Nail strengthener quick picks
Nourishing nail polish: JinSoon HyperRepair
On-the-go cuticle oil: MiniLuxe Nourishing Cuticle Oil Rollerball
Keratin-packed nail serum: OPI Repair Mode Bond-Building Nail Serum
As much as we all want aesthetic and beautiful-looking nails, we also want healthy nails, which is why adding a nail strengthener to your nail care routine is essential. When it comes to combating breaking and brittle nails, the best nail strengtheners will help fortify your nails for their next manicure. But how do you know when your nails are really in need of some extra help? We asked manicurists about their favorite strengthening products to help transform nails in just a few weeks.
What are signs I need a nail strengthener?
If you’re glancing down at your nails wondering if they might need some help, here are the signs to look for according to celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen.
• Nails that are bendy and weak to the touch.
• Nails that are brittle and break easily.
• Nails that are slow to grow out.
• Nails with ridges in the nail bed.
• Nails with layers that are peeling away from the nail’s surface.
Much like with skin care, setting up a nail care routine with conditioning products can help you repair weak nails and maintain healthy, beautiful nails even when bare.
“If someone has brittle nails or breakable nails, it can be cured within two to four weeks by using nail-strengthening products, taking vitamins and minerals as well as monitoring your lifestyle,” says Amy Ling, CEO and founder of nail brand and spa Sundays.
What causes brittle nails?
Though it may be difficult to pinpoint the root cause of brittle, dry or overall weak nails, experts say it is usually due to vitamin deficiency, lack of hydration or over-manicuring. “The most common [cause] is a lack of proper hydration, especially in the wintertime,” says Jin Soon Choi, celebrity nail artist and founder of JinSoon nail spas in New York City. “Nails also grow brittle from constantly wearing acrylics or gel. Even natural causes like age can factor into the health of your nails.”
While you might be frustrated with your brittle or cracked nails, applying conditioning products, like nail oils and strengtheners, can add an increased layer of protection to the nail beds. These formulas are often packed with ingredients like vitamin E, natural oils, keratin and glycerin to help hydrate, heal and fortify nails.
How often should I apply nail strengtheners?
Nguyen says that how often you apply strengtheners depends on the condition of your nails. “I have been wearing nail-strengthening products for 20 years, and I reapply on a weekly basis post-manicure,” Nguyen says. “People with weaker nails or post-nail enhancement removal should apply nail strengtheners every three days for added protection.”
After you use nail polish remover, you can apply a strengthening product to bare nails. Donna Charloff, director of service operations at MiniLuxe, recommends applying one coat of nail strengthener every day if you’re looking to heal your nails. “Remove the accumulated coats at the end of the week or sooner if they begin to peel, and start over,” she says.
For best results, Nguyen and Charloff both recommend skipping adding any additional polish before or after the strengthener.
“I believe that in order to strengthen your nails, it is better to skip nail polish and just wear the nail strengthener on its own for a few weeks or however long you desire,” Nguyen says. “Bare nails without a layer of strengthener have no protection and can lead to breakage and bending.”
Charloff says that while you technically can still wear nail polish while using nail strengthener, it might reduce the effectiveness of the healing. “I would recommend nail strengthener alone,” she says. “Nails are porous and will absorb the nail strengthener more effectively when bare.”
Nguyen adds that if you are looking for a strengthening nail product with some color, there are brands that offer a range of tinted nail strengtheners, such as Orly’s BB Cream line and Manucurist’s Active range.
In addition to strengtheners, Charloff also says that consistent use of cuticle oil can make a big difference in your nail health. “Cuticle oil penetrates the nail plate and can help restore nails that are dry and brittle,” she says.
Do nail strengtheners really work?
It’s unlikely that any nail strengthener on the market is going to take your nails from looking brittle to salon beautiful in just one or two coats. Strengtheners work by providing nutrients that rehydrate, repair and help nails grow stronger while also keeping your vulnerable nail surface protected as you use your hands throughout the day. So, when they’re applied properly and often enough as part of a nail care routine, strengtheners can help improve the look and health of your nails over several weeks. Just don’t expect to see drastic results happen overnight.
You might see the terms “nail strengthener” and “nail hardener” used interchangeably or in conjunction with products containing nail growth formulas. So, is there a difference? Nguyen says that hardeners are meant to harden the nail plate to prevent splitting and breaking.
“Hardeners are for those who are having extreme difficulty growing out their nails, and the nail breakages are causing pain,” she says. “Nail growth formulas are usually formulated within the nail hardeners to promote nail growth.”
For whatever nail issues you’re looking to put to rest, we rounded up some expert-recommended and editor-favorite nail products to help give you strong, beautiful and healthy nails.
Nail-strengthening polish
If you notice your nails peeling or splitting after you take your acrylics off or just have weak nails in general, Nguyen recommends this Orly Nailtrition formula for strengthening. “This nail treatment is best to wear on its own to maximize the nail-strengthening process, and it also provides a beautiful shimmering pink tint to mask nail imperfections,” Nguyen says.
“As a nail artist, I believe nail care is as important as skin care,” Choi says. “I formulated [HyperRepair] with skin ingredients like glycolic, lactic and malic acids and essential nail vitamins C, E and B5.” Brittle nails will see a difference in strength after two applications of the nourishing base coat, according to the manicurist.
