Between minor aggressions from daily actions, nutritional deficiencies, harsh or too frequent manicures, and unsuitable care routines, our nails are put to (too) severe tests! The result? Fragile nails that become soft, brittle, or split, on which polish holds less and less well. How to regain strong, vibrant nails? Here is a complete guide to better understand your nails and give them the care they deserve.
To remember:
- A damaged nail can be soft, brittle, split, or yellowed—signals not to be ignored.
- The main causes: daily aggressions, nutritional deficiencies, harsh manicures, age, and hormonal changes.
- A targeted care routine helps restore a clean and strengthened nail plate in 2 weeks.
- In daily life, short, well-filed nails and gentle manicure are the best allies for their health.
What is a damaged nail?
External signs
When a nail is damaged, it can react in different ways. The most common symptoms are:
- Soft nails that bend and twist easily when you press on the fingertips and on which nail polish struggles to hold.
- Brittle nails that have lost their flexibility and break at the tips.
- Split nails that tend to separate into several thin layers at the tips and on which nail polish struggles to hold.
- Yellowed nails which are actually discolored nails. The cause can be highly pigmented polishes or external factors (if this persists despite stopping polish use, it is advised to consult a doctor).
Broken, split, or very soft nails? Your nails are calling for help, they need you!
How did we get here?
We often tell you: our nails are the reflection of our health and how well our body relates to its environment. Fragile nails are therefore a warning sign indicating that something is wrong. Among the most common causes are:
- Everyday aggressions: every day, your nails face various aggressions that weaken them. Contact with chemicals found in some detergents and household products, dry air, or prolonged exposure to moisture are among the main causes of poor nail health.
- Nutritional deficiencies: to function properly, the nail matrix absolutely needs an intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals (especially biotin, iron, and zinc). If your diet does not provide these nutrients in sufficient quantity, proper nail growth and strength are no longer guaranteed.
- Aggressive manicures: applications of fake nails or low-quality gels, repeated manicures, removal with acetone or a nail drill... these practices deeply damage the structure of your nails.
- Age and hormonal changes that can lead to reduced keratin production and thus slower nail growth.
- Serious illnesses and medical treatments whose side effects on nails may appear delayed.
Want to make good resolutions to care for your damaged nails?
How to repair damaged nails?
Rest assured: having damaged nails is not inevitable. To urgently repair your nails or care for them daily, Manucurist has created adapted routines to help you regain beautiful nails and hands. If your nails have ridges, discover our dedicated care routine to smooth the surface and visibly improve their appearance.
Our customizable care routine
To put an end to damaged nails and rediscover the pleasure of a beautiful manicure that lasts, Manucurist has created a customizable care routine tailored to your needs that allows you to regain a clean and strengthened nail plate in 2 weeks.
Basic Routine
Need a quick and effective refresh? Choose our Basic Routine and combine the benefits of the Base S.O.S. and Green Oil, our best-selling care duo, ideal for deeply repairing and nourishing your nails.
👉 How does it work? Apply the Base S.O.S. on bare nails every 2 days, up to 3 times a week, without removing the previous layers (they can be layered). At the same time, apply a drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day, massaging the nail and its edges until the oil is absorbed. You do not need to rinse or wipe off this treatment.
Base S.O.S. & Green Oil, a powerful duo to repair damaged nails.
Starter Routine
If you want not only to repair and nourish your nails but also to stimulate their growth, step it up with the Starter Routine which combines the Keratin Booster, Green Oil, and the S.O.S. Mask
👉 How does it work? Use the 3 products simultaneously during your 2-week treatment. Apply the Keratin Booster 3 times a day on bare nails, allowing it to dry completely until fully absorbed. Massage your nails and cuticles with a drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day. And apply the S.O.S. Mask 2 to 3 nights a week in a thick layer, letting it dry in the open air and remove it by peeling off or with soapy water the next morning.
With the S.O.S. Mask, regenerate your damaged nails while you sleep.
Ultimate Routine
Give yourself every chance to regenerate and strengthen your nails with our Ultimate Routine, an intensive care treatment combining 5 products: Keratin Booster, Green Base Coat S.O.S., Green Oil, S.O.S. Mask, and Perfecting Concentrate.
👉 How does it work? This routine takes place in 2 steps:
- Week 1: apply the Kératine Booster 1 to 3 times a day on bare nails, letting it dry completely until fully absorbed. Massage your nails and cuticles with a drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day. Take your Perfecting Concentrate everywhere to apply anytime. Apply the S.O.S. Mask 2 to 3 nights a week in a thick layer, let it air dry, then remove it by peeling off or with soapy water in the morning.
- Week 2: apply the S.O.S. Base on bare nails every 2 days (up to 3 times/week) without removing the previous layers. Apply a drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day. Continue the Perfecting Concentrate anytime. At the end of the week, remove the S.O.S. Base with the gentle Green Flash™ remover, then apply the S.O.S. Mask for one last night of care.
☝️ It is recommended to take a break after the 2-week treatment to preserve your nails’ natural balance. If needed, repeat monthly by alternating 2 weeks of treatment and 2 weeks of rest.
With the Ultimate routine, give your nails an intensive 24/7 care treatment.
To summarize:
- Basic Routine (1 to 2 weeks): SOS Base every 2 days + Green Oil 1 to 2x/day to repair and nourish.
- Starter Routine (2 weeks): Kératine Booster 3x/day + Green Oil 1 to 2x/day + SOS Mask 2 to 3 nights/week.
- Ultimate Routine (2 weeks): complete treatment with 5 products including Kératine Booster,
- Green Oil, SOS Base, SOS Mask, and Perfecting Concentrate for continuous deep action.
Good daily habits to adopt
To keep your nails strong, we recommend adopting good habits by incorporating a few simple and effective manicure steps into your beauty routine:
- Keep your nails short and well filed. The longer they are, the more they break! Gently file them with a natural nail file to prevent cracks and splitting.
- Prepare your nails before each manicure as explained in our dedicated article. Before applying color, don’t forget to apply a protective base such as the Green Base Coat™ or the Vitamin Green Flash™ Base Coat, depending on the type of polish chosen.
- Adopt a gentle and sustainable manicure routine by favoring biosourced polish formulas, like the Green™ polish and Green Flash™ LED polish. To apply your polish gently, avoid acetone-based removers or nail drills and instead use the Green Flash™ gentle remover. Finally, alternate semi-permanent polish applications with treatment courses or an application of Active™ treatment polish, giving your nails time to rest!
The formulas of Green™ and Green Flash™ polish are up to 84% biosourced!
With targeted treatments, a healthy lifestyle, a suitable nail care routine, and high-quality manicure products, you give yourself the best chance to keep natural nails super strong, ensuring long-lasting and flawless manicures.
To summarize:
- Damaged nails are not inevitable: 2 weeks of targeted treatments are enough to restore a clean and strengthened nail plate.
- We have designed a complete range for every need: Green Base Coat S.O.S. to repair, Keratin Booster to strengthen, S.O.S. Mask to regenerate overnight, Green Oil for daily nourishment.
- For manicure, regular nail care and good preparation are recommended. Choose vegan and biosourced polish formulas (such as Green™ and Green Flash™) and alternate semi-permanent application with treatment courses.
