I didn’t know my natural nails could grow so long — until I tried these nail strengtheners

There are plenty of skin care rituals to keep our faces, hands and feet looking their best. But, beyond the occasional manicure, our nails — composed of the same protein as our top layer of skin — often remain untreated, leading to frequent splitting and breaking.

We spoke to nail experts about everything you need to know to nourish your natural nails properly, including their recommendations on the best nail strengtheners for healing damaged nails. We also included everything you need to know about the recent ban on gel nail polish products in Europe (more on that, and what it means for you and your nails, below).

Brittle nails that crack or peel are not uncommon. In fact, Harvard Medical School suggests that over one in four women have onychoschizia, or nail fragility. Various factors like dehydration, nail-biting and even everyday tasks like typing can be the cause. That being said, experts recommend nail strengtheners for people with nails that frequently split or crack.

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OPI Repair Mode

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Best for nail growth

Nail-Aid Keratin 3-Day Growth Nail Treatment

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To pick the best nail strengtheners, we followed expert guidance and included only options with active healing ingredients, which are detailed below.

“Nail strengtheners work by providing extra protection to your nails and helping them to become thicker and stronger over time,” says Dr. Randa Jaafar, who specializes in interventional pain and wrinkle reduction. “They contain ingredients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E, which help to nourish and protect the nail. When used regularly, these ingredients can help improve your nails’ overall strength and health.” While nails generally become weaker over time, with regular use, nail strengtheners can help to rebuild and revitalize your natural nails.

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There are dozens of nail strengtheners on the market today, many of which use similar ingredients to achieve the best results for your nails. Deciding which brand works best depends on various factors, including application type, frequency of use and price point. To help you, we’ve followed expert advice to round up some highly rated picks that our editors and nail enthusiasts love.

This nail serum is designed to rebuild the damaged keratin bonds in your nails, which results in stronger and smoother nails, according to the brand. It uses maleic acid to penetrate the surface of the nails to help strengthen them from within, making them more resistant to breakage and giving them less ridges and better color. The serum is also formulated without formaldehyde or parabens.

Keratin is one of the essential proteins required for nail growth, which is why it’s a common ingredient in nail strengtheners and frequently recommended by our experts. This Nail-Aid treatment, a favorite of NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson and associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris, facilitates nail growth in just a few days, especially when used regularly.

Rita Remark, Essie’s global lead educator and nail artist, warns customers to steer clear of nail strengtheners that include formaldehyde. This nail strengthener from modelones is free from not only formaldehyde but other potentially toxic and weakening ingredients (including fragrances and phthalates) as well. Instead, the product relies on expert-recommended ingredients, including keratin and jojoba oil.

Please note: Any Essie product recommendations were made independently of Remark.

Customers love this hand and nail lotion for its dual purpose — not only does it help to moisturize skin with Vaseline Jelly and contains mineral oil and keratin, two ingredients Green recommends in any nail strengthener. Several reviewers also cite a noticeable improvement in nail strength in a couple of weeks.

NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown loves acrylic tips, but when she’s ready to give her nails a rest, this Sally Hansen nail strengthener is her favorite product. “I like this one because it doubles as a clear polish, so my nails are naked but not that naked, and still getting the nourishment they need from the protein and silk formula,” she says. “Whenever I’m wearing this, my nails feel harder and break way less.”

Morris was initially introduced to this nail-strengthening cream by her roommate, who’s sworn by it for years. It has vitamins A, C, E and D, beeswax and jojoba oil to condition and nourish nails while moisturizing the skin around them, according to the brand. Morris says the formula isn’t drying, and that there’s no strong chemical smell — instead, it has a lovely coconut scent.

This nail and cuticle oil is formulated to hydrate and soothe damaged cuticles, and helps nails to feel harder and stronger in as little as two weeks, according to the brand. Vitamin E, which Green notes is critical for healthier nails, is a primary ingredient, alongside jojoba oil, which helps lock in moisture over time.