For a complete repair set, grab this kit from Manucurist. Made in France, this set features a base treatment, cuticle oil and overnight nail masque for locking in the nutrients and setting up a healthy foundation for longer-lasting manicures.
Nguyen also recommends this Ella+Mila First Aid Kiss Nail Strengthener. Made with vitamin E and formulated with nontoxic ingredients, this strengthener is a four-week treatment that helps nails grow while protecting them from splitting and peeling. Nguyen says that after you complete the four-week process, you can wear this treatment underneath regular polish, but according to the brand, it might shorten the length of your manicure.
“My favorite nail hardener is Quimica Alemana,” New-York based manicurist Mo Qin — who touts celebrities like Ashley Graham, Emily Ratajkowski and Beyoncé as clients — shares. “I use it on my own fingernails, and it makes my nails strong within a week.” The cost-effective option is a favorite among industry manicurists and at-home users alike due to its impressive ingredient list of strengthening ingredients like vitamin E, arginine, keratin and tea tree oil.
Lin swears by the B.03 strengthening base coat. Its impressive ingredients feature vitamins A, C and E to help nourish and restore the cuticles, while the inclusion of soybean oil replenishes natural moisture.
This OPI strengthener is an editor favorite for helping fortify nails. It delivers calcium and protein to the nail bed for strength and conditioning. The polish can be used alone or as a base coat, and it also comes in several colored shades.
Effective and made with clean ingredients, Charloff loves this MiniLuxe strengthener since it's free of harmful ingredients, like formaldehyde, that are typically found in nail-strengthening products. According to Charloff, “When applied daily, it can turn the weakest nails around in as short as two weeks.” It can be applied to bare nails for the full treatment, or you can even apply it over MiniLuxe’s Pure Polish to make any manicure strengthening.
This lightweight nail strengthener by Olive & June features a blend of celery extract that protects the nail surface and also aids in healing weak and brittle nails.
Nail-strengthening creams and treatments
Those looking for a more traditional, moisturizer-like product should check out Barielle’s Nail Strengthener Cream. The lightweight product contains both keratin and biotin, which are proven to improve nail growth, appearance and overall health. “Biotin is a B-complex vitamin,” Qin says. “It promotes healthy cell growth and aids in the metabolism of protein-building amino acids that are essential for nail growth.”
Charloff says that regular use of hand cream is “critical for healthy, flexible nails.”
This option recommended by Choi is great for “on-the-go hydration, especially in winter months when the hands are dry and dehydrated,” the nail expert says. “It has all natural and organic ingredients, humectants, emollients and occlusives to keep the hands and nails hydrated.”
Charloff says she’s obsessed with this bestseller from MiniLuxe for many reasons. The formula includes a nail-strengthening blend of apricot kernel oil and vitamin E. “Nail health starts where the nail grows, which is at the cuticle,” Charloff says. “A healthy, moisturized cuticle will result in a healthy nail.”
The travel-friendly rollerball applicator makes it easy to lock in that moisture on-the-go and the oil is EWG verified, assuring your nails have the best and cleanest ingredients.
This Onyx lotion helps prevent nails from tearing or cracking, and users say they see a difference within just a few days. While it will help your weak nails become stronger, it also promotes growth for already healthy nails, with nourishing oils, vitamins, beeswax, glycerin and silk protein.
Nguyen says this OPI treatment is one of her favorites. Made with patented Ulti-Plex Technology, this formula adds nail keratin, which Nguyen says “penetrates the nail surface to build new bonds from within while repairing the nail, and promotes stronger, smoother nails.” You can wear this treatment on its own or layered underneath your favorite polish.
In addition to a well-balanced diet rich in biotin and omega-3s, Lin also recommends the Cs.02 Hydrating Cuticle Serum. Featuring a blend of vitamins and natural oils, the serum can be used daily or when needed to deliver moisture and hydration. “When the weather gets cold, make sure to apply cuticle serums to hydrate your nails,” Lin says.
With over 11,000 5-star ratings, OPI’s Nail and Cuticle Oil is a cost-friendly option that conditions the cuticles, thanks to ingredients like grape, sesame and sunflower oils.
Natural nail strengtheners
Castor oil is an age-old natural treatment for the skin, hair and nails. The oil is masterful in moisturizing the cuticles and contains undecylenic acid, which helps to treat brittle or unhealthy nails. This top-rated set comes with a dropper for easy application.
“The Ex-Tract Honeysuckle + Primrose Cuticle Oil is a facial-grade oil with all-natural ingredients to hydrate the cuticles and nail beds,” Choi says. “I use it at least twice daily to keep the cuticle healthy. I also use it with the HyperCare Cuticle Pusher + Reducer to gently push my cuticles back if needed.”
Boasting natural ingredients like shea, apricot and almond oil, this travel-friendly option from L’Occitane is silicone- and paraben-free and is dispensed with a brush tip for seamless application on the nail bed.
This multifaceted strengthener from Typology is meant to be used daily and contains key amounts of plant-based keratin and hyaluronic acid that focuses on nourishing the skin and strengthening nails.