Dry, flaky and brittle nails are not only annoying and painful, but the way they look can make you feel self-conscious, too. Certain circumstances can make them this way, but it’s important to try and get them back to their normal healthy selves to avoid any further problems. Finding the best nail treatment for damaged, weak nails is just the way to do this.
Luckily for you, there are plenty of at-home treatments, including strengtheners designed to repair damage caused by acrylics or gels. We’ve checked online retailers like Boots and Amazon to bring you our favourites, so if you need to sort your terrible talons and are asking yourself, "What is the best remedy for my dry nails?", then you’ve come to the right place!
Quick List - Top Treatments for Damaged Nails
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While a treatment to help your damaged nails can seem a bit of an extravagance, they can be key in getting your hands hydrated and healthy again and feeling fantastic. There are a few options that you should consider before making the investment, so here we will take a look at what they are.
Nail treatments come in different formats, and while they vary slightly in how you apply them, they all essentially work in the same way. They all aim to hydrate and nourish the nail with an absorbent formula, which in turn helps it to repair and replenish itself.
Varnishes protect the nail by creating a seal while also adding strength and rigidity to allow it to grow without breaking. They are very good if you are struggling to grow your nails, but as they create a barrier, you will find that any moisturisers you put on top will not soak in – not ideal if you have very dry nails.
Nail oils and creams contain moisturisers and added vitamins that soak into your nail surface to also hydrate and strengthen. You apply them with a brush or your hands and they're easily absorbed, but they are more of a long term treatment so you need to remember to keep using them in order to see the biggest benefit.
While most people will be looking for a nail-repairing product in hopes of the same outcome – healthier, stronger nails – these treatments do contain different ingredients with different benefits. These ingredients fall under two main categories, so let's take a look at what they are to help you decide which will work best.
Vitamins A, B, and E also help to strengthen your nails and boost hydration. Vitamin C helps promote the production of collagen, which is one of the main building blocks of healthy nails, as well as giving them shape and integrity.
Any of these ingredients are sure to make your nails stronger from bed to tip, which will mean longer, healthier and less brittle nails.
Like your skin and hair, your nails need to maintain a healthy moisture balance in order to grow and remain healthy.
Ingredients such as glycerine, linseed oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil and argan oil are fantastic moisturisers that will penetrate into your nail and cuticle, making your nails hydrated and strong from within.
Repairing and regrowing nails is a slow business, and on average your nails will take 6 months to completely regrow from the root. Nail treatments, therefore, are not quick fixes and for them to have the most benefit you need to be fairly strict in applying them on a regular basis as the instructions advise.
Paying attention to the directions with a particular nail treatment can have a major influence on your buying decision, as you want to make sure that you are able to commit to how often you will need to apply it.
In these modern times, we are much more conscious of our footprint on the planet, whether that's reducing the plastics and chemicals we use or being more ethical in how our products and food are sourced.
If you are being more mindful of your overall impact on the environment, then you may prefer a nail product that is vegan or cruelty-free. There are certified standards that companies have to maintain, so these are a good indicator of what you’re buying is not as bad for the planet as its alternatives.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DIOR Abricot Nail Creme | ![]() | A Deeply Nourishing and Fortifying Nail Treatment | |
2 | CND SolarOil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner | ![]() | Absorbs Deep Into the Nail for Longer Lasting Manicures | |
3 | OPI Nail Envy Strengthening Treatment | ![]() | Award Winning Hardener to Build Strong and Healthy Nails | |
4 | Essie Nail Care Cuticle Apricot Oil Treatment | ![]() | 97% Natural Ingredients to Smooth and Reduce Breaks | |
5 | Sally Hansen Moisturising Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil | ![]() | Designed to Prevent Nail Problems Before They Surface | |
6 | Sally Hansen Hard as Nails | ![]() | Adds Strength and Diminishes the Look of Ridges | |
7 | ONYX professional Hard as Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream | ![]() | Grow Your Nails Longer and Stronger Than Ever Before | |
8 | Nails.INC Superfood Repair Oil | ![]() | Packed With Vitamins and Oils to Promote Healthy Nail Growth | |
9 | Nails.INC Gel Rehab Nail Treatment | ![]() | Protein-Rich to Regenerate and Hydrate After Gel Damage | |
10 | Nu Nale Cream Nail Strengthener | ![]() | Nourishes and Moisturises Working Hands and Nails |
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.
Strong and healthy nails not only look good but they make you feel more confident and "put together". Keeping them beautifully healthy can take a bit of upkeep on your part, but we have just the recommendations to help you quickly and easily keep on top of your nail care routine.
That concludes our listing of the best treatments for damaged nails. We hope that you found the information you need to be able to choose your nail care product with confidence. Wave goodbye to dry damaged nails and say hello to beautiful, healthy, and strong talons with your new treatment!
Author: Catherine Torrance
No. 1: DIOR|Abricot Nail Creme
No. 2: CND|SolarOil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner
No. 3: OPI|Nail Envy Strengthening Treatment
No. 4: Essie|Nail Care Cuticle Apricot Oil Treatment
No. 5: Sally Hansen|Moisturising Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil
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