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What do I put on my nails to keep them from flaking?
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025

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To determine what to apply to your nails so that they don't peel, you need to find out the reason for the peeling. They can be external and internal, and, unfortunately, there are quite a few of them. Fighting nail problems is never easy or quick, so for treatment it is advisable to be patient and stock up on perseverance.
Having excluded general ill health and aggressive influence of external factors, you can effectively use the advice of professionals who know exactly what not to do and what to do at home if your nails are peeling.
First, let's listen to the advice on what not to do when performing daily nail care. There are several pieces of advice:
- It is forbidden to use varnishes of dubious origin and quality.
- Don't overuse manicures: periodically give your nails a break from the varnish "shell".
- Do not expose your hands to adverse factors: protect your skin and nails from household chemicals, cold, and dirty work.
- Depending on the nature of the work, wear elastic medical gloves, more durable rubber or fabric gloves.
- Do not wear tight shoes made of artificial materials.
- Don't chase after fashionable new products and don't ignore hand care methods that have been tried and tested by many generations.
One of the tried and tested methods is to lubricate the skin and nails with nourishing mixtures that are easy to prepare at home. The recipes below will tell you which products are useful to rub into peeling nails and the skin around them:
- Take 30% cream - 40 ml, the same amount of sea buckthorn oil, 30 ml of aloe pulp and calendula oil, add 50 ml of burdock oil. Mix thoroughly and put in a jar. Store in the cold.
- Enrich your usual nourishing cream with oils - eucalyptus, thyme, lavender. Take a drop of everything, stir until smooth.
There is a method for strengthening nails with a wine-oil infusion according to this recipe. For a quarter glass of red fortified drink, 2 teaspoons of oil or 3 tablespoons of sea buckthorn berries are enough. The mixture is infused in a closed jar, in a dark, cool place, for 5 days. The finished product is applied to problem areas with a cotton swab, kept for 45 minutes, then washed off and cream is rubbed into the nails. The procedure stimulates growth, protects against fungi, moisturizes and nourishes nails and skin.
Remedies for peeling nails
Nail restoration is a long process and requires a comprehensive approach. Products for peeling nails are selected after determining the causes of this condition. To get a complete picture, it is necessary to:
- therapeutic diagnostics of the body to identify hidden pathologies;
- adjusting the diet towards enrichment with vitamins and minerals;
- eat quality foods.
Bad nails are common among people who have a bad habit of biting their nails or sucking their fingers. Sometimes, a psychologist's intervention is required to eradicate the habit. In other cases, weak nails are strengthened with folk, cosmetic or medicinal remedies.
What to do at home if your nails are peeling and you don't have time for special procedures? If no health problems are detected, then folk remedies are suitable for treatment. The most effective are natural products with nourishing, softening, strengthening, regenerating properties. These are vegetable oils, beeswax, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and pulp, saline solution, berry pulp, cactus juice, beer.
- A good strengthening effect is provided by a solution of salt with the addition of red wine. And cactus juice will enrich the cuticle with a sufficient portion of nutritional components in just a few minutes.
Iodine
Iodine is known to everyone from an early age, because it is used to treat the first children's scratches and injuries. An affordable and inexpensive antiseptic is in every first aid kit precisely because of its antiseptic properties. And only secondarily do we remember that iodine is a very important microelement, necessary for every organism in a certain amount, since both deficiency and excess are fraught with serious consequences. It also affects the condition of the nails. What to do at home if nails are peeling due to a lack of iodine?
- Iodine protects against bacteria and fungi; this is important for those who visit saunas, swimming pools and other public baths. It is effective only in mild cases of the disease, since it acts superficially. It eliminates redness, itching, pain, especially on the legs. Iodine liquid is applied to the nails after preliminary steaming of the skin. Due to the high concentration of the chemical, iodine treatment of the nails is carried out no more often than every other day. It is better to do this at night, so that the iodine is absorbed, and the unpleasant yellow color on the skin and nails has time to disappear.
Those who want to avoid such yellowness can do iodine baths every other day (1 tbsp. of solution per glass of water). The advantage is that not only nails are immersed in the bath, but the feet and hands entirely. Preliminary, the feet are washed in clean water, after the procedure - wiped dry.
Traditional healers practice mixing iodine with orange and olive oils, lemon juice, sea salt, and medicinal plants. With the help of mixed baths, they eliminate dry skin, strengthen and restore the strength of the horny tissue. To achieve the result, it will take about a month, and you should be treated consistently and systematically.
BF glue for peeling nails
Medical glue BF-6 has an antiseptic and healing effect. In surgery, the elastic preparation is used to isolate minor skin damage from mechanical and chemical factors; in dentistry, the film formed on the root of the tooth performs a protective function for tissues.
