The 14 Best Nail Treatments to Repair Nails That Have Been Through It
Weak, brittle, damaged nails can be the result of a variety of factors: regular use of gels, powders and acrylics; nail-biting; dehydration or nutritional gaps; excessive exposure to nail polish removal. "Harsh chemicals" can also "adversely affect the health and integrity of nails over time," says Jin Soon Choi, editorial manicurist and founder of Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spas in New York City, as well as an eponymous nail polish brand.
The result? Dry, brittle nails that chip and peel uncomfortably. This is when nail experts advise using nail strengtheners: "Nail repair products primarily focus on revitalizing and strengthening nails without the inclusion of color pigments," Choi explains. "They typically incorporate nourishing ingredients like vitamins and strengthening compounds, which are absent in non-treatment nail polish formulations."
For anyone looking to take some rehabilitative measures on nails that need a little TLC, Choi recommends simply incorporating "a base coat repair treatment into your nail-care routine twice a week."
Choi's go-to nail repair treatment is her own brand's HyperRepair formula, which boasts a glossy finish and can be used as a standalone product to strengthen fragile nails. Meanwhile, celebrity nail artist Natalie Minerva recommends OPI's Repair Mode Bond Building Nail Serum as it "actively adds keratin to your nail bed" and is particularly beneficial for those with "naturally thin nails."
For an extra boost to promote nail health, "applying a cuticle oil enriched with beneficial ingredients multiple times a day can provide optimal nourishment and hydration to the nails and surrounding skin," Choi advises.
Ahead, keep scrolling to see (and shop!) the best nail repair treatments that address all your nail-care needs.
Butter London Jelly Preserve Nail Strengthening Treatment, $12, available here
Cnd Nail Strengthener RXx, $21, available here
Deborah Lippman Hard Rock Nail Strengthening Top and Base Coat, $22, available here
Essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener, $11, available here
JinSoon HyperRepair, $22, available here
Londontown Nail Probiotic Instant Boost, $22, available here
Mischo Beauty Hydrating Base Coat, $21, available here
Opi Repair Mode Bond Building Nail Serum, $25, available here
Orly Nail Defense, $13, available here
Pear Nova Enhance Nail Strengthener, $14, available here
People of Color Base Coat, $10, available here
Sally Hansen Repair + Rescue Insta-Smooth Ridge Filler, $14, available here
Seche Condition Keratin Infused Cuticle Oil, $10, available here
Sundays B.03 Nail Strengthening Base Coat, $20, available here
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