Why Your Nails Are Weak AF And How To Fix Them
Let’s face it, we’ve all had our fair share of weak nail struggles, but when this becomes more than ‘just a phase’ you know it’s probably best to understand the reasons behind it.
Weak nails can be a tell-tale sign of many health concerns, so it’s important to keep an eye on them. No one wants bendy, fragile nails anyway, right? We get it! That’s why we’re here to break down some of the causes of weak nails and share a few tips on how to strengthen them. Ready ladies? Let’s go!
It’s All In Your Diet
Source: Maria Licthy
One of the biggest causes of weak, fragile nails comes down to what you’re putting into your body or, actually, what you’re not putting into it. Often, the results of your diet can be seen through your nails. Think of your nails as the window into your health, literally! If they aren’t looking “normal” then it may be worth thinking about your eating habits.
One of the most important things for nail health is protein. Maintaining a diet with protein-rich foods will help strengthen your nails and, naturally, be good for you in other ways. It’s a win-win.
For a good snack idea, almond nuts are the one. Almonds contain biotin, which is a healthy B vitamin and is necessary for processing certain carbs, proteins and fats. Biotin is huge in the nail community because of the wonders it does with strengthening nails.
Hydration, Hydration, Hydration
Source: Charlotte May
All your life, you hear about how important it is to stay hydrated and we’re going to say it to you again: keeping your body hydrated is not only beneficial to your internal health but when it comes to weak nails, hydration is up there with the most important ways to strengthen them. There’s typically a substantial lack of moisture in weak nails and this means that your fragile nails can become brittle and begin to peel. With summer around the corner and fun nail colours looming, who wants peeling nails? Not us!
On the flip side, while hydrating your body is important, too much external exposure to water on the hands can cause the opposite effect. We know how much fun it is to see your skin go all wrinkly in the bath or pool but trust us, your weak nails are better off without that. They want to be moisturised and hydrated, not soaked!
Chemicals Aren’t Your Nails’ Friend
Sources: Artem Podrez
Chemicals are extremely harsh on nails and, unfortunately, they’re found in a lot of your everyday activities like washing your hands, cleaning the dishes, scrubbing the house, sanitising and removing your nail polish, just to give a few examples. All of these things that we may do without a second thought can cause weak nails and only worsen them as time goes on.
To counteract this, wearing gloves is one way to protect your nails when cleaning and washing dishes. But when it comes to washing and sanitising our hands (which is what we live and breathe today) you kind of have to have your hands uncovered. Try your best to wash your hands as thoroughly as possible without submerging your nails underwater for too long. This ties in with our hydration point just mentioned so you can see it’s an important one. And if wearing gloves to clean sounds like too much of a hassle for you, think of the strong AF nails you’ll have soon! Plus, you won’t have to touch anything nasty while you clean. We only see the positives here.
Using Your Nails As Tools
Source: @flopidinardo
A trap that we all fall into is using our nails as tools. We often don’t even realise we’re doing it but when you make an effort to take notice of when and how you use your hands/nails, you’ll be surprised at how much we actually mistreat them.
You know when you see a mark on something and you use your nails to try and scratch it away? Or you use them to fiercely tear open a letter, a can, or a box that’s just been delivered to you? These are the sneaky everyday kind of things that can weaken our nails before we can even say “manicure”!
So, you can see that weak, bendy nails can be a result of many things, much to our disappointment. However, there are ways to get around this pesky annoyance. Remember to consider the nutrients you’re taking in, be gentle on your nails with daily chores, and mainly just be aware of how you use your hands. With these things in mind, you’ll be able to keep weak, fragile nails at bay. Long live strong nails! Right ladies?