How to Keep Your Nails From Breaking? Brittle Nails: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

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Veronica Cooper

Do you sometimes wonder how some people are lucky enough to have such long and strong nails while yours break every few days? Do you look at your nails at those moments and sigh at those weak and paper-thin fingernails? We understand this feeling of having brittle nails. They are prone to chipping and breakages. But can’t you do anything about it?

Well yes, fingernails are strong or weak naturally and you cannot do anything to change their natural structure or formation. But you can sure look after them and change some of your habits. From picking at your nail polish and stress-biting your nails to treating them like tools and not giving enough attention – all these factors contribute to weakened and brittle nails.

How to Keep Your Nails From Breaking

How to Keep Your Nails From Breaking? (Stop Nails From Breaking)

Oftentimes, we decide to look after our nails and prevent them from breaking after looking at someone’s long and beautiful claws. But after a few days, we forget our commitment to ourselves and ignore our nails only to have them chipped or broken within no time. At times, we also fall into the trap of getting expensive gel extensions and picking on them only to worsen the condition.

Well if you are seriously looking for an answer to ‘How to Keep Your Nails From Breaking?’, the simple trick is to overcome your bad nail habits and develop some care and patience to make them strong and healthy. Here is your guide to the causes of brittle nails and how can you treat and prevent them from breaking.

What Causes Brittle Nails?

If you have nails that are weak and prone to cracking easily since childhood, chances are that’s the genetic composition of your nails. But there are also chances that some of your habits or deficiencies are not allowing them to grow out strong. From having certain nutritional deficiencies or poor eating habits to being a consistent nail-biter for years, there are several causes for your brittle nails. Let’s understand some of them in detail:

1) Age

The rate and speed at which your nails grow reduces as you age implies that the existing nail tips go through longer wear and tear which causes them to become thin and weak. Fingernails are more prone to this brittleness as compared to toenails which tend to become thick and curved.

2) Deficiencies

Multiple nutrients and vitamins are needed for strong and healthy nails If your body has deficiencies like iron, biotin, magnesium, etc., it will show up on your skin, hair, and nails. And, most of the time when nails are prone to breaking, it can be due to some underlying nutritional deficiency.

3) Habits

This is the worst of the lot! Because this is something you can control and change. Habits such as nail biting, using them as tools, not keeping them well-groomed, and many more affect the structure and formation of your nails. Just as you look after your skin and hair, nails are also a part of your body and you need to take care of them too.

4) Genes

Contrarily, this is the factor you can do nothing about. If the cause of brittle nails is your genes and how your nails get formed from the root, you cannot change the composition. Some hereditary conditions or disorders may be affecting your nail health from within.

 5) Water Exposure

Exposure to too many wet or moist areas causes your nails to become weak and prone to peeling and cracking. Your long-haul swim or hot shower sessions may be wonderful for your mind and body but can cause harm to your nails. Or, if you spend too much time working in water or doing the dishes, over-exposure will cause your nails to become dry and eventually turn brittle.

6) Chemical Exposure

Talking about doing the dishes, it’s not only water but over-exposure to harmful chemicals also that cause harm. Besides, harsh chemicals in nail polishes and salon nail enhancement products also lead to brittle and weak nails. Also, frequent use of handwashes, sanitizers, and other skin products can turn up to be harmful to your nails especially if they contain strong chemical formulae.

7) Medical Conditions

Certain medical and skin conditions, that aren’t directly applicable to nails, also have harmful side effects causing them to become weak and prone to breaking. For example, thyroid levels, diabetes, anemia, psoriasis, etc. cause more harm than good not just to your health but to your nails too,

8) Infections

Besides, medical conditions, your nails may be affected if you suffer from some fungal infections. Toenails are more prone to these infections considering hygiene and footwear issues. For example, black toenails are one of the most common and ignored conditions that may affect nail growth from within. Similarly, infections like green nail fungus, which can also possibly happen on fingernails, are also dangerous when it comes to nail health and strength.

How to Treat Brittle Nails?

How to Treat Brittle Nails

Now that you are aware of the causes of brittleness, the question is how to keep your nails from breaking. If you have brittle nails due to some of the above reasons, the good news is you can reverse the problem. Or at least you can try – try to take good care of your nails and not cause more harm. Here are some ways you can treat brittle nails just by tweaking some daily habits and incorporating some healthier ones:

1) Don’t bite the big one!

