A broken nail isn't the end of the world, but when it happens too often, it quickly becomes annoying—or even concerning. If your nails snap at the slightest impact, they are struggling. Deficiencies, everyday habits, harsh manicures... many factors can weaken their structure. The good news: with the right steps and targeted care, they can regain strength, shine, and flexibility. Here are our expert tips.
Why do nails become brittle?
Brittle nails can be caused by several factors:
- repeated exposure to water and chemicals from household or work tasks,
- dietary deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, or B vitamins (particularly vitamin B8 or biotin) needed for healthy nail growth,
- harsh manicures, etc.
Behaviors where the main victim is keratin, the fibrous protein that makes up nearly 90% of the nail plate. Produced in the matrix, keratin fibers form increasingly hard layers that build up and bond together. It is this keratinization process that ensures the strength and resistance of your nails. If it is disrupted, nails become weak.
Protect your keratin to keep nails strong.
Focus on high-risk manicures (gel, acrylics, traditional semi-permanent)
Gel or acrylic nail extensions, traditional semi-permanent polishes—so many techniques to achieve pretty, long-lasting manicures... but at what cost? Not to mention their sometimes problematic ingredients (especially if produced outside the EU), these manicures often require removal by buffing, filing, or acetone baths. When done too frequently, these practices damage the nail structure and hinder growth. The result: weakened nails that struggle more and more against everyday aggressions.
The effects on nail structure
These "high-risk" manicures often lead to deep dehydration of the nail plate and cuticles. The skin around the nail dries out and no longer plays its role as a natural shield. The same goes for the residual oils on the nail plate dissolved by acetone. Deep down, it is hardly any better. The keratin layers can separate and cause splitting nails. The matrix produces lower-quality keratin, leading to soft nails, surface irregularities, a dull look, and risk of cracking. With nails in such a state, goodbye trending manicures and pretty nail art!
Have your nails been weakened by manicures? Take our online nail diagnostic and discover the right routine for you.
How to strengthen brittle nails?
Brittle nails are not inevitable (thankfully). By adopting a targeted care routine, you can reinforce the nail fiber and restore its full shine. How exactly?
Adopting a strengthening care routine
Depending on the condition of your nails and the time you have to spend on them, different nail care options are available to you.
The Basic routine for a quick reset
A simple yet ultra-effective Basic routine that repairs, nourishes, and protects your nails through a 2-week protocol.
👉 How does it work?
- Start by applying the strengthening nail base coat S.O.S. Base Coat to bare nails every other day (up to three times a week) without removing previous coats. Its formula, concentrated in AHAs, vitamin C, and vitamin B5, stimulates cell regeneration, reinforces keratin, and visibly improves the look of the nail.
- At the same time, apply a drop of Green Oil to your nails 1 to 2 times a day, then gently massage until fully absorbed. Made with 6 botanical oils (including sweet almond oil, passion fruit oil, and baobab oil), this nourishing oil is ideal for hydrating nails and cuticles, and promoting smooth growth.
S.O.S. Base Coat + Green Oil: a super simple routine to restore strong, supple nails.
The Starter routine to repair and boost growth
The Starter routine combines the benefits of the Day & Night Duo and Green Oil to restore your nails in 2 weeks.
👉 How does it work?
- Apply Keratin Booster, a nail hardener treatment concentrated in plant keratin, silica, and biotin, 3 times a day on bare nails to boost regeneration and redensify the nail plate. Follow by massaging in a drop of Green Oil 1 to 2 times a day.
- Apply the S.O.S. Mask in a thick layer 2 to 3 nights a week. Leave to air-dry, then remove the next day by peeling it off or with soapy water. Continue using Green Oil as daily nourishing care, making sure to massage the nail and its contour until fully absorbed.
💡Tip: After the 2-week treatment course, it is recommended to take a break to preserve your nails' natural balance. To maintain the benefits, repeat this care routine once a month.
With the Day & Night Duo and Green Oil, stimulate your nails day and night.
The Ultimate routine to sustainably regenerate nails
The Ultimate routine combines all the essential care products for an intensive, all-day treatment carried out in 2 steps.
👉 How does it work?
- Week 1: Apply the Keratin Booster 3 times a day until fully absorbed to strengthen your nails. Massage with a nourishing oil (Green Oil) twice a day, not forgetting the cuticles. Also incorporate the Perfecting Concentrate into your daily routine to continuously nourish your nails throughout the day. Formulated with pistachio mastic extract, castor oil, and vitamin E, it helps to intensely hydrate, repair, and protect nails and cuticles while leaving a non-greasy finish. For deep repair, apply the S.O.S. Mask 3 nights a week in a generous layer, then peel off the next morning.
- Week 2: Incorporate the S.O.S. Base Coat, applying it every 2 days up to 3 times a week on bare nails, and continue to hydrate with Green Oil and the Perfecting Concentrate. Finish the week with a final night of S.O.S. Mask to seal in all the benefits of the treatment.
💡Tip: For best results, pair your care routine with a course of Nail Boost, food supplements based on multiple vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B8, vitamin B9, and vitamin C), plant keratin, and brewer's yeast, to stimulate growth and improve your nails' resilience from within. These food supplements are perfect for providing essential nutrients and addressing any deficiencies that impact nail health. Naturally rich in B vitamins, brewer's yeast strengthens the nail's keratin structure, helping prevent breakage, ridges, and splitting.
Ultimate Routine: the complete treatment course to repair, nourish, and regenerate your nails for the long term.
Good daily habits to adopt
Strengthening your nails isn't just about treatments! A few simple daily habits can make all the difference:
- Protect your hands during household chores or prolonged exposure to water and chemicals with protective gloves. A simple yet essential step to prevent soft or brittle nails.
- Opt for a gentle, hydrating manicure with plant-based nail polishes designed to care for your nails.
- Alternate nail care and manicures and give your nails rest periods between sets. Feel free to file your nails to shorten them with a fine-grit nail file, always moving in the same direction.
- Try Active™ nail care polishes: Rich in natural active ingredients, they offer hybrid formulas combining nail care and makeup. To beautify and nourish brittle nails in a single step, we especially recommend the Active Glow™ polishes, enriched with sweet almond oil and raspberry extracts, for an ultra-glowy pink finish. Active™ Bright, a strengthening care polish with a pearly white finish, and Active™ Shine, a repairing care polish with a pearly beige finish, are also excellent options.
Strong nails start with good habits: protect, hydrate, and care for them regularly.
As you can see, dry and brittle nail syndrome is not permanent. With a targeted nourishing care routine, a hydrating manicure, and the right daily habits to prevent damage, you can restore strong, shiny, vital nails, ready for every colorful manicure and nail art you love, season after season ✨💅
