How Vital Proteins Can Help Protect Your Nail Health

You probably have your skincare and haircare regime mastered, but what about your nails? Aside from a quick coat of nail polish, your nails need the same amount of TLC as your skin – and it goes beyond the classic manicure. From nail nutrition to collagen supplements, we’ve got everything you need to know to master your nail health.

What Causes Brittle Nails?

We’ve all experienced the odd nail snapping, splitting, or breaking at some point, but the first step to protecting your nail health is by understanding the cause of nail decline.

Nails are built from layers of a protein called keratin. Brittle nails are caused when this protein is broken down by external factors, such as:

• Cleaning products
• Weather
• Changes during pregnancy
• Age
• Vitamin deficiency
• Overhydrating your nails
• Dehydration of the nails

How to Keep Nails Healthy

Healthy nails don’t need to start at the salon. In fact, there are many ways to treat brittle nails at home, and it all starts by introducing these six steps.

1. Say Goodbye to Nail Biting

If you have a habit of picking and biting your nails, we know it might be difficult to just stop. However, we recommend you try this simple trick to help stop biting your nails. –  .

Dilute a couple of drops of malt, apple cider, or white vinegar into water. Whichever vinegar you choose, check you don’t have any broken skin and dip your fingers into the vinegar mix, then let them dry naturally. When you next go to pick or bite your nails, you’ll get the unpleasant taste of vinegar in your mouth, triggering your brain to recognise nail biting as a negative experience.

2. Protect Your Cuticles

Nourishing your cuticles with cuticle oil or hand cream can help protect and hydrate the skin around your nails. Nourished cuticles can take your manicure from looking messy to conditioned in a matter of seconds, and will help to alleviate any pain from rough skin and hangnails.

3. Don’t Forget to Clip

Long nails are often what we aspire towards, but keeping your nails nice and trimmed will help strengthen your nail health. Especially if your nails break often, trimming your nails every two weeks will protect your nails from breakage – plus short is the new long.

4. Invest in Some Marigolds

Another way your nails can become brittle is from doing your housework. We’re not saying the way to stronger nails is to ignore household chores, but instead we’d recommend investing in some marigold gloves to protect the moisture in your hands and avoid your nails from drying out.

5. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is key in maintaining optimal health and wellbeing, including your nail health. Remember to ensure you’re treating your body to its recommended 2 litres a day – even when you may not be thirsty – to help support your nail health and overall wellbeing.

6. Prioritise Your Nutrition

Increasing your levels of keratin protein in your diet will help to build and maintain strong nail beds. Sources of food rich in keratin includes eggs, salmon, kale, mango, and sunflower seeds.