So I really started getting into nail polish and nail care when my nails got really crappy this winter. My index fingernails always had a tendency to peel/break, but I’m super tough on my nails, so it was just par for the course. This winter though all my nails started peeling. If I could grow them out a little from being nubs then they’re break. After a few months I got frustrated, and decided to do something about it.

I stopped using pure acetone as a polish removing (though I do still use it for glitters that are hard to remove w/ non-acetone polish – I’m too impatient for the “foil method”), started taking vitamins, and religiously moisturizing my hands and cuticles. I also started using…

Orly Nail Defense

I followed the directions on the box, and my nails started looking really good. They didn’t grow faster, but they did grow stronger. For a month. This has protein in it, which is great, but used too often and your nails get brittle, as mine did. Now I use it once a week (I change my polish 2-3x a week) and Sally Hansen Complete Care Extra Moisturizing the other times, which until recently has been working great.

Right now I’ve had the top layer of the tips of my nails on both index fingers, and one middle finger peel right off. So I decided to try a little experiment. I found some Nutra Nail hardener on clearance, and decided to try it just on the tips where the layers have peeled off.

Nutra Nail Nail hardener w/ Green Tea

So far I haven’t had any of the weakened tips completely break off using this method, but really it’s just a matter of time. At some point I will bang them against something w/ enough force to snap them off hardener or not.

I was so annoyed by the situation though that I decided to pick up yet another treatment while I was down at the drugstore.

Sally Hansen Miracle Cure (for severe problem nails)

I’m finding that nail treatments are a lot like any other beauty treatments: very “your milage may vary”. I guess the only to do is to find the thing, or combination of things, that works with your specific chemistry.

On a happier note my Zoya’s from the exchange arrived this morning Right now I haven’t got anything on my nails since I’m letting some cuticle oil soak in for a few hours before I do my mani, but I’m having a very hard time decided which one to use first.