Peeling splitting nails - help please

scottishminnie

I used to have beautiful nails - for years I've used OPI nail envy and although I know it's just a veneer it did the trick and gave me hard, reasonable length nails. About a year ago the nails began to split (sometimes vertically) and peel off in layers. I contacted Lena White (UK OPI supplier )and they recommended I visit a specific salon in Glasgow (can't remember the name) which I did. They sold me 3 other types of OPI nail envy and said just keep trying, one of them will definitely work and your nails will be back to normal. Well to cut a long story short none of them did, my nails got worse and worse and eventually simple things like putting my hands inside my pocket were causing my nails to tear and rip.

About 5 months ago, in desparation I tried Sally Hansen miracle cure and I've persevered but no joy and my nails are now so dreadful people have started to comment and ask if I'm ill.

Can anyone help, I'm absolutely at my wits end now. I meet lots of people in my job and it's important that my hands are presentable.

I'm absolutely fine healthwise and I wouldn't dare got to my GP anyway as I'd be accused of vanity and timewasting.

If it weren't for the maintenance and ongoing cost I'd opt for nail extensions but I'd rather cure the problem .

thanks

p.s. I tried gel nails (calgel?) as someone thought that would help but no joy.

tub28

Hi
Make sure you are getting enough Vit B & E and calcium
Try rubbing warm olive oil or ghee into your nails and also try eating gelatin (jellies)

SandC

For no apparent reason my nails started getting weak and splitting after they'd always been beautiful since I began taking notice of them as a teen.

I had never really done anything on a routine basis except use nail polish (only ever had one or two manicures in my life) so had to really force myself to do something regularly and more importantly to give it time.

I bought a small tube of nail an cuticle cream from no 7 and that really did the trick. The reasoning behind that is having a small tube I kept it next to the sofa and got into the habit of using it every night just while I was sitting watching tv. I couldn't seem to remember to rub olive oil or other creams in. When that ran out I started using a Bodyshop sort of pen with a brush on the end with almond oil in it and that's even better. My nails are so much stronger but it has taken afew months.

flippin36

It's a little bit worrying that you don't normally have peeling nails and its got so bad people are commenting on it. Could you have a nail infection?

starrystarry

Hi Scottishminnie,

I also suffer from peeling nails. I used to use Nail Envy but a friend introduced me to Nailtiques products and I've never looked back. Far superior to Nail Envy in my experience. Not cheap, but then again neither is OPI stuff. I'll eat my hat if Nailtiques Formula 2 doesn't improve your nails.

chrisaj

Have you had your hands in and out of water and drying them alot? That can split nails, also not using rubber gloves, household cleaners are very strong. Some medication can cause nail splitting as well as nail bed infections. It may be worth a trip to the dr's to get an opinion. I'm sure they won't mind. Hope you get it sorted.

scottishminnie

flippin36 wrote: »

It's a little bit worrying that you don't normally have peeling nails and its got so bad people are commenting on it. Could you have a nail infection?

if it had just been one or some nails I might have thought that but it's increased to the point it's all of them

scottishminnie

chrisaj wrote: »

Have you had your hands in and out of water and drying them alot? That can split nails, also not using rubber gloves, household cleaners are very strong. Some medication can cause nail splitting as well as nail bed infections. It may be worth a trip to the dr's to get an opinion. I'm sure they won't mind. Hope you get it sorted.

I avoid water like the plague, even vases and ornaments go in the dishwasher! Seriously I don't have them in and out of water a lot and I can't use latex or rubber gloves - when I do they seem to sweat my hands so much that when I take them off more nail peels off too.

I'm not on medication so have ruled that out too

scottishminnie

starrystarry wrote: »

Hi Scottishminnie,

I also suffer from peeling nails. I used to use Nail Envy but a friend introduced me to Nailtiques products and I've never looked back. Far superior to Nail Envy in my experience. Not cheap, but then again neither is OPI stuff. I'll eat my hat if Nailtiques Formula 2 doesn't improve your nails.

I'll give it a try - as you say OPI isn't cheap (especially not when the salon sells you 3 different types!). I do remember just after I first found nail envy I was visiting my cousin in Canada and was raving about how fab it was to her and she mentioned that there had been some bad press over there about how it wasn't good long term as it dried out the nails and almost "overhardened" them. Of course I totally disregarded her as my nails were at that time stunning, long, glossy and painted!

I'll have a look on ebay for some bargain Nailtiques formula 2

debulition

I use Nail Eat when my nails get prone to splitting.

skypie123_2

How has your diet been lately?
I normally have fast growing strong nails but a few months back my nails were just awful. My diet had been poor and I was on medication and I think this affected them. So I cut them short and ate lots of fruit and veg and had a cod liver oil supplement and B6 complex. My horse certainly seems to benefit from cod liver (makes her coat all shiny and her hooves fab) so I thought I would try it on me. Seemed to do the trick!