How To Strengthen Weak, Brittle Nails at Home for Less: Doctors Share Their Best Tricks
See the Vaseline hack experts swear by for healthier nails and cuticles
Key Takeaways
- Nails can become drier and more brittle with age, making breaks more likely.
- Polishes, moisturizers and smart manicure habits can help strengthen weak nails.
- Nutrient-rich foods and simple daily habits can support stronger, healthier nail growth.
Whether you’re noticing breaking, splitting or peeling, the signs of weak nails are apparent. But how exactly can you strengthen your nails without splurging on pricy products or carving out time for a complicated manicure routine? It turns out healthy nails may be closer than you think. We spoke to experts to get their top at-home tips for stronger nails.
What causes weak nails?
“The visible nail plate is mostly made of tightly packed keratin, the same family of proteins found in our hair and outer skin,” explains Shamsa Kanwal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Aesthetic Evolution Skin and Laser Clinic. “Unlike skin, the nail plate itself is made of dead cells.”
She says a few of the biggest culprits behind weak, brittle or split nails include:
- Frequent handwashing
- Aggressive filing
- Acetone nail polish remover
- Picking at polish
Dr. Kanwal also says that as nail growth slows with age, nails can become less flexible and drier. “Years of exposure to water, household chemicals, manicures and minor trauma also add up, which is one reason brittle nails are especially common in older women,” she explains.
Brittle nails can also sometimes signal health conditions such as thyroid disease, psoriasis, fungal infection and iron deficiency. Any change that feels persistent deserves medical assessment, adds Dr. Kanwal.
How to strengthen nails at home for less
Aside from the obvious steps like avoiding harsh chemicals when possible (slip on gloves before cleaning!) and treating any underlying conditions that may be affecting nail growth, there are simple things you can do at home to strengthen your natural nails. Here’s what works:
Apply a strengthening polish
“Nail-strengthening polishes can work in two ways,” explains Shannon Humphrey, MD, FRCPC, FAAD, clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia and founder and medical director of Humphrey & Beleznay Cosmetic Dermatology. “One, they can provide a protective barrier, or two, sometimes they have ingredients like formaldehyde derivatives that actually bond the nails together.”
Pick up the Vaseline or Aquaphor
“Regularly moisturizing the nail plate and cuticle with petroleum jelly, mineral oil or a urea-containing cream is simple but genuinely useful,” says Dr. Kanwal. “I especially recommend applying it after handwashing and again before bed.” This helps lock in moisture to avoid brittleness or peeling due to dry nails.
Take manicure breaks
“You can still get manicures, but give fragile nails breaks from gel polish and avoid aggressive buffing, cuticle cutting and peeling gel off yourself,” adds Dr. Kanwal. Also smart: using acetone-free nail polish remover, which is gentler on delicate nails.
Keep nails on the shorter side
“Keeping brittle nails relatively short reduces leverage and snagging,” says Dr. Kanwal. This makes it easier for them to grow longer and stronger without breaking.
Keep your cuticles
“Cuticle removal can damage the nail barrier and increase the risk of irritation or infection,” explains Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, PhD, owner of Dermatology Circle PLLC. But when you opt to keep them instead (you can simply push them back with an orangewood stick), you’ll help reduce nail fragility. “With time, the cuticles can become healthier over a few months.”
‘Feed’ your nails the right foods
Dr. Kanwal says that eggs, lentils and salmon are all key foods for improving nail strength. “Eggs provide protein and biotin, lentils provide protein plus iron and salmon provides high-quality protein along with micronutrients needed for normal tissue growth,” adds Dr. Kanwal. “One egg most days, about half to one cup of cooked lentils several times weekly and fish around twice weekly can fit comfortably into a balanced diet. Try eggs in a vegetable omelet, roasted lentils or lentil soup and salmon baked with olive oil, lemon and herbs.”
Don’t use your nails as a tool
“Stop using nails as tools for opening or scraping things,” recommends Dr. Kanwal. Doing so may add stress to weak nails, making them more likely to peel, split or break.
The bottom line on how to strengthen weak nails
You don’t need an expensive, complicated nail-care routine to see results. The trick is thinking about your nail health through the lens of whole-body health. In other words, it’s not only what you put on your nails that matters, but also the foods you eat and how you care for your nails in everyday life. Small changes really do add up!
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