topic Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener? in Beauty

Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

Goldengate8361 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:44:30 GMT

I have paper-thin nails (genetically), so I've had acrylic nails for quite some time. Unfortunately, my nails are in such bad shape, the acylic nails will no longer stay on my nails! I must go without now, so I need a super-strong nail hardener. I bought a $20 OPI nail hardener for "thin nails" but it's not doing the trick. Any suggestions?

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

Shelbelle — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:23:31 GMT

Check the Sally Hansen website, they have many nail treatments, each formulated to help with varoius issues. Many here swear by Nailtiques, never did a thing for my nails. They do have a 3 pc kit to be used to repair acrylic damage, see it on the Nailtiques website.

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:25:46 GMT

How long have you been using it? It takes a long time for a nail hardener to work. OPI's Nail Envy is a good one. My favorites are Nailtiques and Perfect Formula's Pink Gel Coat.

A lot of nail strengtheners recommend using ONE coat and removing and redoing that one coat once a week. I find that if I use ONE coat, it peels in sheets and doesn't actually offer any strenth to weak nails. I use a strengthener like Nailtiques Formula 2 as my base coat, then do two coats of color or clear polish and follow with Seche Vite, a quick drying top coat. Seche Vite is not only fast drying, it is also thick. By the time I finish, my nails are well reinforced and stronger while the strengther works.

I like Nailtiques because it comes in different formulas and you can choose which is best for your nails. As your nails change and get stronger on their own, you move to a maintenance formula (Formula 1), which has less protein. If you use too much protein for too long, your nails can become brittle, ruining all your hard work.

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

Laniey — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:27:40 GMT

Hi,

I used to have arylic nails, and I started to become sensitive to the chemicals used

on my nails. The best thing I use is Perfect Formula. The moisture and strengther

duo. My nails are stronger and I swear by it. It works!! Their polishes have the

strengther in them also.

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

Goldengate8361 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:53:01 GMT

@ChynnaBlue @Laniey @Shelbelle

Thank you to each one of you; this is very helpful!! You really wouldn't believe how ridicuously thin my nails are! What is worse...is that I tend to pick at them when I don't have acrylics on them. I have no choice right now, though. I MUST try something. Thank you for your suggestions! I will probably try everything you said.

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

Karnerblue — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:33:52 GMT

Personally I feel that if you use a hardener it will sometimes make the nails too brittle having the opposite effect. I would start with a treatment plan that includes moisturizing and strenghtening. And it does take time to undo the effects of the acrylics. It took me a year of constant conditioning and just keeping them short to build up their strength. Maybe take nail supplements also. I had beautiful nails before I started wearing acrylics. I lost two fingernails and that was the end for me. The ones that grew back are still on the weak side and I have to baby them. Also keeping your cuticles treated and healthy helps a lot.

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

jackthebear — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:45:41 GMT

Nail Envy is good

Vitry is better

Re: Any recs for outstanding nail hardener?

Trix — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:46:25 GMT

I'm another one for whom soft nails seem to be a genetic/biology issue. I keep trying to find something less expensive than Perfect Formula which works for me, and no matter how acceptable the alternative may be, I get the best results when I am using Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat.

Thanks for this thread to remind me that as the garden season approaches I need to buy a bottle of Pink Gel Coat.