Hard, smooth, and shiny nails are what everyone wants, but sometimes the reality is less glamorous. Splitting, cracked edges, a feeling of brittleness… it’s impossible to maintain a flawless manicure for more than a few days. Come on, let’s not lose hope, brittle nails aren’t inevitable. A good manicure routine and a few simple steps are all it takes to strengthen their structure and restore a strong and resilient nail plate. We’ll help you understand the causes of this brittleness and adopt the best solutions.
Why do we have soft nails?
Nails are made up of 90% keratin, a fibrous protein that gives them hardness and elasticity. When this keratin becomes brittle, the plate becomes thinner, less resistant, and more easily susceptible to daily stresses.
Recognizing a brittle nail
Brittle nails can be a symptom of a dysfunction of the nail matrix. They are often the result of poorer quality keratin, slow nail growth, and/or an alteration of the intercellular cement that binds the keratin layers together. The consequences are easily visible and manifest in different ways:
- Nails that bend and turn easily: they lose their rigidity when you press on them, especially at the tips.
- Nails that split: the nail plate separates into thin layers.
- Ridges that form on the nail surface: these visible lines indicate irregular renewal.
- Cracked and chipped edges: the edge of the nail gives way at the slightest impact.
- Nail polish chips easily: the polish has difficulty sticking because the surface is too uneven.
Possible Causes
Several factors can explain this loss of strength:
- Exposure to water: dishes, cleaning, hot baths, etc. Water seeps into the nail, swells it, and then dries it out, causing cracks and breaks.
- Overly frequent or poorly adapted manicures: aggressive filing, removing semi-permanent nail polish or artificial nails with a nail drill machine, using acetone nail polish remover, etc. These manicure practices damage the nail and weaken it over time.
- Mechanical and chemical stress: nails used as cooking utensils, DIY tools, or gardening tools, nails bitten or exposed to harsh chemicals. These are all situations to avoid as much as possible to avoid permanently weakening your nails.
- A deficiency in essential nutrients: vitamins (especially B vitamins and vitamin B8 or biotin in particular), minerals (sulfur, zinc, iron, silicon), and essential amino acids are essential for keratin production and the keratinization process. If your diet doesn’t provide these nutrients, your nails will suffer the effects.
The sooner you spot these signs of weakness (soft, ridged, splitting nails), the sooner you implement a proper routine to limit damage and repair deeply, the more likely you are to regain strong, vibrant nails.
How to get strong, strong nails back?
At Manucurist, we know that strong nails start with a targeted care routine. And the good news is, there are simple, effective, and easy-to-apply solutions. If your nails are already soft or brittle, start with an intensive treatment to boost their natural keratin production. Here are two treatment formulas to achieve this:
Keratin Booster
Keratin Booster is a nail-strengthening treatment ideal for nails that are suffering from a “slump.” It can stimulate natural keratin production, and restores hardness and shine. For a maximum of 5 to 7 days, apply Keratin Booster to bare nails, 1 to 3 times a day for an intensive treatment. A real magic wand with visible results from the first few days of application.
Daily: Pamper your nails with a balanced diet
A beautiful nail plate isn’t just built on the outside: it’s also prepared from the inside out. According to this principle, we rely on the right nutrients to support keratinization:
- Biotin (vitamin B8): The engine of keratin, it is essential for producing the structuring protein in nails. It is found in eggs, dairy products, organ meats, brewer’s yeast, and nuts (almonds).
- Vitamin C: This mineral is renowned for its antioxidant properties and its role in collagen synthesis. It is absorbed by eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Sulfur: This mineral is an essential component of keratin. To avoid sulfur deficiency, it is recommended to eat meat, fish, and seafood, as well as sulfur-rich vegetables such as cabbage, leeks, and onions.
- Magnesium, iron, and zinc: these minerals are also essential for regular nail growth. They are found in legumes, green vegetables, meat, nuts, and dried fruits.
In short, a varied and balanced diet will ensure you get the necessary nutrients that will ultimately lead to beautiful, strong nails and stunning manicures.
One thing is certain: having strong, shiny nails takes work, and it starts well before your manicure! With expert care, a tailored routine, and good nutrition, your nails will regain strength and natural shine, ready for new manicure adventures.
