Fanatic Feedback – Treatment Products
I’ve been receiving a lot of questions regarding treatment products. Seems we’re all having nail health issues lately. It could be due to the fiercely cold, dry winter a lot of us experienced or excessive dryness thanks to frequent polish changes. Regardless, we’re all looking for that magic potion to produce healthy nails that don’t split, peel or break.
What makes giving treatment advice difficult is that I can only base my recommendations on my specific problems so I’d love to hear what products make you jump up and cheer.
Tell us what ailments plague your nails and your favorite solution. Let’s help each other work towards better tip health in 2009.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I just bought Seche Plus. I haven’t started using it yet. I will post back after I have used it.
My nails are a mess right now. Very thin. My problems are from wearing acrylics for a couple months. I will never do that again!
Hopefully this will work because my nails have been terrible for about 3 weeks now and it is driving me crazy.
nail tek II (regular and foundation… i want to try citra as well). also solar oil and cuticle eraser
My nails split after I wear polish consecutively for a few weeks. The more often I change the colour the weaker my nails become, they split become very thin and brittle, and break. So I go 3 weeks with polish, then like 4/5 weeks without! I try to moisturize a lot but I don’t know what else I can do
I would appreciate anyone’s reccommendations on how to prevent this. I use a base and top coat for every application, just for reference.
Thank you!
problematic cuticles! i’m still hunting down a perfect solution. i tried the Qtica cuticle cream but it didn’t really do anything…i’m using solar oil now but still ehh. i bought some cuticle oil from butter london and i’m waiting to receive that.
what do you use for your cuticles?
For me, polish has to be on my nails at ALL times. My nails break so easily that if I remove my polish and don’t apply any on, the next day, I would break my nails.
I wanna try China Glaze’s nail treatment (forgot the name… nail fortifier?). On Head2Toe it looks like clear orange liquid… does it work?
I used to have problematic cuticles. But after every polish-removing session, I use a cuticle remover. After that, I reapply my nails with polish. When they finally dry, I apply cuticle oil.
I’ve been looking at your previous posts, and I’m thinking of getting Cuti-Cup (or whatever.. Earth Therapeutics). They look mega cute!
I have had problem cuticles for as long as I can remember. It didn’t help that I moved to Denver where it’s super-dry, and have a job where my hands are abused. And, like everyone else on here, probably, I am a recovering nail biter–and when my cuticles are bad, I’m tempted to chew on my hands. My miracle regimen has been to use CND Cuticle Eraser at night, after showers, and in the morning (when I remember), along with Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. I keep a pot of this in my purse, on my coffee table, and in my desk at work. I put it on whenever I think of it (and when I don’t mind having moderately oily fingers for a minute or so. EVEN though this winter season, I’ve had NO peeling of my cuticles and I feel like my nails are stronger (but that might be a placebo effect).
Hopefully this helps someone.
I reallly believe nail health is based on your overall health – diet & nutrition. Do you eat a balanced diet? If not, maybe add a supplement or consider a daily multivitamin. Also – drink lots of water!
A favorite product: Essie's 3-way glaze. You can use it as a treatment, a basecoat and a topcoat!
For my very brittle nails i use the Sally Hensen Mega shine with diamonds base coat. followed by a good quality nail polish. (OPI is my fave) For a top coat i usually use another sally hensen mega shine. Followed with the Lippman nail drying drops. AMAZING PRODUCT!!
For the cuticles i use a product from bath and body works true blue spa collection. I first use the dissapearing act to remove the cuticles then for when they are really dry there is a super awesome, mega shea cuticle treatment. hope it helps
Peeling is my problem – not major strips, more like little flakes at the tips of my nails. I keep my nails painted, and I assume they are dry underneath the polish, which is what causes the peeling. I use nail oil (various brands) and moisturize as part of my manicure, and that helps a bit (I wash it off with soap and water before I apply the polish). I have also been using Sally Hansen Quenching basecoat,then OPI natural nail under my polish.
If anyone else has a suggestion to help with peeling, I would love to hear it!
I have nails that peel. And my nail polish always peels off. I even paint the top coat around to the bottom of the tip and no matter what I do, use CND Sticky, Seche Base, OPI Base, Poshe Top Coat, Seche Top Coat, within hours at least one nail is peeling. I would love any advice to stop my bare nails peeling and consequently getting thin and ripping off, and to stop my nail polish from peeling, at least for a day!
