How To Bring Your Nails Back From The Brink

Always Use A Cuticle Oil

“People tend to neglect their nails at home and often don’t keep up with proper aftercare following a manicure. I recommend using cuticle oil and hand cream at least three times a day and you’ll quickly see results. Weleda Skin Food’s super rich formula keeps skin looking and feeling hydrated. Also, manage your nail length – very long nails aren’t compatible with a busy lifestyle and will be prone to breakage.” – nail artist, Julia Diogo

Use Shea Butter

“If you’re on a budget and don’t want to invest in numerous treatments, look for what you might have at home. Pure shea butter is incredibly moisturising and can be mixed with other essential oils to provide some much-needed nourishment. Almond and jojoba oils are also a great remedy for scraggy nails and withered skin. Get creative, mix things together, and keep the habit up every single day – your hands and nails will come out stronger for it.” – manicurist & nail expert, Loui-Marie Ebanks

Try The Tea Bag Hack

“To repair a broken nail at home and maintain as much length as possible, use the tea bag trick. Cut a section of a tea bag then place it on the break and bond the mesh with nail glue. To reduce bumps, lightly buff it and go over with nail polish.” – nail artist, -Faye Louise Dennis

Keep Your Nails Nourished

“Cuticle oil and vitamin E are a great combo. You could also try biotin supplements. BioSculpture makes a nail polish called Ethos Seaweed Calcium Base, which is perfect for dry and brittle nails. The magnesium and zinc from the seaweed extract will strengthen the keratin structures of hard and dry nails to increase flexibility. It also contains silica and mica, which are natural inorganic fillers to create a smooth surface if you struggle with ridges.” – Faye

Rethink The Brands You’re Using

“As long as you use good quality brands, gels shouldn’t harm your nails. Also, remember to keep your nails hydrated with oils and creams to keep them healthy underneath. If you do have to cut nails short after a breakage, stimulate the growth with a product like the CND RescueRXX treatment. It contains keratin protein to strengthen and rebuild the nail, and well as keep them hydrated, too.” – Julia

Switch Things Up Seasonally

“We adapt our facial skincare depending on the season, so we should do the same for our hands and nails. I personally exfoliate my hands every other evening, and follow up with a nourishing hand and cuticle treatment before I go to sleep. This allows the products time to work overnight. I then re-apply both a hand cream and cuticle oil about three times throughout the day. Where possible, avoid biting the nails or irritating the skin surrounding it. Additionally, I love the Essie Treat Love & Colour Strengthener in the shade ‘Minimally Modest’.” – manicurist Georgia Rae

Don’t Forget A Base

“If you do your nails at home, always use a base polish. Even better, use base polishes which have added nourishing or strengthening ingredients to maintain the health of the nail bed. I also recommend the OPI Strengthener, which acts as a barrier and fortifies weak nails. For broken gel nails, it’s worth considering a silk repair – a thin piece of silk will go over the breakage, sealing it together, which is especially useful if the break is low on the nail bed. It keeps the nail together until it grows out, and it can be replaced if needed.” – DryBy manicurist, Megan Evans

Maintain A Good Length

“Regularly cutting and filing long nails will help them stay intact – just opt for files which aren’t too gritty or harsh to maintain your desired length without any flakiness or rough edges. I would also recommend a manicure, gel or otherwise, every two or three weeks – if only to remove any lingering polish. Leftover polish can unbalance the nail apex and cause weight on the free edge of your nail, causing breakages.” – Megan

Avoid Acetone

“Many people don’t realise that using it can cause nails to break. It’s extremely drying on the nail plate so where possible, I always recommend using a non-acetone remover. This is much gentler and prevents peeling. Mavala’s Crystal Nail Varnish Remover is great.” – Mavala nail expert, Lynn Mason