Brittle, peeling nails: any tips?

Kate Cox2 said:

I haven't seen any recent posts from Patrick Anderson3 regarding this topic. It feels like there’s been a bit of a lull in the discussion lately! kaže:
So, let me get this straight—you’re telling me you just pour a little olive oil into a small cup and soak your nails in it once a day? That's really the whole routine? 😬 I might just have to give it a shot; I’m honestly reaching a point of total desperation. 😢

I would typically soak my nails for about 5 to 10 minutes—or however long I could manage to sit there doing absolutely nothing. You can't exactly run around the house with greasy hands, can you? Once that time was up, I’d just take a paper towel and wipe away any excess so it wouldn't drip everywhere. As for whatever ended up on my skin, I’d simply massage it back into my nails and cuticles. Then, after a quick wash with soap, I’d finish off by applying a standard moisturizer.

To be honest, that really saved my life! I’ve actually shifted my routine to just once a week now. I always keep a little jar of jojoba oil sitting right on my kitchen counter specifically for this purpose—that way, I don't have to go wasting my good, fresh oil every single time I need a quick touch-up.
I personally can't stand mixing lemon juice directly into my oils—it always leaves behind such an unsightly residue that I just can't abide. However, I do make a point to perform a specialized scrub once a week using sugar and about half a lemon. I massage it thoroughly into my hands and then slip on some plastic gloves to let it sit for about ten minutes. While it feels like any other exfoliant, there is a distinct difference here: the lemon works wonders at fading those stubborn dark spots, while the sugar ensures the skin stays perfectly hydrated.

In my personal experience, you simply won't find any drugstore cream that can truly stand in for these exfoliants.

How long does it actually take to see any real progress with this kind of treatment? A week? Two weeks? Or am I looking at a much longer haul?
It would be common sense, wouldn't it? You shouldn't be applying polish during that window.

Susan Gonzalez4 said:I’m not really sold on those B-vitamin supplements for nail health. Honestly, I doubt they even reach my nails—your body just sends those nutrients wherever it needs them most. For me, the best thing is just using Dikla cream; you can grab it at Walgreens. Just a little bit of that and the peeling stops after a few days for me. 👍

I was looking into Dikla and it sounds amazing, but I can't find it anywhere...
It seems like everyone has used it and swears by it, but weeks have gone by and I've had zero luck finding it.
Does anyone know who the importer is or where I can actually grab some?

nimblemarlin80 said:How long does it actually take to see any real progress with this kind of treatment? A week? Two weeks? Or am I looking at a much longer haul?
It would be common sense, wouldn't it? You shouldn't be applying polish during that window.

Honestly, I saw an improvement almost immediately—my nails felt nourished, my cuticles were finally hydrated... and they just looked lovely. You do it one day, they look great, you do it again tomorrow, they look great... and so on. But I truly believe that after about ten days, you hit that "sweet spot" where it really works.

For me, within about 10 to 14 days, my nails had already started growing much faster and felt significantly stronger (mine are chronically soft, if you can believe it).

All in all, after about three weeks, I finally had perfect nails ready for a French manicure...🎉 which, quite frankly, has been my absolute dream ever since I first discovered the French manicure style (and I've known about it for a very long time...).

Generally speaking, I am beyond satisfied. This olive oil was a total lifesaver for me... both for my nails and my hair. Now, I simply can't live without it!

And just for pure indulgence... try slathering some honey onto your hands and nails (especially the cuticles)... then wrap them up in a plastic bag for about 10 minutes. Afterward, they will be literally as soft as a baby's skin... because honey is incredible at locking in moisture. (I do the exact same thing for my face regularly—minus the plastic bag, obviously.)

Thanks... I’ll definitely give everything you suggested a shot. I tried using an Avon nail treatment before, but after a week of following the regimen, it didn't do much of anything. My nails have always been soft and prone to peeling—it's basically been my reality for as long as I can remember.

I’ve been, how do you say, "at war" with my own nails. Seriously, I’ve tried everything under the sun. I even spent three whole months popping those "miracle" Merz vitamins, but it was a total bust—my nails were still peeling like cheap paper tissues.
Then it hit me: I haven't used Trent nail protector in ages. You can grab it at any local drugstore; they have the clear shiny version and a milky matte one. I used it daily for two weeks—just stripping off the old layer and applying a fresh one every single day. Total game changer! Now, I just dab some on once a week just to stay safe. My nails look absolutely stunning now. They can be short, long, polished with color, or totally bare—they just look great.
And here’s a little pro tip. Now that my nails have fully recovered and look flawless, I apply a topcoat strengthener over my colored polish. I picked it up at Walmart, right by the manicure station near the entrance. It cost about $18. It’s basically a clear coat you layer over your color to keep it from chipping for up to two weeks. For real. I even tested it out while on vacation, with my hands and feet constantly in the water. Trust me, ladies, it's a lifesaver. We all feel so much more confident when our hands look manicured, and you can't pull that off without healthy, perfect nails.

analogtrucker15 said:Twice a day: once in the morning and again in the afternoon.
Those pink little pills...
Look, I'll just see how it goes. I doubt I'll run into any side effects...

And what about weight gain? Every woman I know who has ever taken B vitamins seems to struggle with their weight as a direct consequence of them. It simply whets the appetite. They say you don't actually get fat from beer itself, but rather from the B vitamins found within the brew. I've heard this whispered in various circles, so I assume there is some truth to the matter...

Are you kidding me?!?!?
Hmm.... I have to admit, my appetite has definitely gone up lately...
I'm actually on a bit of a diet right now, so the scale isn't moving too much. But I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks.