To prevent dry cuticles, I’d recommend Sally Hansen’s Aloe Vera and Vitamin E nail polish remover. Very gentle =). But I was wondering if anyone can recommend something to make my nails whiter and brighter, they have a little yellowish tint even with wearing a base coat.
My mest tip is to use a glas nail file. Simple but works! And I love SH Problem Cuticle Remover cream.
CND Cuticle Eraser is definitely helping my cracked, split, and overgrown cuticles, so I would recommend that. My problem is weak, splitting and peeling nails on only two fingers of my right hand. It’s very frustrating, and nothing seems to help. I think giving up polish might, since I’m sure the polish remover is making it worse, but I’m not willing to go that far.
My problem is that even after wearing a base coat, I’ve discovered that my nails yellow after wearing polish for a long time – and I don’t smoke.
I would appreciate anyone’s recommendations on better base coats or treatments to prevent yellowing. So far I’ve had to rely on leaving the nails bare and having them grow out. But when the nails are naked, I feel naked
I just bought Lush Smitten hand cream and I love how well it works. It appears to be moisturizing my (bare)peeling, nail polish overdosed nails though I’ve only been using it for a week. The smell is a little overpowering, whatever I eat has a lingering almond scent!
My nails get so dry from always having polish on them that they start to peel at the tips. It’s worst on the nails that get the most banged up (index and middle finger, more on dominant hand than non-dominant hand). I try to do three weeks with polish and 1 week without.
This never happens to my toes even though I always keep polish on them-I think it also has to do with how much I use my nails touching, opening envelopes, dealing with papers, typing, etc.
I haven’t found a top or basecoat that makes a difference, but Kiehl’s Imperiale cuticle moisturizing treatment works wonders. My nails get so dry that after I wash my hands and the moisture has been stripped by my hands and nails by the soap, my nails HURT. I slather on the tiniest bit of this stuff (all over the nail and cuticle too-it’s 20$for a little jar but the last one I bought lasted 3 years!) and they feel normal again. I have to do it several times a day and every time I wash my hands if my nails are really dry, but gradually I need it less. Once my nails have grown out so that the tip isn’t peeling I can put polish back on. it’s FANTASTIC!
I’ve tried a lot of different treatment products and hands down, Barielle Nail Strenthening Cream is the best. I was not able to grow my nails for about three years due to a nutritional problem. I have been using Barielle for the past six months and my nails are long, strong and gorgeous once more!! I order direct from the website and I think one of the shoppping channels also has the product.
Lemony Flutter cuticle butter for me, absolutely love the stuf & it smells yummy. My nails used to bend, break & peel until I started using nailtiques, now they grow stronger & less peeling, they still break but I'm a bit heavy handed. My biggest problem is getting a varnish to stick, I use a base, 2 – 3 thin coats of polish & Seche Vite, they dry amazingly but keep chipping!!
My nails tend to split and peel easily. I’ve been using Orly Calcium shield as a base. I also use CND cuticle remover and Burt’s Bees cuticle butter. That seems to be helping. 7 months ago I got acrylics (I fell and bumped my head…never again). So i’m STILL trying to get them back in shape from that.
For my cuticles, nails, and my entire feet, I swear by pure Vitamin E oil. My feet and cuticles get so dry and it’s disgusting. I got some vitamin E oil in a little bottle, so I transferred some into an empty nail cuticle oil bottle. Now I swipe it on my cuticles and the dry parts of my feet, as well as the nails themselves whenever there’s no polish on them, every day or so. And it WORKS. My mom does it too, now, and she’s so happy with how they look.
The most important thing for the health of my nails, overall, though, has been to not get Acrylics from time to time any more. The aftermath of those so-pretty, gorgeous fake nails — is five months of horror, splitting, tearing, thin nails. But once that grows out, it’s all good!
I’m curious about cuticle treatment, too.
My nails are pretty strong but every so often my thumb nails tear just past where the nail separates from the nail bed, so I end up having to cut my nail completely off and wait for the weak spot to grow out again. It seems just as I get them long enough, it happens again. I wear my nails pretty short and squared off, so I don’t think it is a length issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
My nails used to be really strong. I could grow them really long and they wouldn’t split or break very easily.
