Well-cared-for, beautiful, and resilient nails share a secret well known to the pros: top-quality keratin! This natural protein, an essential component of the nail matrix, plays a key role in the appearance and strength of nails. But it is also delicate and can easily be affected by external aggressions, frequent manicures, or health issues. To keep it protected, here is everything you need to know about nail keratin!
What is nail keratin?
An essential protein
Keratin is a fibrous structural protein naturally found in hair, skin… and nails! Rich in sulfur and amino acids, it makes up about 90% of the nail plate.
It is within the nail matrix that cells produce this keratin protein. Keratin fibres gradually build up and harden. This is known as the keratinisation process, which allows the nail to grow healthily and continuously. Three superimposed layers bonded together are then formed to make up the nail plate:
- a deep layer at the nail bed where keratinization takes place,
- a middle layer made of flexible cells,
- a superficial layer made of hard cells.
Other elements play a part in this process and are essential to achieve good quality keratin: water, lipids, and minerals (mainly sulfur, iron, and zinc). When keratinization occurs properly, the nail surface is smooth, shiny, and strong.
Your nails are made of 90% natural keratin. Take care of them!
What is its role?
Keratin plays a key role in the life of the nail. It provides:
- Nail structure: keratin fibers give the nail its natural shape and rigidity.
- Healthy growth: when keratin is of high quality and in sufficient quantity, the nail grows steadily and smoothly.
- Matrix protection: the superficial keratin layer acts as a shield against external aggressions (impacts, moisture, friction).
- An anchor base: good keratin ensures better wear time for traditional polishes and gel polishes.
We have everything to gain by preserving the natural keratin of our nails. But here's the catch: keratin is living matter, positioned right at the interface between the matrix and the external environment. This makes it sensitive to everything happening around it, both inside and outside our bodies.
With healthy keratin, your polish lasts longer!
When and how to strengthen nail keratin?
Warning signs of weakened keratin
When keratin production is deficient or the keratin layers are poor quality, the effects on the nail are inevitable. They appear with a delay, as the nail grows, and can take various forms:
- Soft or brittle nails,
- Ridged nails,
- Splitting nails,
- Nails that struggle to grow.
These warning signs can stem from various causes, both internal and external:
💦 Overexposure to water or cleaning products.
💅 Too frequent polish applications or overly aggressive manicure habits.
🍽️ Dietary deficiencies, particularly in nutrients essential for nail growth (vital minerals and vitamins).
🧘 Health issues or emotional stress that disrupt internal balance.
It is then time to adopt a targeted routine to boost keratin and restore hard, clean-looking nails.
Solutions to boost your keratin
Keratin Booster, the magic product to harden nails
Better than strengthening polishes, the Keratin Booster is a hardening treatment that instantly strengthens soft nails and redensifies the nail plate by stimulating natural keratin production. A performance delivered by a 96.5% bio-mimetic and bio-sourced formula, concentrated in:
- Plant keratin (10%) to deeply nourish fragile nails and improve their strength.
- Biotin (Vitamin B8) to stimulate keratin production and prevent splitting and breakage.
- AHAs and gluconolactone to promote cell renewal and lock in natural nail moisture.
- Silica to improve nail flexibility and promote better hydration.
- Vitamin C to protect the nail from external aggressions thanks to its antioxidant properties.
👉 How does it work? For 5 to 7 days max, apply the Keratin Booster to bare nails, 1 to 3 times a day for an intensive cure. Its fluid texture with no greasy or sticky finish absorbs instantly into the nail.
When it comes to results, clinical tests conducted under dermatological control on a panel of 25 people live up to expectations, with visible results from the very first days of use:
💎 Harder nails for 85% of the panel
👌 Less split nails for 81%
Over 80% of our testers found their nails regenerated and more beautiful after their Keratin Booster cure.
The Day & Night routine: a repairing duo
For 24/7 action, choose the Keratin Booster & S.O.S. Mask combo—the alliance between an innovative day treatment that repairs the nail structure and a night treatment that intensely hydrates damaged nails.
👉 How does it work? For 1 week, use the Keratin Booster as a day treatment. Apply it to bare nails 1 to 3 times a day and let dry. In addition, apply a thick coat of the S.O.S. Mask to bare nails 2 to 3 nights during that same week. Let it air-dry and peel it off or wash it away with soapy water the next morning.
Boost your keratin all day long with the Day & Night Duo.
The best habits for top-notch keratin
Quality keratin also starts with simple daily habits to adopt:
- Hydrate and nourish your nails with plant oils such as sweet almond oil or castor oil. Manucurist's Green Oil is a blend of 6 botanical oils, ideal for daily nail and cuticle care.
- Protect your nails when doing household chores or handling chemicals, and avoid overexposure to water, especially hot water.
- Make sure to eat a balanced diet rich in biotin (eggs, almonds, brewer's yeast, avocado), sulfur amino acids (meat, fish, lentils), and zinc, iron, and silica (seeds, green vegetables, dried fruits).
- Opt for a gentle, long-lasting manicure with high-quality products formulated with bio-sourced ingredients, like Green™ polishes and Green Flash™ for gel polish fans. Avoid back-to-back gel polish applications, and when removing your polish, use an acetone-free remover like the Green Flash™ gentle remover.
Protect your keratin by adopting a gentle, nail-friendly manicure routine.
Keratin fibers are the backbone of your nails, the vital element that guarantees their strength and beauty. To avoid the trouble of weakened keratin, it often just takes getting back to the basics: good hydration, targeted treatments, and a manicure routine built around products designed to respect the natural nail. So let's nail it 🪄