The useful properties of the adhesive product are also used in practice for other purposes. For example, many people use BF glue for peeling nails, gluing hangnails, and protecting chapped lips from the sun.
Can this glue help in a case when it is not clear what to do at home if the nails are peeling? The advantage is that the film created by BF6 is durable and waterproof, and this allows you to wash your hands, protects them from dirt and water. Such properties of the glue are actively used by climbers, in whose hiking first aid kits medical glue is a must-have drug.
With the help of glue, you can restore your manicure if the exfoliating nail has broken. In order not to shorten all the other plates, it is better to carry out a restorative procedure with the broken nail. In this case, you need to do the following:
- treat the fracture line with a soft file;
- disinfect it with alcohol;
- apply a layer of BF, place a piece of silk on the liquid base;
- the center of the strip should pass along the break line;
- after drying, smooth the surface with a nail file;
- Finally, lubricate the nail with oil and finish polishing with a second layer.
The procedure must be repeated every few days, washing off the previous layers with glue, until the nail grows to the desired size.
Gels for peeling nails
The image of an elegant woman is completed by well-groomed nails covered with gel. The advantage of gel polish is that it allows you to save time on repeat manicure. But sometimes nails exfoliate, and the question arises whether there are special gels for exfoliating nails.
And if the older generation understood what to do at home if nails were peeling, and resorted exclusively to folk methods, then in our time there are more modern techniques. In particular, gel polishes quickly and reliably strengthen nails. This procedure is professionally done in salons, but it is also available at home. Provided that there is the necessary tools, including a manicure set and an ultraviolet lamp, and the home manicurist knows the technology. It should be noted that without visiting a salon, where you can see the master at work, it is almost impossible to master the skills of such a manicure at home.
The gels contain resin from coniferous trees, which resembles the structure of the nail plate. The substance is applied to the surface twice, in thin layers, each one is dried separately with a UV lamp. Thanks to this procedure, the following results are achieved:
- nails are strengthened;
- delamination and fragility disappear;
- the surface becomes smooth and shiny;
- the coating protects against chemicals and other aggressive factors;
- such coverage is long-term;
- As the growth progresses, the defects disappear.
Gels also strengthen toenails. In addition to protecting against splitting, the substance helps treat ingrown nails: it fixes the shape and prevents them from deforming as they grow back.
Healing varnishes for peeling nails
Among the various means effective for strengthening the horny tissue, a place of honor is occupied by medicinal varnishes for exfoliating nails. They are applied to the cleaned nail plate - independently or as a base for varnish.
Names of medicinal preparations for nails:
- Naomi Nail Repair;
- Mavala Skientifigue;
- Enamel with calcium Delfi;
- Delfi Strengthener;
- Serum 4 LongLashes;
- Orly Anti-Nail-Biting;
- To accelerate the growth of Evelin;
- Iron strengthener for brittle nails Relouis;
- Pharma Bio Diamond Multifunctional Shine;
- Luxvisage Gel Effect Concealer.
The list of cosmetic products that tell you what to do at home if your nails are peeling can be continued to choose the right one in terms of quality and price. Depending on the method of action, there are two groups of hardeners.
Some hardeners act on the internal structure of the horny tissue, interacting with their protein. Active substances form chemical bonds, additionally strengthening protein chains. This is what makes nails stronger.
The second group influences from the outside and, with the help of special components, additionally protects the nail from aggressive factors.
Moisturizing varnishes-strengtheners saturate nails with moisture, which makes them more flexible and strong. Their effect is visible after several applications. Despite the quick result, it is not recommended to use hardeners constantly, so as not to make nails even more brittle again.
Base for peeling nails
The appearance of our nails can be used to judge our overall health. The appearance of unevenness, color change, formation of spots, crumbling edges - these are signals of an imbalance or disturbance in the body. What to do at home if your nails are peeling, but you want to see them beautiful and strong?
When decorating peeling nails, you should not forget about the base. In order for damaged nails to hold the coating for a long time, it is necessary to apply it to cleaned and degreased plates, and then seal the edge and ends. The base for peeling nails prevents delamination, breakage and yellowing. This happens due to special components; they make the nails smooth because they fill in irregularities and defects; the base, like a kind of magnet, maximally strengthens the adhesion of the varnish to the horn tissue.
Under the influence of water, acids, household chemicals, nails become brittle, crumbling, breaking. A correctly applied base not only serves to adhere the coating to the nail surface, but also protects it from varnish dyes, external aggressive factors. In order not to bring your hands and nails to a critical condition, you need to protect them with work gloves or special creams. To prevent damage, paraffin and salt procedures are done.