Vitamin H—also known as biotin—is actually pretty effective when it comes to helping build up your nails.

coastalmason68 said:And what about weight gain? Every woman I know who has ever taken B vitamins seems to struggle with their weight as a direct consequence of them. It simply whets the appetite. They say you don't actually get fat from beer itself, but rather from the B vitamins found within the brew. I've heard this whispered in various circles, so I assume there is some truth to the matter...

Girl, listen to me—just grab some Trent for your nails. They'll look absolutely flawless, and I promise it won't make you gain an ounce!!!!

Steven Rivera7 said:Girl, listen to me—just grab some Trent for your nails. They'll look absolutely flawless, and I promise it won't make you gain an ounce!!!!

Wait, shouldn't it be Orly? What are you talking about with Trent?😬

For my part, Orly didn't quite do the trick... it certainly helped with the aesthetics, making my nails look much better, but the peeling issue remains entirely unresolved. And that's after I went through two full bottles—since you have to apply it every single day during that initial phase.

redhawk76 said:For my part, Orly didn't quite do the trick... it certainly helped with the aesthetics, making my nails look much better, but the peeling issue remains entirely unresolved. And that's after I went through two full bottles—since you have to apply it every single day during that initial phase.

I had the exact same experience with Orly. It helped them grow out looking decent, but they were still bending and flexing constantly. They never actually hardened up...👎

I’ve previously touched upon the subject of peeling nails, where I detailed exactly what helped me get through it. It turns out that right around the time my nails began peeling—coinciding with some increased hair shedding—I felt a sudden, intuitive urge to overhaul my diet. It wasn't prompted by any specific illness or weight concerns; rather, it was simply an realization that since I was putting in all this effort to cook, I might as well ensure the fuel I was providing my body was actually high quality. And honestly, it worked like a charm. My nails and hair eventually became more vibrant than they had ever been, prompting me to head over to the Forum to share those specifics with everyone.
However, there is a second chapter to this story. After several months of sticking to this "healthy" eating regimen, I've hit another rough patch—it's been about three weeks now—where my nails have started peeling again, accompanied by that same noticeable hair thinning 👎. This led me to the conclusion that, at least for my biology, this is likely just a seasonal "molting" process 😬, much like how nature shifts during the autumn and spring transitions. There isn't much I can do besides wait for the cycle to run its course. (For context, I’ve previously experimented with everything from Merz supplements to Natural Wealth products and even Orly treatments... nothing moved the needle for me. In the end, it seems nutrition was the only real fix, though one could argue it was merely a coincidence that the "shedding" stopped just as my diet improved...)

Look, I’ve been dealing with this absolute nightmare for about six months now—my nails are constantly peeling, they feel incredibly brittle, and frankly, they look like a total disaster. I actually went through two full rounds of B-vitamin supplements, thinking that would fix things, but absolutely nothing worked. I even tried those specialized strengthening treatments you find at places like Walgreens to stop the peeling, but again, zero results.
Does anyone have any actual advice? Honestly, I’m feeling pretty self-conscious about it; I’m almost embarrassed to let anyone even glance at my hands.😲

analoggull7 said:Look, I’ve been dealing with this absolute nightmare for about six months now—my nails are constantly peeling, they feel incredibly brittle, and frankly, they look like a total disaster. I actually went through two full rounds of B-vitamin supplements, thinking that would fix things, but absolutely nothing worked. I even tried those specialized strengthening treatments you find at places like Walgreens to stop the peeling, but again, zero results.
Does anyone have any actual advice? Honestly, I’m feeling pretty self-conscious about it; I’m almost embarrassed to let anyone even glance at my hands.😲

Hmm, could be a vitamin deficiency.

How old are you, and what do you do for a living—generally speaking, what kind of job or maybe any hobbies you have?

Have you been on any medications over the last year?

It could also be a fungal infection.

analoggull7 said:Look, I’ve been dealing with this absolute nightmare for about six months now—my nails are constantly peeling, they feel incredibly brittle, and frankly, they look like a total disaster. I actually went through two full rounds of B-vitamin supplements, thinking that would fix things, but absolutely nothing worked. I even tried those specialized strengthening treatments you find at places like Walgreens to stop the peeling, but again, zero results.
Does anyone have any actual advice? Honestly, I’m feeling pretty self-conscious about it; I’m almost embarrassed to let anyone even glance at my hands.😲

It happened to me almost overnight. I went through Merz treatments, Orly polishes, and Essie hardeners—spent a fortune on all of them only to get absolutely zero results. So, I finally just gave up and switched to acrylics.😉😁Of course, I take the courses, but then I just do them myself. It never even crossed my mind to pay someone else every three weeks just to do that for me. Interestingly enough, using acrylic actually protected my nails, so they somehow managed to fully recover in the process.😕😍

Hey. 🙂

For me, back in the day, soaking my fingers in lukewarm olive oil every morning and night actually helped. I can't even remember exactly how long I did it, but maybe try it for a week or two?
Good luck.

Nutricap capsules—I’ve been on a two-month regimen, and honestly, they work wonders for hair and nails.

The title pretty much sums it up. The weird thing is, this only happens to my big toes, and it’s been going on for two years now. It specifically flares up during that seasonal transition when I switch from sandals to boots. The top layer of the nail just starts peeling away, almost like I can strip it off halfway down, but it's just that upper layer. Could this be fungus? If it were, why does it resolve once the nail grows out? Basically, the damaged part grows out in a couple of months, and then I'm fine until next autumn. I've been using Plimyco just in case—the pharmacist recommended it. Should I focus on buying something to strengthen my nails instead?