What to do about nails?

[pwl0lwp]

My fingernails aren't very strong & tend to break and split unevenly quite a lot. As a result I too often end up biting them to try to stop them getting ragged & catching on clothes, etc.

I do cut/treat them with a basic manicure set, but that's not always available (especially on aeroplanes ! :P). I don't think I do a very good job, though - they never seem to grow back any better than before & end up tearing/snagging again :/

Ideally these nails would always be smooth & clean: I think most girls can imagine why ;)

Any suggestions on ways to strengthen them or get them fixed up? Manicure shops are such a female domain I'm sure they'd just stare at me in astonishment if I turned up.

[Jake-J]

Well, there are some products that are designed to strengthen nails if you use them regularly. Nail tech makes one and even OPI makes "Nail Envy" in a matte finish for men that works pretty well.

Here are a few simple tips though that may help you:

Use a good-quality glass crystal nail file - not one of those cheap ones with little lines in them. Then file only in one direction, not back and forth. This tears up the structure of your nails and makes them much more prone to cracking, splitting and catching on stuff.

Buff your nails, including the edges. This makes them super-smooth and will help keep them from catching on stuff and fraying. You can use a buffer that leaves them with a matte finish if you don't like the glossy look.

If you still don't have luck with your own, you could consider gel or acrylic nails (professionally applied). They will last for weeks, they are super strong and can look quite natural. They will always look perfect, and they are pretty low maintenance. The only gotcha is that you may have to get them filled every couple of weeks though, so they don't look artificial.

[oolbl549]

Vitamin E is upposed to be good for the nails, you can take vitamin E pills or buy a bottle of oil and apply it directly to your cuticles.

[Shlei3]

Not at all. Actually, men who get manicures is growing in popularity. Even non metrosexual guys do that. Anyhow, try taking some vitamins, drinking more water and putting lotion generously on your hands and nails. In the winter do these things a bit more than normal as winter can dry you up faster. Milk also helps.

[pwl0lwp]

Thanks. drinking the milk or washing in it ? ;)

[Shlei3]

Drinking it in.

[karenk]

umm there is like clear kinda polish that you can put on your nails to make them stronger, and its really not that bad for a guy to go to a nail salon I mean I see tons of guys at the ones here, and it just shows that you have good hygiene because you are like taking care of your nails.

[pwl0lwp]

Yes - the clear lacquer is probably one way to go.

the salon thing - well in sydney (australia) there's probably lots of places to go that expect guys to drop in for a manicure, but I don't want to trek all the way to the gay enclaves :/ plus $$$

the suburban salons though - hmmm... they just seem set up for girls :P

[karenk]

Ooo that sucks lol I know here its not like setup entirely for girls soo ya I guess just use like the clear like nail toughening or strengthening polish lol or whatever its called

[Cool-Relax]

I know you said you don't always have a manicure set, but it's better to cut your nails--biting them makes them weak, so they'll just continue to break. It's a bit of an endless cycle.

[pwl0lwp]

Hmm interesting - do you have any evidence to support that theory ?

[Cool-Relax]

I read it in Seventeen magazine a while ago.

link

This site talks about the damage nail-biting does.

Also, I used to bite my nails a lot, and they were always really weak. I haven't bitten my nails in a few months, and they're stronger now. I don't know for a fact that they're stronger because I stopped biting my nails, but I think that made a huge difference.

[pwl0lwp]

Thanks for the reference

[banker]

Eating lots of gelo or gelatine also helps. In terms of vitamins, take vitamin b. To fix them, try filing your nails instead to smoothen the tips.

[pwl0lwp]

So - I file, but they always seem to get out of whack. good tip on the vitamin B tho, thanks

[TheoryOfAvarice]

I may not know much about how to make your nails stronger, but I do know that biting them is NOT a healthy habit. Stopping will only benefit you, as well as adding more zinc and protein to your diet.

[pwl0lwp]

Fwiw it's not really a nervous habit, it's more having to deal with them when they break - otherwise they end up tearing painfully on something :/

thanks for the concern, though

[TheoryOfAvarice]

I didn't mean it as a nervous habit or anything, I just meant it as something you shouldn't do at all, haha.

Rumor is you can get worms from biting your nails, too, though I don't know if it's true or not. But I've heard reasoning that biting your nails is just like eating all the dirt and gross stuff that gets under them. How that causes worms, I dunno, but still. Creeps me out.

[pwl0lwp]

I can imagine if you bite them so much that they bleed, then you're more susceptible to infection or fungus, including worms, but I can't say I've ever experienced that

[socrGTSTY]

my mom has told me to soak them in olive oil. haven't tried it yet but its supposed to make them stronger

[Anonymous]

punish it with red.