are fashionable and practical today. If you keep your nails short, they will not break as easily as long nails. Do not scrape off the nail polish when it starts to crack, as this will weaken the surface of the nail.
Be careful with nail products
Nail polish remover is a real toxin for nails as it contains strong chemicals. Use a nail polish remover only once a week or try natural alternatives such as essential oils to remove nail polish.
Avoid using artificial nails as they will weaken your own nails. Removing artificial nails is a cumbersome process for the nail and at the same time you will lose the top layer of your own nail. Do not keep nails varnished constantly, but let them rest and breathe between varnishes. For example, give your nails a day off on Sunday: remove nail polish on a Saturday night and repaint your nails on a Sunday night.
Do not use nails as tools
Nails are not scissors, can openers or cleaning tools. Use the right tools for these tasks, don’t claw. Strong strain weakens the nail.
Do not chew your nails
Chewed nails are not beautiful. You also definitely don’t want to mumble nails that nest in your nails. Chewing nails makes nails brittle and dry. Try a nail polish that tastes so bad you simply can’t chew them.
See a manicure once a week
You can book an appointment at the beauty salon or do the manicure yourself. Peel your hands thoroughly, file and smooth the cuticles, rub the essential nourishing oil on your nails (or olive oil).
Natural treatments for brittle nails
In addition to following the tips outlined above, you can also try a variety of intensive treatments for brittle nails:
Onion
Onions help strengthen nails and reduce the risk of infection and fungal infection. All you have to do is cut the onion in half and put your nails inside the onion for 5 minutes.
Do not wash your hands for 2 hours after treatment. The best option is to perform the treatment in the evening, three times a week. During the night, the active ingredients of the onion really get to do their magic.
Garlic
Garlic has similar properties to onions. It helps your nails grow faster and stronger.
Ingredients
- 1 clove of garlic
- 2 dl of water
- Juice of one lemon
Instructions
Crush the garlic and pour into a saucepan with water. Allow most of the water to evaporate as it boils. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice. Pour into a transparent container with a lid and allow to cool in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Swim the cotton swab in the liquid and moisten each nail with it (be sure to remove the nail polish before treatment). Repeat every other day in the evenings so that the treatment can be absorbed overnight.
Olive oil
Olive oil not only strengthens the nails, but also softens and nourishes the hands.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 drops of lemon juice
Instructions
Pour the oil into the pan and set the heat to low. When the oil has warmed up, add the lemon juice. Swim the cotton swab in the liquid and apply to the nails. Allow to soak for 5 minutes and put on cotton gloves. Sleep with gloves; in the morning the nails are dry and do not need to be rinsed.
Horsetail
Field card is the perfect help for dry and brittle nails. The card can be used on its own or combined with other plants. One good way to use the card is to make a tea extract from it.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon field card
- 2 dl boiling water
Instructions
Boil water, add horseradish and allow to extract. After the water has cooled slightly, strain and swim your fingers in a cup for 10 minutes. Also rub the extract on the cuticles. Allow to dry without rinsing. Repeat the treatment 4 times a week.
