A broken nail now and then is not the end of the world. However, when the breakage persists for weeks, even months, it can get quite annoying. That’s precisely what happened to me this fall, and then carried over to winter months. My nails were in pretty bad shape, to be honest with you. They were splitting, breaking, bending, and peeling, and I felt like nothing seems to work to improve their condition.
One day I got lucky and discovered a way to prevent them from breaking for one whole week. Then I started adding on products that seemed to work, and eventually managed to grow out my nails to their former glory. They’re still pretty thin, but at least they no longer peel and split.
That first product was Londontown Kur Nail Hardener & Base Coat. Often nail hardeners, like OPI Nail Envy, make my nails strong, but incredibly dry. This one allowed for some flexibility, while keeping the thickness at a level where they don’t break off easily. The company recently sent me another bottle, along with a selection of their Lakur nail polishes, as well as the best-selling Gel Genius top coat. This formula works wonders for my nails! The colors are rich and glossy, and they thicken my bendy nails, so now they are so much harder to break.
Right now my favorite nail polish color is Lakur Chelsea Porcelain. I’ve been on a hunt for that perfect off-white that doesn’t look like I painted my nails in white out [I may or may not have done that in middle school], and this just might be it. A soft, warm’ish ivory looks great against my fair skin. This is more of a summer color for me, to be honest, but I am just so thrilled to have found it, that I keep wearing it for weeks.
And yes, that’s the one you saw me rave about on Snapchat, along with some SpaRitual goodies.
Speaking of SpaRitual, I’ve been taking about the brand on this blog pretty much since I started it. Airhead, Hijinks, and Home Body are among my all-time favorite nail polishes in existence, but I discovered their hand and body treatments only recently. A few weeks back I received a box of goodies to try, and found some new favorites.
First of all, I got to try Soak Tonic, Sugar Scrub, and Body Lotion from Infinitely Loving Collection. This collection is scented with Chinese Jasmine, and it’s the most heavenly fragrance! There are tons of companies who make skincare with jasmine, but a lot of them fail to showcase this amazing note. I feel like Infinitely Loving totally nailed it. I first used the Sugar Scrub on dry skin to improve the circulation, then soaked the hands in warm water with Soak Tonic to soften the nails and cuticles. Finally, I massaged Body Lotion into my hands, which is rich and balmy, so it works wonders as a hand cream.
As lovely as the scrub and lotion are, its the Soak Tonic that I am utterly obsessed with. I softened my cuticles in gentle liquid soap before and I thought that did the trick, but this is next level of awesome. My cuticles are so easy to push down after a quick 10 minute soak, and the nails feel like they are thoroughly moisturized.
Recently SpaRitual released Limited Edition Passionfruit Agave Collection, and I got to try out the Body Souffle. Loved the whipped texture, and the extra nourishing formula. I bet it would work wonders for someone with dry skin, but it was a touch too heavy for me. Now I repurposed it as a hand cream, and it’s resting in my bathroom to be used after every hand wash. Like the rest of SpaRitual collections, the fragrance is lovely, and smells like some type of exotic fruity feast.
I must also mention that I had to keep my nails rounded or oval the entire time they were growing out. As much as I love the look of square-shaped digits, the edges kept snagging on everything, from clothes, to hair, to fabrics, which increased the likelihood of breakage. In retrospect, I should have thought of that sooner.
Lastly, I started taking Biotin 5,000 again daily. I stopped for a while, because I thought it was making me regrow hair in places that I treated with at-home laser treatments. Eventually I decided that my nails really need all the help they can get right now, so after about 2 months of daily use, there are finally some visible results to speak of. This goes without saying, but for the sake of disclosure I need to state that Biotin is not for everyone, and you must consult with your physician before taking any new supplements. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think generic drugstore tablets work just as well as the fancy brand name ones I got at a health store, so no need to spend big bucks on that one.
In short, here’s what helped:
- Keeping the nails polished at all times, or at least have 2 coats of Londontown Kur Nail Hardener & Base Coat on.
