Brittle nails and damaged nails, what are the causes?

There are two main general causes of nails becoming brittle. Identifying them is therefore very important to find strong nails.

As for the hair, the nails are subjected to external aggressions, they are also the witnesses of certain internal disorders: deficiencies or diseases. And, like hair again, nails are dead organic matter, but what builds it and makes it grow is a very living process.

Brittle and damaged nails: the external causes

During a day, at work, at home, the nails are subjected to various attacks which can be more or less important.

On regular contact with water in particular, the keratin that makes up the nails swells, softens and splits. When you add detergents and other household products used without gloves, the risk is that your fingernails will become brittle.

Varnishes with a too aggressive composition or too much manicure – passing the polisher too often – are also the cause of these problems.

Brittle nails: internal causes

Brittle nails, however, very often have an internal origin. And these factors, added to external causes, intensify the process.

The nails, like everything that makes up the characteristics of the body, are subject to genetic factors. Their way of growing, their thickness. It all comes from physiological phenomena that are impossible to control.

Moreover, like hair, the condition of which often reflects the state of health, the nails are the real witnesses of deficiencies or diseases.

However, if you notice a white mark on one of your nails, it is not, contrary to popular legend, a lack of calcium but more surely a small shock.

On the other hand, a lack of proteins and vitamins can weaken the nails which need these nutrients to grow and be strong. An unbalanced diet or a sudden change in diet can cause your nails to become soft and brittle.

Aging is also an important factor: over the years the nails change, stiffen and show parallel vertical lines. The shocks they suffer also find it increasingly difficult to heal spontaneously.

Broken nail, how to fix?

However, breaking a nail can be the result of a shock or a bad movement, which does not necessarily have to do with brittle nails by nature.

But, in either case, it is possible to urgently repair a broken nail. If you don’t mind cutting your nails, you can of course even out on both hands and file, so that the break is only a distant memory.

On the other hand, if you do not want to shorten them, some tips can save you the time of an evening. A piece of handkerchief or paper towel, a file, a hardening varnish and your colored varnish are the only items to have on hand. Cut a piece of handkerchief the same size as the missing nail piece, apply it with the hardener polish. Let dry and apply a second coat of this varnish. After the last drying, lightly file the part of the paper fabric that may protrude. Apply your colored polish to hide the magic trick, and that’s it.

Nail beauty, a new routine to set up

First of all, to have strong nails that do not break, it is necessary to adopt a diet rich in vitamins and proteins. In other words, a balanced diet is the best way to have nails, but also hair, beautiful and healthy.

During your manicures, favor the gentle method. Use the polisher only when your nails really need it, at most once every two weeks.

Regularly moisturize your nails, paying particular attention to the cuticles. For this, use castor oil. Very nourishing, it also has the ability to make nails grow a little faster.

Apply a hardening varnish as a base varnish. Also prefer varnishes whose composition is more natural than basic varnishes and absolutely avoid products that are too aggressive.

False nails can be a solution to cover up damaged and brittle nails. Still, be sure to go to the right salon or the right professional. Because, improperly done, false nails can cause the natural nail to detach or break it. Which would be counterproductive to say the least.