Brittle Nails: Causes, Prevention And Treatment

Having an impeccable manicure is impossible if you have brittle, ridged or soft nails. Poor nail condition is much more than a cosmetic problem, it can be a sign of micronutrient deficiencies (like iron, zinc, vitamin B, and silicon), lack of hydration (that is, in most cases, the main reason), and also from excessive exposure to strong detergents. As having beautiful nails is now essential, because they are part of our style, it is very important to take care of them correctly. Our advice can be found in the following paragraphs.

What is the cause of brittle nails?

No, brittle, fragile and soft nails are not just a cosmetic problem. This condition of the claws can suggest a health problem or even neglected maintenance. Generally, the causes of brittle and damaged nails are:

• The dehydration;

• Micronutrient deficiencies: iron, zinc, vitamin B;

• The habit of biting your nails or peeling your nail polish;

• Do not wear gloves during household chores, when chemicals are used;

• Use nails as work tools (open containers, remove labels etc.);

• The abuse of nail gel;

• Cold;

• Baths that are too hot.

How to repair and solidify your brittle nails?

There are plenty of tips to naturally strengthen your brittle nails. Before moving on to the detailed explanation of these, we must first list some very beneficial maintenance practices to improve the condition of your damaged nails.

1. Nail artists advise, if you have short nails, not to trim your nails with a nail clipper, but rather to file them. This practice is recommended for both brittle nails and healthy nails. But the filing must be done correctly to avoid possible harmful effects on the nails. So, double-sided filing should be avoided at all costs because it can cause duplication. Filing always in one direction with gentle movements - this is the way to proceed in order not to risk weakening the nail plate. Regarding long nails, it is necessary, on the contrary, to use a nail clipper or nail scissors when you want to shorten your claws. In this case, the file is to finalize the shape. As for the lime to prefer,the metal one is not recommended, because it tends to separate the layers of the nail. For brittle and thin nails, it is better to prefer a cardboard file.

2. Moisturizing hands, cuticles and nails is very important! Regular use of moisturizing and enriched creams helps strengthen the moisture barrier of the skin and claws. In the evening, before going to bed, just apply a moisturizer "hands and nails" while generously massaging the cuticles. It is recommended to massage each edge of the nail for at least 30 seconds, until the cream is well absorbed.

3. Take into consideration that wearing false nails can weaken natural nails by making them thinner and less hard. In addition, for fitting false nails, glues, gels and resins are used which are aggressive for the nails and weaken them. Another problem: improperly applied false nails promote the appearance of yeast infection. It is therefore desirable to limit or avoid the wearing of false nails.

How to naturally strengthen brittle nails?

• Essential oils have many benefits for our health and well-being. In this case, they are essential allies for treating damaged nails. Here are our application tips:

- Lemon essential oil is essential for regenerating nails. It helps improve blood circulation to the nail, delivering all the necessary nutrients to the nails. An excellent treatment for brittle nails is that based on lemon essential oil, green myrtle essential oil and castor oil (respectively 15 drops: 15 drops: 150 drops / or 7.5 ml). This miraculous mixture is to be applied to brittle or soft nails every other day.

- The essential oil of Laurel noble acts on the structure of the nail and is ideal for strengthening the brittle nails or those which grow very little or very slowly. So, heat 3 tablespoons of jojoba oil in a double boiler, then add 5 drops of essential oil of laurel. Soak your nails in this mixture for five minutes. Use a tissue to wipe off the excess, then massage your nails one by one, so that the product penetrates perfectly.

- Cistus essential oil is wonderful for improving the resistance of brittle and soft nails. Prepare the following mixture: 10 milliliters of jojoba oil + 2 drops of cistus essential oil + 8 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil.

• Another natural remedy to treat brittle and ridged nails, the mixture of olive oil and lemon juice is really effective. Just mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and apply this preparation by massaging on the nails and cuticles twice a week.

* Lemon juice can also be mixed with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. We heat it up and then let our nails soak for a few minutes.

• A mixture of milk and argan oil in equal doses also promises miracles for weakened nails. You just need to dip your fingers in this preparation for ten minutes once a week.

• It turns out that salt can also help strengthen brittle nails. This effect occurs thanks to its iodine content. To make a salty potion, just mix 1 tablespoon of salt in half a liter of lukewarm water. Soak your fingers in it for 10 minutes.

• Biotin is part of the group of B vitamins and is contained in many foods regularly consumed (eggs, soy, nuts, liver, whole grains, bananas, mushrooms, cauliflower, avocado, salmon, raspberries etc.) and its deficiency is quite rare. However, if our body lacks biotin, some of the following symptoms may appear: dry skin, hair loss, brittle hair and nails, fatigue, mood swings, muscle pain and cramps. This vitamin is also very important for maintaining an efficient immune system, therefore its lack is undesirable.