Soft fingernails- does anything REALLY work??

I have very soft fingernails, too. I paint them and polish them...and do all sort of things, and even though part of the nail does get hard, the area near the nail bed is still soft and it breaks off.

I have recently experienced this same problem.....after years of abusing my nail beds with artificial nails.....I found a product at Walmart that is working amazingly well....in 2 weeks I can tell a difference....it says on the bottle "for slow growing, damaged nails"...it is a blue-green liquid....the first time you apply 2 thin coats onto clean nails....then apply another coat every other day....I took it off with nail polish remover at the end of the first week and started over...I do not remember how much I paid for it but it was less than $8....I am having good response from it...maybe it will work for you too... Good luck!

I have had the same problem for a really long time. I realise you stated you dot want to go to fake nails but for me it has helped a whole lot. My husband even noticed the difrence when I scratch his back my nails dont feel sharp as they did before the acrylics. Plus for me going to a salon to get my nails done is the only thing I really do for myself.

Since I started taking "Centrum One-A-Day" vitamins my nails are like steel. I have had soft or brittle nails all my life. Now I have to keep cutting them every 2 or 3 weeks are they get so long. My hair is also thicker. I also drink "Ensure" supplement quite often.

Have you tried to use the nail hardener and polish at the same time- My friend has soft fingernails- and she keeps polish on them at all times- She said it strengthens them. Hers look great. She can’t grow them out very long but because they are polished and filed nicely they look very feminine. I’d try the nail harden, and then polish, then the overcoat- should toughen them up a bit I would think.

Have you tried taking calcium supplements? I have the same problem, and my nails end up breaking very easily. I have been taking calcium, and it really seems to be helping. Along with that, I have been using Nutra Nail Fortifying Nail Creme With Fluoride. It actually works pretty well. It also helps to soften the cuticles at the same time.

What I suggest for you REALLY worked for me as being a nail biter "yuk!" for many years I started using Dr. Le Winns nail treatment which had 3 bottles in it and you have to follow the programme, out of all the products I have bought over the years this is the one! If you follow it you will soon have nice strong nails, give it a try!

I am using Sally Hansen No more Breaks which I got of Ebay but you can buy it in the Shops to Now this has really strengthened my Nails but there is also OPI Strengthener but that one is very expensive but I think it is the best one so far

Soft, peeling nails can be a sign of a zinc deficiency. I usually take 50 mg of zinc a day. I take the sundown brand because it doesn't upset my stomach like the zinc brand at walmart does. I've read many people are deficient in zinc and it helps boost the immune system. When I feel the start of a cold coming on, I bump it to 100 mg/day. Doesn't always stop the cold, but does seem to lessen the severity and duration. Anyway - since I've been taking 50 mg/day of zinc I've noticed my nails are healthier looking and stronger. I don't have near the problems of them breaking and/or peeling.

I used to bite my nails while growing up. I'm not sure what made me stop. Then, when my nails grew, I could bend them very easily. Somewhere along the line, I started polishing them. Sally Hanson brand is my favorite. I had polished nails for years. Take it off, and put it right back on. Now my nails grow so fast, and I have to clip them about every month because they get too long. They are very thick and strong, now. If I don't have time to redo my nails, I just add another coat of polish for a quick fix! I'm (and now you all) the only one that knows; you can only tell if you inspect them! I also use the clear coat quick dry stuff by sally hanson, and about every other day add another coat.

Hi applsofgld, maybe what you need is a good supplement for your soft nails condition. There are a lot of good vitamins for nails. Its normally available as supplement for hair, nail and skin. If you are regularly doing household stuff like washing dishes, its best to war gloves for protection.

you could try biotin suppliment-they sell it in the vitamin section at walmart.i started taking it over a year ago,and my nails are much stronger,and don't peel like they used to anymore.

Water is the enemy of nails and will only assist in softening them even more so the first thing you have to do is get yourself a pair of gloves for housework at the dollar store. Use them when you do dishes or anything that requires you to put your hands in water. The second thing you need to do is use a little oil on your nails. Believe it or not, any oil will do, including olive oil or any oil you have in the house. Rubbing a little oil into your soft nails will protect them from moisture. The last thing you can think about doing is adding more magnesium to your diet. Magnesium deficiency can sometimes weaken nails so taking a magnesium supplement will help strenghten soft nails.

My fingernails are very hard and grow very fast. Try eating lots of jello. There is something in it that makes your nails grow fast. When your fingernails are long enough, put nail polish underneath the tip of each nail. It just takes a little bit as you don't want it on the skin. You can use clear polish for this, but I usualy just put the same color that I'm wearing. Put at least 3 coats of polish an your fingernails, and as soon as you see the polish starting to wear off add another coat. Keep lots of nail polish on them and don't use remover until they really need a whole new coat. I use darker colors because you can add more and it covers up any places where it has chipped easier.

Try more calcium in your diet. There is something you can take for harder and stronger nails look in your pharmacy. Also vitamins are good too.

My mom used garlic clove in making her fingernails hard. She just scrubbed the crushed garlic to her fingernails. I hope that one helps...

I have the same problem and I'm sure going to watch this post closely to see if I can learn anything too. I was told to wear hard as nails finger nail polish every day. I started out OK but then I got busy and I wouldn't take good enough care. I do know of one person who did this and it really did work. I'm pretty sure there's no quick fix, except of course a manicure/gel nails. I had gel nails done a couple times but it is expensive but they are lovely.

I don't know what will help, as I've tried everything too. Right now I'm having trouble with my nails splitting, chipping, and breaking. They used to grow pretty long and I would have to cut them every couple of days, now, they split and stay short and seem very brittle. I haven't changed my diet, or any habits that I can think of. The only thing that I can do now to keep my nails from breaking is to wear rubber gloves whenever I'm cleaning or washing dishes. I've been wearing gardening gloves whenever I work outside. It helps a little, but my nails aren't what they used to be.