8 Straightforward Ways to Banish Dry, Fix

1. 8 Straightforward Ways to Banish Dry, Fix Brittle Nails for Good Conditioner isn’t just for your hair—a little extra TLC will take your nails a long way. Having healthy, strong nails is powerful, no matter what the nail colors you wear, whether you love nude nail colors or go polish-free. Healthy nails (and even the results of good nail cuticle care) are one of those less-visible morale boosters, like wearing a fancy pair of underwear just because or splurging on amazing socks to wear under your boots. Whether your nail care is a form of self-care, an indulgence, or just regular maintenance, keeping your nails in tip-top shape is a valuable investment. And here’s the good news: Healthy nails need an investment of time, not money. The best route to stronger, longer nails is mostly through simple lifestyle habits, not pricy nail tools. But getting healthy nails also means kicking some bad habits, such as using your nails as a built-in pocket knife. Follow these steps, and you’ll have stronger, longer nails before you know it.

2. 1. Moisturize your nails • Moisturizing is a well-known mystery to healthy skin, but it’s often overlooked in nail care. While dry, brittle nails can be the result of many aspects, they’re ultimately a cry for moisture, so consider good moisture the foundation of your nail care routine. When applying hand lotion, give your nails a little extra concentration. There are plenty of moisturizing nail products on the market, but using moisturizer is only half the battle—there’s more to strong nails than a fancy cream or serum.

3. 2. Leave your cuticles alone • It’s common practice to cut, push back, or try to get rid of cuticles altogether, but cuticles are not the adversary. The cuticle is “the nail’s natural protective seal,” according to certified dermatologists and nail experts. Messing with your cuticles can do far more harm than good—even if a nail technician is the one doing the handiwork. A compromised cuticle can leave the nails helpless and at risk of infection. • Cosmetic dermatologists agree that poorly kept cuticles can have a domino effect. When your cuticles get dry or injured it can damage the nail bed and affect the way your nails are growing out. They suggest moisturizing the cuticles with cream or cuticle oil to help protect and strengthen your nails.

4. 3. Avoid contact with water • Don’t stop washing your hands or shower with gloves on but do pay attention to ways you can reduce the time your nails spend in contact with water because excessive water contact can weaken nail structure. (Wet hair is especially vulnerable, and the same caution-when-wet approach you take to handling wet locks can apply to nail care, too.) For example, consider wearing gloves while doing the dishes or other wet work. • Do you know how soft and bendy nails get after a long bath? Consider this: The nail is like a sponge. It is 1,000 times more absorptive of water than the skin, for example, and so water can easily diffuse into the nail. Extreme water exposure can put considerable strain on delicate nail cells (called onycholysis), which can lead to brittleness, peeling, and breakage. • This is also why absorbing nails before a manicure is a bad practice. Not only does this make your nails more vulnerable to infection, but it also doesn’t allow nail polish to adhere as well or last as long.

5. 5. Treat your nails like you treat your hair • It’s the new golden rule. Hair and nails are both comprised of keratin proteins, so it makes sense that many of the same rules for treatment apply. Both hair and nails can become dry and damaged from over-processing. Frequent polish removal, gels, and acrylics do to nails what dyes, chemicals, and warmness application do to hair. Just as hydration can help repair hair issues such as frizz and split ends, it can help improve dry and brittle nails. There’s no nail care equivalent to second-day hair, but operating as though there are hard and fast rules for how to wash, care for, and use your nails can help keep them in the same good shape as your hair. • It bears repeating: Hydration is the foundation. For healthy, growing nails, you should condition your cuticles the same way you would your hair.