What can be done against brittle nails?

The most important points in brief:

• Around the world around 20 percent of the population suffer from brittle nails
• Nail files are better than nail scissors or nail clippers
• A broken nail can be mended with a tea bag

Did you know that brittle nails are twice as likely to affect women as men? Overall, around 20 percent of the world's population suffer from brittle nails. But how can brittle nails arise in the first place and why are women affected more often? Brittle nails can have many causes; Contact with chemical cleaning agents, the cold season, damage to the nail structure, improper care or illnesses can lead to brittle nails. In women, a manicure is often done using gel, acrylic or shellac and, in the worst case, the horny layer of the nails is damaged by excessive filing or milling.

Well-groomed and beautiful nails are also a personal calling card and important for many people. But what helps if one suffers from brittle nails, and how can brittle nails be avoided? Above all, it is important to be patient. It can take a while for the nail structure and plate to regenerate and recover. But in addition to patience, the following tips can also be helpful:

• Nail oils or nail creams give the skin around the nail bed care and moisture.
• Brittle nails should be worn as short as possible. It is also recommended to use nail files for shortening and not nail scissors or clippers. It is best to always file in one direction in order to avoid sawing movements, which can damage a nail that has already been chipped.
• Immediate measures can prevent worse things from happening if the nail is already torn, which can sometimes be very painful. Special instant adhesives can help here. However, you should be careful when applying that the superglue does not touch the skin.
• Probably the oldest trick against brittle nails is the so-called "tea bag trick". The contents of the tea bag are thrown away and a rectangle is cut out of the leftover material. Clear varnish is then applied to the broken fingernail and the rectangle that has been cut out is placed on top. Now another layer of clear varnish is applied. As soon as this has dried, the nail can be painted over with a colored nail polish.

Pay attention to the right ingredients

Calcium helps against brittle nails. If you suffer from brittle nails, you should make sure that the nail polish contains calcium when choosing the nail polish. Diamond dust in the varnish should also help harden the nail plate, as a protective layer is created.

Strengthen brittle nails from the inside

An appropriate diet can also help against brittle nails. It is particularly recommended to ensure a sufficient supply of calcium. Biotin, which is contained in various foods, forms horn cells, which can also counteract brittle nails.