10 Best Treatments for Damaged Nails UK 2024 | Sally Hansen, OPI and More

DIOR nail care has been universally popular since it was introduced in 1963, with this deeply nourishing cream being a particular favourite. It fortifies nails with visible results in just one month, and thanks to the natural apricot oil, it hydrates and moisturises deep into the nail bed to leave your nails supple and more flexible. 

By nail treatment standards, this really does work very quickly and effectively. It also has a gorgeously rich texture and a wonderful smell making it a treat rather than a chore to apply. While it is a little pricier than some, the pot lasts a long time and you really won't do better for damaged nails. A clear winner for our number 1 place! 

CND's oil treatment is another award winner and a favourite among nail professionals and clients. Rich in oils and proteins like jojoba oil and sweet almond oil, it absorbs deep into the nail to prevent damage and build stronger and healthier nails from within.

As a bonus, it also helps your nails hold polish better and improves nail hydration and flexibility. This is a fantastic nail treatment oil that has visible results after only a few uses. It also smells amazing and sinks in quickly.

Thanks to its added calcium and proteins, OPI’s award-winning Nail Envy hardener helps to build strong healthy nails that are harder and stronger than ever before. Also available in coloured formulas, this treatment can be used as a stand-alone product or as a base coat for your manicure to help it last longer. 

With added calcium and wheat protein, this is a very popular product that soon puts an end to peeling and breaking nails. Having the treatment available in different shades is also a great bonus!

Essie’s apricot oil treatment absorbs quickly to instantly condition and protect your nails from dryness and breakage. The formula contains 97% natural ingredients, including apricot kernel oil for nourishing moisture, so you can be sure you’re using the best for your nail’s overall health and strength.

After some use, this makes a marked difference to the surface of your nails, leaving them much smoother and making manicures last much longer. It feels very luxurious too, and with its fruity scent, it could fast become your next must-have nail product! 

Another offering from well-known nail care brand Sally Hansen, this oil absorbs quickly to offer instant hydration and improves the health of the nail bed and the cuticle. The vitamin E essential oil complex in the formula helps to prevent nail problems before they surface and reduces breakage by keeping the nails supple and resilient. 

This is a fantastic treatment to go for if your hands are regularly in water as it hydrates and repairs very effectively. We did find that the brush is quite long and bendy with a tendency to overload with product, so you may want to apply with care to avoid drips and spills. 

This classic extra-strength nail hardening treatment by Sally Hansen has always been a firm favourite to build weak nails. The formula contains nylon for durability and nourishing Omega-3-rich linseed oil. It workes hard to reduce peeling and splitting and also diminishes the look of ridges associated with dry nails.

This varnish can have a tendency to peel easily especially after showering or washing up, so you may find you need to regularly reapply it which may become annoying. This aside, it does noticeably strengthen your nails and is great used as a base coat. 

The nail treatment cream by ONYX professional is really rich and thick and is formulated to restore weak, thin or fragile nails. Regular use will allow your nails to grow stronger and longer than ever before, and it can even be used over polish to moisturise the cuticles and the nail bed.

As the cream is very thick and nourishing, it can take a while to absorb and some previous users felt that it was a bit too greasy. It really does do its job of rebuilding brittle nails, though, and the almond and coconut scent is lovely. Perhaps one to apply before bed! 

This oil treatment from Nails.INC provides top-level nail nutrition with its blend of vitamins and oils which absorb quickly and easily to restore and rebuild. Sweet almond and argan oil encourage the growth of strong nails that are healthy and full of moisture, plus they give it a lovely scent. 

While this oil is very effective and makes a difference to dry nails, it is on the more expensive end of the scale when compared with similar products that perform just as well. However, it does last a long time, so it may be worth the upfront investment. 

Nails.INC have created this base coat to intensely repair and protect dry and damaged nails in as little as 30 minutes – perfect for those whose nails suffer after gel manicures. It contains keratin-rich spinach and seaweed extract to help strengthen, hydrate, and regenerate brittle nails.

While this says that it can improve your nails in as little as 30 minutes, in reality, this takes quite a bit of time and dedication on your part to see results. On the plus side, it's easy to apply and it works well either as a base coat or used on its own. 

Nu Nale has been specially designed for working hands and will nourish and moisturise the nail bed to promote healthy growth. It contains glycerine to improve strength as well as guarding against the drying effects of detergents, which are notorious for stripping your nails of their natural oils.

Unfortunately, the thinner, watery texture of this product isn’t as rich and creamy as the name alludes to and the smell can be unpleasant to some. These points aside, this cream is great for nails that are prone to splitting and flaking and is a fantastic repair cream to use after removing a gel manicure.