Fragile fingernails? That really helps

Fragile, splintering fingernails probably know most women. They are ugly and annoying. Especially if you get stuck with your clothes or if you want the nail polish color to last longer than a few hours after a manicure. But fragile fingernails are no reason to despair. We give you some tips and tricks to fix them again. Also: care tips for brittle fingernails.

Causes of brittle fingernails

If the nails are so fragile that they not only tear down in a certain length, but splinter in their deep structure, doctors speak ofonychorrhexis (from Greek? onycho? =? nail? and? rhexis? = break, tear) or onychoschizia (from Greek? schisis? = split). When fingernails or toenails splinter longitudinally (vertically), this is called "onychorrhexis". If they split horizontally and layer by layer from the edge, Onychoschisis.

Causes of brittle nails can be:

No gloves at housework: rinse, detergent or soap, solvent-based nail polish remover, but also too much water moisture and dry out skin and nails.
Artificial fingernails and shellac damage the horny layer of the fingernails and make them soft and brittle.
Injuries of the nail plate due to wrong manicure and pedicure.
Nutrient deficiency: If certain minerals, vitamins, trace elements and essential fatty acids, zinc or calcium are missing, the nails also suffer. Iron deficiency promotes brittle fingernails. But also a lack of vitamin A, B and vitamin C as well as biotin and folic acid can cause brittle nails.
Diseases: Other causes of brittle nails include skin diseases such as nail fungus, eczema and psoriasis and nodular lichen. But even thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism can lead to brittle nails.

Fragile fingernails: The right care

The best way to prevent brittle nails from forming is still the right care. First, you should pay attention to the nail length: wear splintering nails as short as possible. To prevent split ends, when cutting, hold the file straight ahead, file to the sides at a right angle. Do not go too deep under the nail. Also important: provide the nails regularly with nutrients. In order to keep it supple, massage it all over in the morning and evening with moisturizing nail oil. Ideal for: pure apricot oil. Here are more tips for beautiful fingernails.

Tips against brittle nails by nail artist Anke Spreeberg

O L-ORGY?: "For brittle hands, an oil pack helps me to treat the skin with a sugar-oil scrub, then embalm apricot kernel oil, wrap a guest towel - and bring some time - only after about an hour will it be fine Always disinfect your hands, especially hand disinfectant contains dehydrating alcohols. "
MASSAGE TIME: "Basically massage the cuticle and bed with oil three times a day, again using pure apricot kernel oil because it contains the most unsaturated fatty acids Important: Apply oil with a Q tip to the underside of the nail, even with painted nails the nail plate remains supple. "
UNDERGROUND WORK: "When cleaning the underside of the nail, use only a soft toothbrush, and anyone who approaches with a metal file or nail scissors risks the finest hairline cracks in the nail bed, which can cause the nail to break more easily."
SHINE: "Polishing buffers smooth grooves or splinter nails, but they crack the surface Nail powder usually contains beeswax and kaolin, sprinkle it on a polishing pad and rub it over the nails, the wax will polish itself into the nail and smooth gently."

Nail torn? This is how the SOS help succeeds

With instant adhesive:

Once a nail is torn, can he be repaired with different methods again? For home use, for example, special instant glue. When applying, however, you should be very careful: just like superglue, they contain the adhesive cyanoacrylate, which should not touch the skin in any case.

The stencil technique

Even the professional can repair a brittle nail. In the nail salon, the torn nail is painted with a special gel, which is then cured under UV light and then filed into shape. The artificial modeling can only do the professional? It is also great for short nails, where the crack reaches far into the nail bed.

The tea bag trick

Rescue a torn fingernail with a teabag? What sounds weird at first, actually works. Of these, many millions of users have been convinced on the net. How to fix a fingernail with a tea bag, you read here.

Useful in the manicure: nail polish with care

Even with brittle fingernails you do not always want to do without colorful nail polish. So that this does not harm the nail in addition, but in the best case also maintains, one should pay attention to the ingredients directly when buying the paint. For example, varnish with diamond dust should harden the nail plate by forming a protective layer.

In addition, there are on the market now a lot of color varnish with calcium, which have been specially developed for brittle nails. Who wants to paint then still colored, here cool nail polish trends and pretty mini-ideas for the nails. Too often, however, fingernails should not be painted off, as nail polish removers can put a lot of strain on them. We have all the tips for painting nails for you.

Nails with grooves? So they are nice and smooth

For rough nails to shine, apply a groove filler regularly. Inside are microspheres that level out bumps. These can be bought in drugstores or beauty online shops. For smoothing also a polishing file or a polishing pad, which make the fingernails shine properly. However, one should not apply the polishers too often as they naturally change the structure of the nails? if minimal? attack. Nail professionals recommend that nails be polished no more than every 4-6 weeks.

Strengthen nails from the inside - this is how it works:

Take 2.5 milligrams of biotin daily. A study has shown that the nails become more stable after three months. Alternative: swallow silicon-containing silica or stir silica gel in yoghurt. First successes are also evident after three months.

Nutrition ? You can eat this to get healthy fingernails

At the top of the menu against brittle nails are tomatoes. They contain biotin, lycopene and vitamin A, which promote nail growth and make fingernails stronger. We have great tomato recipes for you.

Also beneficial for nail growth: sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds, green beans, eggs, bananas, fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids, carrots, milk and broccoli. Also, the consumption of lentils, spinach, soy and meat provides strong fingernails and prevents iron deficiency. We have more beauty food for hair and skin here for you.

Nails splinter or become fat? Attention!

If fingernails or toenails turn darker on the sides, they become brittle and thick and the nail plate becomes unsightly, a nail fungus may be present. What you do best against this fungal disease, we explain in our article on nail fungus.

THIS should be avoided with brittle nails

Do not use a nail clipper. If there is already a crack in the nail, there is a risk that it will break it completely. Do not clean the nails from the underside with a sharp object. This will make the nail brittle and allow fungi to nest. Better: clean the underside of the nail with a soft brush. Is Shellac an alternative to traditional nail polish? With brittle nails rather not? we explain in our article why you should be careful with Shellac.