Strong, Healthy Nails

Whether your nails are brittle, broken, peeling, split, weak, or just won’t grow, a few care tips can get you back to a perfect 10

- Sherrie Strausfogel

Keeping your nails clean protects them from bacteria and fungi. It’s also important to keep nails neatly filed—always in one direction— to prevent splitting. Keep nails and cuticles from drying and tearing by massaging them with a moisturizer or oil every day.

If you prefer colorful nails, beware conventional polishes made with harmful chemicals that can damage nails. Fortunately, there are natural nail hardeners, polishes, and finishes that are free of these toxins.

A balanced diet is key to healthy nails. Dull, dry, weak nails could mean a nutrient deficiency. Peeling nails can mean a diet lacking B vitamins or vitamin D. A diet low in zinc and/or biotin can cause nails to become thin, brittle, and easily broken. Vertical ridges from the cuticle to the tip of the nail may be totally normal, not a sign of health problems, but of age.