Cosmetologists offer a wide range of base coats:
- for nutrition and hydration;
- for restoration and strengthening;
- for strength and growth;
- for whitening and straightening
When choosing a product, look for the ingredients you need in the composition, so that you can saturate your nails with them and so that this product solves your problem. Most of these products are used both for a base coat and for a self-manicure close to natural. For alignment and protection, it is enough to apply one or two layers.
In addition to the main active components, additional ones are included in the base for varnish. Thus, camouflage substances create a blurry effect; talc increases the hardness of the nail; keratin acids serve to prevent stains, provide gentle care, and maintain the durability of manicure and pedicure.
Eveline 8 in 1 for peeling nails
As the name suggests, Eveline 8 in 1 varnish for flaky nails can solve eight nail problems that plague women and men. A mass-market product of Polish manufacture with a special innovative complex, according to the creators, performs the following actions:
- stops delamination;
- eliminates brittleness;
- evens out the surface;
- strengthens the nail plate;
- treats sore nails;
- removes dullness;
- makes the horn tissue matte;
- thickens nails.
And if you don't know what to do at home if your nails are peeling, then buy Eveline 8 in 1. The varnish will soon form and strengthen the horny plates and protect them from adverse external factors. Complex components of the formula provide fast action, antibacterial protection, and moisture retention.
The only thing that causes concern is formaldehyde, included in the composition as a preservative. Its quantity in the product significantly exceeds European standards, which raises doubts among many consumers.
Those who do not pay attention to the dangerous and allergenic substance, after two weeks of use see their nails shiny and well-groomed. This is provided that they are used daily according to the instructions. The scheme is as follows:
- First, cover the surface with one layer, on the second day - with another. The next day, wash everything off, then re-varnish the nails. And so on for three weeks in a row, after which Eveline is used as a base.
- Another option is suggested: apply two layers on the first and second days, then wash off and cover the plates anew, with three layers each. The next day, wash off the varnish and repeat the procedure.
When using this product, you should protect the skin around your nails from drying out. To do this, simply treat the vulnerable areas with a moisturizer or olive oil. Allergies are unlikely and may only occur in isolated cases, since the varnish has been dermatologically tested. When applying the product under the main varnish, keep in mind that its matte tone may change the color of your nails.
If you overdose the product, you may feel a burning sensation in your nails; in this case, you should immediately erase all layers and start the treatment again from one layer. In general, Eveline gives many more positive results than disadvantages, which justifies the use of the product in the presence of the most common nail defects.
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Shellac on peeling nails
Until recently, the incomprehensible word shellac caused confusion even among fashionistas, but today the product has already gained immense popularity and is available in all hairdressing salons. It combines the natural shine of simple varnish and the durability of gel applied to modeled nails.
Salon clients are interested in shellac for peeling nails. The peculiarity is that shellac does not dry in the air, so it is dried with ultraviolet light. But the "shelf life" of such a manicure significantly exceeds the durability of a regular coating.
- When caring about beauty, do not forget that coated nail plates stop breathing. Therefore, any manicure, including shellac, cannot be worn continuously without removing and updating.
- As a result of wearing shellac for a long time, nails may turn yellow, become thinner and break, so they need periodic rest. The intensity of such side effects depends on individual characteristics and reserves of the body.
The break should last at least two weeks, and if possible - a month. What is required is not just a passive break from varnish coating, but active nourishment of nails with nutritional compounds, sometimes in combination with general strengthening of the body with multivitamins and mineral complexes.
The above concerns rather the prevention of nail splitting. But what to do at home if nails split even without manicure procedures? The best solution is to temporarily refrain from the cosmetic novelty and start treatment. That is, to establish the cause of the phenomenon, provide proper care for the nail plates and strengthen the entire body. And the final touch to complete the beauty will be shellac applied to healthy nail plates.
Smart enamel regenerator of exfoliating nails
Therapeutic cosmetic product - smart enamel regenerator of exfoliating nails is designed to restore, nourish, protect and shine nail plates. Enamel successfully solves the problem of exfoliation of nail layers. Manufactured in the USA. With the purchase of enamel-regenerator it becomes clear what to do at home if nails exfoliate.
- The composition is created according to a formula that strengthens the molecular bonds of the horny tissue, penetrates the nail bed, strengthens and moisturizes the desired area. Thanks to this effect, healthy and well-groomed nails begin to grow.
Special enamel ingredients glue the separated edges, giving strength and preventing the brittleness of the horny plates. The structure of the horny tissue is leveled, becomes natural and uniform. The bamboo extract included in the formula serves to moisturize and accelerate the healing of the skin around the nail. This happens due to silicic acid, which is found in bamboo. To strengthen the tissue, garlic extract, which has such properties, is also introduced into the smart enamel.