- The nail shape is important. Keeping them rounded or oval helped prevent snags and eliminated one reason for breakage.
- Soak the hands regularly, and push back the cuticle to speed up the nail growth.
- Moisturize the hands and nails every time you remember: in the morning, after the shower, after washing them, and before going to bed.
- Take Biotin. I took 5,000 mcg, but it’s also available in 10,000 mcg dosage. Consult your physician to find out which one is best for you.
How do you take care of your hands and nails in the winter? What are some of your favorite nail treatments for breakage? Let me know in the comments below!
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My nails are terrible. I was thinking of trying biotin. Interesting with the hair growth though. I too have done laser removal and don’t want it to grow back!
Yeah, maybe it was all just in my head, so I need to read more about it, but I felt like it started hair regrowth.
I use a LOT of cuticle creams/oils. And hand creams. SpaRitual is a nice brand that deserves the attention!
I feel like cuticle oils don’t do as much for my nails as hand creams/balms, but maybe I just haven’t found my perfect formula yet. And I totally agree with you about SpaRitual, they need more recognition!
I bit my nails to the quick for most of my life. When I finally decided to grow them I got regular manicures to keep them in shape and stronger. I have a squared off nail with soft edges and that keeps them from breaking. I’m always being asked for recommendations and I’ll remember about Lakur now to tell people about. I take Viviscal for hair and nails which really helps me.
I used to bite my nails until I was 23 or 24, so I know what it’s like to have tiny nail beds.
My nails have always been weak and bendy. I need to try Lakur! I have a few products from SpaRital’s Passionfruit Agave line and they have pretty much cured my dry skin–great stuff!
Aren’t SpaRitual products just amazing? I am seriously so in love with everything, especially the fragrance from Infinitely Loving line!
Biotin is a must for me otherwise my nails split. But I am taken by the Soak Tonic and that pretty pale shell pink polish. I think the Body Souffle would be right for me coz thick is good for my extra dry skin.
I’m afraid I will have to stay on Biotin too if I want any kind of chance at having good nails. I just don’t want any hair regrowth in laser-treated areas.
Totally agree about keeping them polished to help them grow out! Even if the nail polish peeled, it was at least another layer of protection for my nails.
Yes, exactly! It makes the nails thicker, so they are less likely to bend, snag, or break.
Keeping my nails polished definitely protects them. I use a peel off base coat, rather than remover or acetone, take good care of my cuticles and use lots of oil and lotion. They all help my nails to look better and be a bit stronger.
Your nails always look fantastic, Erika!
I need that Londontown. My nails are rebelling against this weather =(
If you saw my nails a month ago, you’d want to send them some humanitarian aid. They were in bad shape 🙁
Mine grow to a certain length which I like, and then break off at once. The cycle repeats itself. My peeling my own nails when stressed does not help. I’m actually surprised K-beauty hasn’t come up with a decent nail growth solution.
I hear you! I used to be a nail biter for most of my life. I no longer do it daily, but every time I’m under serious stress, I go back to biting 🙁 Bitter nail polish designed specially for biters is what helped me stop back in the day. And I know, right? Korea is ahead of the world in cosmetic development, they should have definitely had something for this by now!
You nails look good short, tho, so at least you can pull that off. I know how frustrated you must have been in the fall, tho. Yes, I need some Londontown and I just die over the beauty of the Sparitual Soak Tonic Bottle. I’ve been taking Biotin every day for about 15+ years and it makes all the difference to my nails. Hair, too.
Thanks girl! I am happy to hear that I can pull off short length, but long is just my personal preference, and it’s so frustrating when my nails keep breaking week after week with no improvement in sight 🙁 Biotin totally helps, but it takes months to really show any kind of effect, and I am super impatient 🙂
What nail polish are you wearing on the 1st photo? Is it the same beige from Londontown? What is is called? I’ve been on the hunt for a nice nude colour and I think that’s it! 🙂