I can still grow them long if I want to, but I’ve noticed for a while that they have been weak and splitting. I think maybe this has to do with my diet…but I’m not sure.
Basically I need something to put on the nail itself that will help strengthen it and prevent it from cracking and peeling.
I dont have too many nail problems, but I am plagued with overgrown dry cuticles, which always end up tearing and turning into hangnails.
My favorite solution is CND’s Cuticle Eraser, which is an alpha hydroky cream that “microexfoliates” them. Rub it in and they look like they disappear (as long as you keep them hydrated)
My nails are hard and not too thin, but they are pretty brittle – if I hit them on something, they tend to just snap right off. The best thing that has helped this is Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream. I put off buying it for a while because of the price, but I’m glad I finally took the plunge! My nails are much more resilient now, and it also acts as a great moisturizer for my cuticles :~D
The only other “treatment” that I think is worth its weight in gold is Biotin supplements. My nails grow a lot faster (and stronger) when I take them, and they’re also excellent for hair growth! My eyelashes have never been longer or thicker.
I have awful problems with very noticeable ridges running the length of nearly all of my nails. I’ve heard thatthis is hereditary. I can buff them away, but they always return. I’ve tried various ridge fillers and they can’t touch these – they look awful! Does anybody have any ideas?
two words – ROCK HARD
Julia,
try NailTek III (for dry, brittle nails): the treatment and the foundation. Although, I myself use NailTek II, I am very pleased with the results. Try them!
Hi, I have three questions:
1. What base coat do you recommend for long lasting manicures? I use OPI Chip Skip, but still find that after 3 days I get chips and/or peeling of my polish.
2. What cream/treatment do you recommend for removing cuticles?
3. What fast drying ultra shiny top coat do you recommend?
My major problem is that my nails get weak and split horizontally; they separated into two layers. I moisturize a lot and do all the steps to prevent this problem but every couple of weeks it comes around again. My nails are left frail and ugly
My nails (especially my pointer and middle fingers) often split, and it really bothers me. I don’t really know what to do for it, but i hope i can find a solution in others comments!
I usually put nail polish on for about one or 2 weeks per month, although it varys if i put a base coat on or not.
I have very hard nails that are so dry and peel, chip and split. My favorite treatment is TIPS oil but you must follow directions.It’s not cheap but much cheaper than acrylics. Works for cuticles and nails.
I’ve just ordered a few days ago CND Solar Oil and CND Cuticle Eraser at the first time…so i can report after i’ll get it….right now i’m using hand scrub, hand lotion and Essie basecoat.
Hi:
I love, love, love Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. I also keep a tiny tin of the L’Occitane 100% shea butter in my desk at work. I rub it on first thing in the morning before I apply hand lotion and my nails are super strong. I also SWEAR by Dabu. It’s the greatest topcoat EVER. You aren’t supposed to use it on wet nails…only after your polish has dried. I apply it the day after a fresh manicure and my polish will last a full week as if it were freshly applied.
I am pretty bad with nail treatments. I’m blessed with good nails, and basically my only problem is yellow nails from having polish on all the time, so I use a base coat (either Orly Bonder or Seche Base) and that helps to slow down the yellowing.
I’ve only recently started using cuticle oil regularly (CND Solar Oil) and that’s pretty much it!
I am searching for a miracle cure as well..I have a deep ridge on my thumbnail that splits..I let it grow,hoping to file off the edge that splits,but it keeps splitting..I was told no formaldehyde (the evil 3) so right now I am using Sally Hansen Complete Care X-tra Moisturizing Treatment for dry,brittle nails.
I haven't used too many basecoats, but one I'm really loving is Essie's protein base coat. Prevents staining/yellowing, and has a faintly milky finish to help sheers & lights show up a little bit more. OPI's Natural Nails was ok too, but stinky and not Big 3-Free. I think Essie's is better for anti-yellowing too.
And I've recently re-discovered my diamond file. Ridiculously expensive, yes, but shapes in a flash and leaves a smooth, snag free finish. Love it!
