Nailing down the problem...

Dear BGND,

I have had it with my nails! They are so brittle and they break every chance they get. They peel, they are weak and it is so annoying to want to go for a manicure but not being able to because of my stumpy and sad nails. Please help! What can I do to make my nails grow, last and be healthy in general?!

Breaking in Boston

Dear Breaking in Boston,

Nails are difficult to be sure. I am not personally blessed with long, lovely nails that grow easily. I have had to force mine into submission and even then they do not always cooperate. But I do have some tried and true tips that I can give you both to get your nails in top shape, but to keep them that way.

1) Keep them covered

I know this idea of constant nail polish seems counter-intuitive but if your nails are in bad shape they are probably dry and dehydrated. And while it is important to give your nails the occasional breather, one of the easiest and best ways to strengthen nails in the short term is to keep them covered. Nail polish traps your nails natural oils and whatever moisture you already have in there, plus as we all know, polish is a hard cover. This will help peeling, breaking and general assaults on your fingernails.

I don't recommend continually covering your nails with dark polish. Try to rotate between soft colors and deep pigment (you don't want to stain or yellow your nails with too much dark polish). But if you are simply looking for something to cover your nails that is low maintenance I recommend good old fashioned Sally Hansen Hard as Nails or Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat (show below).

Available nationwide at drugstores - $2.99

2 - Love your cuticles
This goes hand in hand with the #1 tip on this post. Just like it says above, if your nails are dry they will break. Keeping your cuticles soft and moisturized will also go a long way in keeping your nails healthy and growing. The easiest way to achieve happy cuticles takes only a minute a day. To deal with this at night - rub cuticle cream into your nails before bed and then follow with a hand moisturizer. Or if you prefer to add that minute to your morning routine - rub some cuticle oil into your nail bed right before you get into your shower. I have found that the heat and steam of the shower will allow the oil to soak in as you get into the shower and even the 2 minutes before the oil comes into contact with your shower soaps will allow for some great moisturizing benefits. For your morning cuticle oil I recommend Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil. For your nighttime cuticle fix, I recommend Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (shown below).

Online at burtsbees.com or at drugstores nationwide- $6.00

3) You are what you eat - and that goes for your nails too!
I love junk food. And when I over do it- my nails suffer. However, I always can tell when I have been really good with my eating because my nails look fantastic. If I am eating my fruits and veggies and drinking my water, my nails are healthy, shiny and long. It is an easy fix to your nail issues. Observe how your eating coordinates with your nails and you will see what I am talking about. Good for your body, your health and your nail growth!

So those are my top three major tips but some other good and easy ideas to keep your nails on the path to amazing status are below:

- Keep a nail file in your purse, in your car, easily reachable at home, in your desk at work etc.....That way every time you do have a break or a snag you can file in softly and not pick at it or peel the break away. If you file you are gently solving the issue, if you peel at a snag you will cause more tears and more damage to your nail.

- Treat your nails like they are already fabulous. File them, buff them, protect them everyday. Ask your lunch mate to open your can of soda and don't bite or chew on those nails. The better you treat your nails, the better they will be.

- Every time you wash your hands, follow up with hand cream. Constant washing is one of the easiest ways to damage your nails and strip them of moisture. Same can be said for those hand sanitizers....so if you are washing moisture off- replace it.

Well Breaking in Boston, I wish you luck. Hard, strong nails are difficult to achieve but well worth it and I think the tips on today's post will get your there.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND