Thin Nails

LotusFlower_3

I've just had my acrylic nails removed after many years of wearing them. My real nails are so thin now and if I hit one against something it feels like an electric shock. What's the best way to look after my nails to try and get some strength back into them?

paulwellerfan

eat a cube of jelly a day. ( it will help to strenghten them)
try not to wear any nail polish and let the air get to them.

Christina1982

It took me years to get my nails into condition after having acrylics on for 2 years. Once they are better, start using OPI Nail envy its great strengthened my nails majorly!! They might do one for thin nails. Might be worth going for a manicure every now and again too

BitterAndTwisted

Keep them as short as possible and nourish the nails with a decent hand-and-nail lotion. I used Vitamin E oil bit I suspect other oils would be just as good. If your hands are in water a lot wear rubber gloves as much a possible.

Gelatine is supposed to help grow nails strong so this might be a good excuse to eat a lot of jelly sweets

LotusFlower_3

paulwellerfan wrote: »

eat a cube of jelly a day. ( it will help to strenghten them)
try not to wear any nail polish and let the air get to them.

Thank you, does the jelly really work? I always thought that was an old wives tale. I've got a sweet tooth so that's a tip I'll enjoy

I forgot to ask about crystal nail files, do they work better than normal files or is that just hype? TIA.

starrystarry

paulwellerfan wrote: »

eat a cube of jelly a day. ( it will help to strenghten them)
try not to wear any nail polish and let the air get to them.

Not the best advice I've ever heard. You'd need to eat a heck of a lot of gelatine to make any difference to your nails, one cube of jelly a day will do no good whatsoever. As long as your diet is reasonably well balanced you should have all the nutrients you need to grow fairly strong nails.

Letting your nails "breathe" is an old wives tale as well. They don't "breathe". Wearing a good quality nail strengthener all the time is a far better idea. Leaving your nails bare leaves them unprotected.

Like Christina said, OPI Nail Envy is excellent. You need to persevere with it, put a coat on every day to start off with but you will see results. I'd also highly recommend Nailtiques products. I've used their Formula 2 and it was fantastic. Loads available on ebay.

Christina1982

I tried Nailtiques not long after I had my acrylics off - a pack especially for nails in repair after acrylics and it wasn't any good, nail envy is god!! I use nail envy maintenance too. But everyones nails are different what works for someone might not work for you, just takes time - I know only too well but if mine can grow and strengthen anyones can!
I was at a wedding in July and had a french manicure done and everyone thought they were acrylic/gel nails as they were all the same length and looked that good!

nikki2804

Hi
Massage your nail plate and cuticles with oil (can be found in most beauty shops/supermarkets - I like almond oil) This will encourage nail growth and will in time produce strong and healthy nails in the long term.

In the short term invest in a good nail strengthener. I don't know if you would benefit from gel nails. A layer of gel can be put over your nails and hardened with UV light. Unlike acrylics the nail can still grow freely underneath allowing you to feel like you have strong nails (an less pain) and also allow yours to recoop!

HTH (I am certificated in artificial nails btw )

starrystarry

I use Nail Envy as a maintenance product as well. The sensitive/peeling one. I just use it as a base coat.

A few months ago I decided my nails were ok without it so I stopped using it. Within 2 or 3 weeks my nails started splitting & peeling and even when I restarted Nail Envy they didn't improve. I tried Nailtiques formula 2 for a couple of months and that really did the job. Like you said though, everyone's nails are different. I'm back on Nail Envy again now.

Moral of the story...once you find a product that works stick with it! Don't be tempted to think you can switch to cheap stuff.

Christina1982

StarryStarry - very true!!!

Nikki2804 - I tried gel nails to try and boost growth but they didn't agree with my nails wouldn't stay in

lindsey_toffee_girl

I have the same problem and I am debating if I should continue to wear false nails as they do look good or buy some leighton denny products to help my nails out, the link has some video demmos im sure there will be one for the crystal nail file, that I am also considering!!
http://search.qvcuk.com/QVCUK/Search.ff?query=leighton+denny&cm_re=PAGE-_-SEARCH-_-SEARCH