The quick-drying regenerating preparation is easy to apply, creating a noticeable cooling effect. The greenish liquid smells nice, and when applied to the nail plates in one layer, it becomes invisible. A delicate turquoise shade appears only when applied in several layers. For a therapeutic effect, no more than two layers are enough to apply to clean, dry nails without varnish.
Creams for peeling nails
Truly beautiful nails do not require bright decoration. Neatly rounded tips, smooth surface, natural shade of varnish - this is enough to emphasize the taste and health of a woman. If the nails are weak, thin, with uneven edges and a layered surface, then no varnishes and decorations will hide these defects.
There are many ways to do at home if your nails are peeling. One of the most hassle-free is to use special cosmetics created for the care and treatment of problem nails. Weak, diseased nails require support no less than dry, flaky, irritated or fungus-affected skin. Creams for peeling nails stimulate the growth of healthy horny tissue, additionally moisturize and nourish the nails, restore their structure and elasticity.
The French laboratory "ASM" has developed the product "Novofan" for flaky and slow-growing nails. It should be rubbed into the brittle surface and edges of the nail until completely absorbed. When using "Novofan", a manicure is not an obstacle. It is necessary to renew the application of the cream after each hand wash, because it is washed off with water.
Names of other drugs for peeling nails:
- For nails and cuticles Alessandro;
- Wax Novosvit;
- For hands and nails Neutrogena;
- Strengthening wax cream-care NOVOSVIT;
- For hands and nails Vivasan;
- Thai with fruit extracts Banna;
- For nail restoration Nailactan;
- Rejuvenating with caviar extract Dermacol;
- Underground restorative for fast nail growth without fungus "People's Doctor";
- Supernails with calcium gluconate Laboratory Garni.
Oils for peeling nails
Oils occupy a special place in nail, skin and hair care. They nourish, moisturize, soften, and therefore serve both for prevention and treatment of nails affected by dryness and brittleness. And they suggest what to do at home if nails are peeling.
A separate group is made up of essential oils, which almost all have not only nourishing, but also wound-healing, whitening, antiseptic, and growth-stimulating properties. Eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, bergamot, frankincense, grapefruit, tangerine, pine, geranium, rosemary - any of these ethers will be beneficial if used in a mixture with a base oil. Such a mixture must be rubbed into the cuticle and nails with massage movements.
Vegetable oils for peeling nails that are useful for manipulation are the following:
- Jojoba – creates a protective layer, penetrates deep, retains moisture. Resembles liquid wax, retains beneficial properties for a long time.
- Lemon – strengthens, brightens, heals wounds around nails. Combines with lemon juice, protects against household chemicals.
- Flaxseed - in addition to external rubbing, it is recommended to take it internally: a teaspoon 3 times a day. Water baths with the addition of flaxseed oil are taken starting from 40 degrees and until cooling.
- Almond - for intensive recovery, rub in the heated substance twice daily. When performing the procedure at night, wear gloves made of natural fabric.
- Burdock - especially useful for restoring damaged nails after nail extensions. The oil should be lubricated and rubbed in several times a day. It goes well with essential oils - lavender, lemon, eucalyptus.
- Olive oil is one of the most popular nail care products. The oil is used as a warm bath or rubbed in using a massage method.
- Walnut – combines the beneficial properties of several oils: cedar, castor, linseed, peanut. Eliminates delamination, improves health and strengthens nail plates.
- Peach - rich in vitamins, minerals, nourishes and heals nails, provides a healthy shine and appearance.
Bio-oil for peeling nails
The DNC bio-oil series includes several products designed for nails and cuticles. All of them are packaged in 3 ml bottles equipped with dispensers.
Bio-oil for exfoliating nails of this brand contains wheat germ oil, octacosanol, vitamins E, A. The substance softens the cuticle, strengthens the plates and edges, protects against the formation of hangnails. With constant application of bio-oil, nails acquire a healthy shine and appearance. According to reviews, the result becomes noticeable after using half a bottle.
The disadvantages include the high oiliness and the dispenser, which is intended as an additional convenience. In fact, after several uses, the piston in the small bottle is difficult to squeeze out.
Other bio-oils for nails and cuticles:
- Nut strengthening DNC;
- Ultra-nutrition Sante complex of 7 oils;
- 3 in 1 from Lovekoil;
- ORL cuticle care;
- Ylang-ylang oil Mi&ko;
- For cuticle care Evelyn;
- Nourishing "Belor-Design";
- Nourishing Giorgio Capachini;
- Nutritional BIOSEA;
- Vipera Cosmetics;
- Avoplex.
Bio-oil is one of the options for answering what to do at home if your nails are peeling. A simple and easy-to-use product restores damaged nails, softens and increases the elasticity of the horny tissue. The convenience is that just a drop of the oil complex is enough to protect nails from the adverse effects of various factors during the day. And applied at night, it moisturizes the cuticle well and smells nice.
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