Between daily wear and tear, nutritional deficiencies, harsh or overly frequent manicures, and unsuitable care routines, our nails are put through the wringer! The result? Weak nails that become soft, brittle, or peeling, where nail polish lasts less and less. How can you get strong, healthy nails full of vitality again? Here is a complete guide to better understand your nails and give them the care they deserve.
Key takeaways:
- A damaged nail can be soft, brittle, peeling or yellowed—all warning signs you shouldn't ignore.
- The main causes: daily aggressions, nutritional deficiencies, harsh manicures, age, and hormonal changes.
- A targeted care routine restores a clean, reinforced nail plate in 2 weeks.
- Every day, short, neatly filed nails and a gentle manicure are your best allies for nail health.
What is a damaged nail?
Visible signs
When a nail is damaged, it can react in various ways. The most common symptoms include:
- Soft nails that bend and twist easily when you press your fingertips, and on which nail polish struggles to last.
- Brittle nails that have lost their flexibility and snap at the tips.
- Peeling nails that tend to split into thin layers at the tips and on which nail polish struggles to last.
- Yellowed nails which are actually discolored nails. The cause: overly pigmented polishes or external factors (if discoloration persists after stopping polish, consulting a doctor is recommended).
Broken, peeling, or completely soft nails? Your nails are crying for help—they need you!
How did it get to this point?
As we often say: our nails are a reflection of our overall health and how well our body interacts with its environment. Fragile nails are a wake-up call showing something is off. Among the most common causes:
- Daily aggressions: every day, your nails face various aggressions that weaken them. Contact with chemicals found in certain detergents and household cleaners, dry air or prolonged exposure to moisture are among the primary causes of poor nail health.
- Nutritional deficiencies: to function normally, the nail matrix absolutely requires an intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals (especially biotin, iron, and zinc). If your diet doesn't provide enough of these nutrients, healthy nail growth and strength can no longer be guaranteed.
- Harsh manicures: applying fake nails or low-quality gels, back-to-back manicures, removal with acetone or drills... these practices deeply weaken your nails' structure.
- Age and hormonal changes which can lead to reduced keratin production and slower nail growth.
- Serious illnesses and medical treatments whose side effects on nails can appear after a delay.
Ready to set good habits to care for your damaged nails?
How to repair damaged nails?
Don't worry: having damaged nails is not permanent. Whether you need emergency nail repair or daily care, Manucurist created tailored routines to help you get beautiful nails and hands back. If your nails have ridges, discover our dedicated care routine to smooth the surface and visibly improve their appearance.
Our customizable nail care routine
To put an end to damaged nails and rediscover the joy of a beautiful, long-lasting manicure, Manucurist created a customizable care routine tailored to your needs, restoring a clean, reinforced nail plate in just 2 weeks.
Basic Routine
Need a quick, effective reset? Choose our Basic Routine and combine the benefits of the S.O.S. Base Coat and Green Oil, our best-selling care duo, ideal for deeply repairing and nourishing your nails.
👉 How does it work? Apply the S.O.S. Base Coat on bare nails every 2 days, up to 3 times a week, without removing previous coats (you can layer them). Alongside this, apply one drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day, massaging the nail and its contour until the oil is absorbed. No need to rinse or wipe it off.
S.O.S. Base Coat & Green Oil: a power duo to repair damaged nails.
Starter Routine
If you want to not only repair and nourish your nails but also boost their growth, step it up with the Starter Routine combining the Keratin Booster, Green Oil and the S.O.S. Mask.
👉 How does it work? Use all 3 products together during your 2-week treatment. Apply the Keratin Booster 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. And apply the S.O.S. Mask 2 to 3 nights a week in a thick layer, let it air-dry, and peel it off or wash it off with soapy water the next morning.
With the S.O.S. Mask, regenerate your damaged nails overnight.
Ultimate Routine
Give your nails the best chance to regenerate and strengthen with our Ultimate Routine, an intensive treatment combining 5 products: Keratin Booster, S.O.S. Base Coat, Green Oil, S.O.S. Mask and Perfecting Concentrate.
👉 How does it work? This routine takes place in 2 phases:
- Week 1: apply the Keratin 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 anywhere to apply it anytime. Apply the S.O.S. Mask 2 to 3 nights a week in a thick layer, let it air-dry, and peel or wash it off with soapy water in the morning.
- Week 2: apply the S.O.S. Base Coat on bare nails every 2 days (up to 3 times/week) without removing previous coats. Apply one drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day. Keep applying the Perfecting Concentrate whenever needed. At the end of the week, remove the S.O.S. Base Coat with the Green Flash™ Gentle Remover, then apply the S.O.S. Mask for one last night of care.
☝️ Taking a break after the 2-week treatment is recommended to preserve your nails' natural balance. If needed, repeat each month 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 sum up:
- Basic Routine (1 to 2 weeks): S.O.S. Base Coat every 2 days + Green Oil 1 to 2x/day to repair and nourish.
- Starter Routine (2 weeks): Keratin Booster 3x/day + Green Oil 1 to 2x/day + S.O.S. Mask 2 to 3 nights/week.
- Ultimate Routine (2 weeks): complete 5-product treatment with Keratin Booster,
- Green Oil, S.O.S. Base Coat, S.O.S. 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, effective manicure steps into your beauty routine:
- Keep your nails short and neatly filed. The longer they are, the more they break! File them gently with a nail file for natural nails to prevent splits and peeling.
- Prep your nails before each manicure as shown in our dedicated article. Before applying color, remember to apply a protective base coat like the Green™ Base Coat or the Green Flash™ Vitamin Base Coat, depending on the polish type selected.
- Adopt a gentle, long-lasting manicure routine by choosing plant-based nail polish formulas, like Green™ polishes and Green Flash™ LED polishes. To remove your polish gently, skip acetone-based removers or drills and use the Green Flash™ Gentle Remover instead. Finally, alternate gel polish applications with nail care treatments or a coat of Active™ treatment polish to give your nails time to rest!
Green™ and Green Flash™ nail polish formulas are up to 84% plant-based!
With targeted care, a healthy lifestyle, an appropriate nail care routine, and high-quality manicure products, you give yourself the best chance to maintain ultra-strong natural nails that ensure long-lasting, flawless manicures.
To sum up:
- Damaged nails are not inevitable: 2 weeks of targeted care are enough to restore a clean, reinforced nail plate.
- We designed a complete range for every need: S.O.S. Base Coat to repair, Keratin Booster to strengthen, S.O.S. Mask to regenerate overnight, Green Oil to nourish daily.
- Manicure-wise, regular nail care and proper prep are recommended. Choose vegan, plant-based polish formulas (such as Green™ and Green Flash™) and alternate gel polish applications with care treatments.