For cuticles, every time you remove polish, use cuticle remover (Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover). Put a thin strip around cuticles, wait 15 seconds, and with a metal cuticle stick (orange sticks are good too), push them back. After that, wash your hands with soap and warm water. IMMEDIATELY put hand cream on and apply cuticle oil. I haven’t tried cuticle eraser, but I wanna try.
And… someone, tell me which one is the best: Poshe or Seche Vite? In terms of wear, not dryness. I get major tipwear and chipping from Seche. I wanna see if Poshe is better.
would anyone like to do a review possibly on the best things for peeling nails? i have read a lot and tried a lot of different products but they never seem to work in the long run, and my nails are back to peeling.
currently i use sally hansen triple strong, which works wonders for me, but i would like to try something else.
I am a recovering nail biter and cuticle biter as well. I have been painting my nails about twice a week for the past 2 years. I use CND sticky base coat and seche vitte top coat and my nails have not yellowed at all. I also don’t use pure acetone to remove nail polish, I use Sally Hansen ones that do have some acetone in them but not 100%.
To take care of cuticles I use CND cuticle eraser which is amazing. If I remember to use it about twice a day for a week, my cuticles aren’t peeling and look good! Problem with that is once they look good I forgot to keep using the cuticle eraser and the same problem comes back!
I have strong nails, but winters have always taken a toll. Usually by February I cut them all off because half have broken. This winter, I’ve been using cuticle cream and nail oil. It made an incredible difference. I’ve been using hand cream constantly, but I normally do that. I also switched to a glass nail file and my nails have not split once. I, too, have ridges on every nail, probably due to age. Barielle Camo works well, and I apply it to the underside of each nail, too. And I apply a lot of top coat. I usually use a coat of Seche Vite, and refresh the shine with Tout deSuite from SpaRitual.
I really like Nail Life Revitalizer treatment. I have been using it for about 2 months after acrylics and my nails are growing in strong and in great condition.
My best recommendation for dry nails would be to switch to a non-acetone nail polish remover. Since I’ve made the switch, I don’t have a problem with dry, brittle, splitting nails.
For base coats, I like Seche, and Finger Paints brand from Sally Beauty Supply. Poshe top coat works best for me.
I have a couple of favorites when it comes to nail health. The first, afordable and available to all is water, drink tons of it!! Then is CND Cuticle Eraser combined with Lush Lemony Flutter at least 3 times a day. Finally my favorite basecoat is Barielle Natural Nail Camouflage, really nice and causes no pellies.
Wow! I’m so impressed with all the excellent suggestions! I agree with Ines that CND Cuticle Eraser and Lush Lemony Flutter are a winning combo. And the Barielle Nail Camouflage is great for hiding yellowed nails.
For thin or weakened nails, definitely give Lippmannn Hard Rock a try. It’s pricey, but I think my nails feel notably stronger after I put it on. It dries super quick as well.
I’ve tried a lot of cuticle products and I’m convinced that nothing works better than just diligence about moisturizing them, no matter with what. As long as your moisturize every time you wash your hands, at night, and after a shower with something (oil, cream, balm, whatever) you should notice an improvement.
One tip is to use cuticle oil immediately after stepping out of the shower. That is a good time for the skin to absorb moisture, so take advantage! When I am consistent about doing this on my feet, my dry cracked foot cuticles amazingly clean right up.
One more tip is that after you put lip balm on your lips, if you have a little bit extra on your finger and don’t know what to do with it, rub it on your cuticles. I always do my middle finger because it’s the most dry. It is great because it cleans the working side of your finger off and treats the cuticle a bit, too.
ok, I’ll shut up now.
I eate Biotin supplements 5-10mg dayly for 3-4 month, then I do a break. I wish to apply polish, but mainly i spend week after week growing the ends of my soft broken nails – just like in Julia’s case. I also ordered last week online nail Tek transition kit. Let’s see if it helps…
OPI Nail Envy has really helped me – I had really weak and brittle nails for about two years and couldnt figure out why (I still dont know!) and Nail Envy has really helped. They're long and strong now after only 2 months using it. Although I have heard that Nailtek Foundation II is better?
Other than that, Seche Vite topcoat and OPI Drip Dry nailpolish drying drops – I love those two products so so much!