Nail biting causes the most harm to your nail texture and appearance. From breaking and peeling to splitting and cracking, you may experience all things nasty with your nails if you keep biting them. No matter if you are nervous, stressed, or anxious, make it a point to leave the nail-biting habit completely. It will take time but it’s not impossible. Start by keeping a shorter length so you can keep them away from your mouth and gradually start becoming mindful of overcoming your habit.

2) Keep them in the pink of health

Eating your greens won’t only keep you in good shape but will also give the needed strength and shine to your nails and cuticles. When you add good nutritional elements like protein to your diet, you will gradually see the condition of your nails getting improved. Besides you can take some essential supplements like vitamins, biotin, iron, etc. for that extra boost of health and to beat the deficiencies. But be sure you consult a medical professional beforehand.

3) Limit chemical exposure

Getting professional nail enhancements every few weeks may seem quite lucrative but over-exposure to glues, acrylics, UV lights, and other chemicals, can be very harmful to you especially if you have weak and vulnerable nails. Besides, use latex gloves to protect your hands and fingernails while doing household chores, and make sure you always wear good-quality and comfortable socks and shoes.

4) Magical manis

Make it a practice of indulging in regular manicure sessions either at the salon or at home. Keeping your nails clean, filed, and trimmed to a shorter length will make it convenient for you to take better care of them. Also, frequent manicures will help deep clean against any potential dead skin debris and fungal buildup that might be hampering nail strength. It is better to invest in nail care rather than nail polishes to overcome brittleness.

5) Keep ‘em moisturized

Moisturization and hydration can do more wonders than just skincare. Just like your skin and body need a boost of moisturization to remain soft and healthy, your cuticles and nails also need the same. No, we are not saying keeping your nails soaked in water or lotions should be the idea (that will cause more damage). But if your nails are cracky and breaking, chances are the surface is dry and dehydrated. Make sure you keep them clean, and dry, and moisturize them with hand creams and cuticle oils to improve healthy shine and longevity.

6) Don’t rush

The most important way to treat brittle nails is to have patience with whatever you are doing. Whether you are changing your eating habits or controlling your urge to bite them, there aren’t going to be any overnight wonders. You need to be patient and consistent with your practices if you want to treat nail breakages.

Tips to Prevent Brittle Nails

Yes, you can treat your brittle nails following the above ways. But why let them happen in the first place? It is always better to be safe than sorry and when it comes to nail breakages, prevention is also better to avoid future pains and problems.

Though most of the causes of brittle nails are internal and outside of your control, you can still prevent your nails from breaking by following certain tips:

Tips to Prevent Brittle Nails

1) Cleanliness is key. Keep your hands and feet clean and dry at all times. Be careful when exposing them to dirty environments, moist areas, chemicals, and heat too. And after any of these harmful exposures, immediately wash and dry your hands and nails completely especially if you have long nails.

2) Speaking of long nails, it is okay to keep them grown out for aesthetics. But don’t compromise with the conditioning. Don’t use your nails as tools and form a habit of using the pads of your fingers rather than fingertips for doing most things like texting or opening a can.

3) Always keep your nails trimmed and filed. For longer nail lengths, choose a manageable size and be careful not to hurt them. Choose shapes with more rounder edges than sharp and pokey corners. Make sure the tips of your nails are blunt and the area underneath is clean.

4) Avoid using acetone based nail polish removers and formaldehyde based nail polishes. Invest in good-quality and branded products and opt for reputed salons to get professional manicures.

5) Use a strengthening base coat under your nail polish to add an extra layer of protection. Choose to invest in good brands providing cruelty-free options to be careful of not causing to your natural nails.

Wrapping Up

As we’ve explored, keeping your nails strong and healthy is a holistic process that involves understanding the causes of brittle nails and taking proactive steps to treat and prevent them. From incorporating nail-friendly nutrients into your diet to practicing good nail hygiene and avoiding harsh chemicals, there are many ways to fortify your nails and prevent them from breaking. Remember, your nails are a reflection of your overall health, so nurturing them with care and attention is key.

By following the tips and techniques outlined in this article, you can enjoy strong, beautiful nails that enhance your overall well-being. Here’s to healthy nails and a confident, polished you!

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Veronica Cooper

A writer with a passion for creativity, I'm here to guide you through latest Nail Art trends and techniques with engaging content.

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