How to strengthen weak and bendy nails

Have your nails suddenly gone weak and brittle? It could be your regular mani that’s taking its toll or an underlying health issue. Whatever it is, there are some ways you can strengthen weak and bendy nails and restore them to their former healthy glory.

Remove nail polish properly

Whether you have gel polish or normal nail polish, don’t pick it off. It can be tempting to do it absent-mindedly, but it could be ruining the condition of your nails.

When you pick off polish, you’re actually removing the top layers of your nail along with it. This damages the nail plate which causes weakness and thinning.

Always have gel polish soaked off by a professional and remove normal polish with a non-acetone nail varnish remover. In both cases, treat your nails to a few drops of cuticle oil afterwards to nourish them and restore moisture.

Keep your nails hydrated

Dry nails are brittle and fragile nails. If you want to strengthen weak and bendy nails, start by hydrating them. Massage cuticle oil onto your nails and cuticles a few times per day.

Give your nails a rest from manicures

If you’re a gel or acrylic manicure devotee, seeing your nails bare can make you feel naked. However, giving them a break every now and then can help restore their strength and health. If you can’t face having completely bare nails, try a plant-based nail polish, free from nasties.

Keep your nails short

If you’re trying to grow your nails, but they keep breaking, consider filing them shorter temporarily. If you want to strengthen weak and bendy nails, keeping them a bit shorter can help restore their strength and help them grow back healthier. Filing your nails every couple of days can help reduce breakage and snags.

Start from the inside

Whatever you put onto your nails, healthy strong nails start on the inside. As nails are made up of protein, include plenty of protein sources in your diet like lean meat.

Look on any nail supplement and you’ll see biotin. It’s a B vitamin that plays an important role in nail health and growth. You can take a supplement, but make sure you get plenty of it in your diet too by eating foods like salmon, avocados, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds.

Want to strengthen weak and bendy nails?

At Nicely Polished, we have everything you need to restore your nail health and strength. From nourishing cuticle oils to plant based polishes, we’ve got you.

For more articles on nail care and the products you need for your best nails ever, check out the rest of our blog.