This well-known brand is a customer favorite. It can be used as either a standalone treatment or as a base coat underneath your manicure. Ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium help build stronger nails over time, while the variety of color options lets you maintain a stylish manicure as your nails heal.

This nail cream works best when applied a couple of times daily, says the brand. Its main ingredient, lanolin, has been found to reduce the amount of water lost through the skin by up to 30%, which in turn helps to prevent nail cracking and cuticle peeling. The conditioner is formulated to work for all levels of nail damage, and visibly improves nails in two to three weeks, according to the brand.

Vitamin E enhances this vegan and cruelty-free formula, which is made without harmful chemicals like acetone and formaldehyde. According to the brand, it can also be used underneath polish, but it may affect how long your manicure lasts.

You can use this Duri product as both a base coat and a top coat to help keep in moisture and provide a healthy dose of collagen and fatty acids—two expert-recommended ingredients for stronger, healthier nails. It’s especially great for those recovering from damage caused by acrylics and other nail extensions, according to the brand.

This nail treatment from Orly works over 14 days to promote strong and healthy nail growth, according to the brand. It uses bamboo extract, green tea, hemp seed oil and Vitamin C to help stop your nails from peeling, splitting and breaking, and is especially great for nails that’ve been damaged by acrylic or gel nails, according to the brand. It also has a 4.2 star average rating from 85 reviews at Ulta.

When it comes to finding the right nail strengthener for you, experts say that there are a few ingredients to look for and avoid while shopping. “When looking for a nail strengthener, you should look for key ingredients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E,” says Dr. Jaafar.

In addition to looking for certain nourishing ingredients, she recommends steering clear of nail polishes and other nail-strengthening products that contain harsh chemicals, which can damage nails.

• Calcium: Brittle bones and nails are often linked to calcium deficiencies, especially since calcium is a key mineral for stronger nails. Insufficient calcium intake could result in nails that break or chip more easily or become thinner over time.
• Magnesium: Given that magnesium is necessary for protein synthesis in your body (which nails need to grow), it isn’t surprising that this mineral is important for healthy nails. Folks with vertical ridges in their nails may even have a magnesium deficiency.
• Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps keep your nails hydrated and promotes nail growth, says Dr. Jaafar. In particular, vitamin A promotes the synthesis of keratin, which is what our nails are made of.
• Vitamin C: Collagen production in the body depends upon vitamin C intake, and the collagen protein helps build fingernails (hair and teeth). Insufficient vitamin C intake could result in more brittle nails or slower-growing nails.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E is crucial for keeping your nails hydrated and protecting your cuticles. Our experts note that using vitamin E oil — especially around your nail bed and cuticle — can help to undo the damage done by polish use.

• Formaldehyde: Jaafar and the FDA warn that excessive use of products containing formaldehyde can make nails more brittle and likely to peel. Moreover, some folks have sensitivities to this compound, which could result in allergic reactions.
• Toluene: While toluene can help to keep your nail polish smooth upon application, the chemical has been linked to nervous system damage; so much so that the EU has restricted toluene inclusion in a range of beauty products, including nail polish.
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): While DBP can make nail polish more durable, some studies have linked the compound to endocrine issues, making it difficult for the body to produce hormones. As with toluene, the EU has banned DBP use in nail polish and other beauty products.

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Randa Jaafar, MD, is an anesthesiologist, interventional pain specialist, and the founder of FILD Studio, which focuses on precision wrinkle prevention.
• Thea Green MBE is the founder of Nails. INC. Since founding Nails. INC. in 1999, her brand portfolio has expanded to include INC.redible Cosmetics, My Mood, and Holler & Glow.

• Rita Remark is an editorial manicurist and educator in New York, and the lead nail artist for Essie. Her creations can be found on runways and fashion magazines, including Alexander Wang and Vogue Korea.

Lulu Chang is a freelancer based in Washington, DC and New York City. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness and more. For this piece, they interviewed nail experts on everything you need to know about nail strengtheners, including how to find the best one for you.

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