The good news: it’s usually fixable once you hit the real cause.
Why nails break (most common reasons)
💧 Dehydration (the #1 culprit)
Nails need moisture just like skin.
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Frequent handwashing
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Sanitizer
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Dry air
👉 Brittle, peeling, splitting nails = usually dry, not “weak”
🧴 Too much water + chemicals
Ironically, water weakens nails when they’re soaked a lot.
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Dishes
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Cleaning products
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Long showers
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Acetone removers
🥗 Nutrient gaps
Common deficiencies linked to breaking nails:
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Biotin
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Iron
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Protein
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Zinc
If nails bend, split, or won’t grow—nutrition matters.
🧬 Aging & hormones
As we get older:
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nail growth slows
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oil production drops
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nails dry out faster
Totally normal, annoyingly real.
💅 Nail habits
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Using nails as tools
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Picking gel or polish
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Over-buffing
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Constant gel/acrylic use
All weaken the nail layers.
How to stop nails from breaking (what actually works)
✔️ Moisturize daily (non-negotiable)
Use:
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cuticle oil (jojoba is gold)
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hand cream after every wash
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petroleum jelly at night (gloves = bonus)
✔️ Protect them
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Wear gloves for dishes & cleaning
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Keep nails shorter while repairing
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File in one direction only
✔️ Gentle polish strategy
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Use a strengthening base coat
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Avoid acetone when possible
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Give nails polish-free breaks
✔️ Eat for nail strength
Focus on:
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Eggs, nuts, salmon
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Beans, lentils
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Leafy greens
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Greek yogurt
Optional: biotin supplement (2,500–3,000 mcg)
Give it 8–12 weeks—nails grow slowly.
When to look deeper
If nails are:
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breaking constantly despite care
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spoon-shaped
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very pale
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ridged + brittle
…it might be worth checking iron or thyroid levels with a doctor.
Bottom line
Most breaking nails aren’t weak—they’re dry, overworked, or underfed.
If you want, tell me:
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natural vs. polished nails
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gel/acrylic history
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splitting vs. peeling vs. snapping
I’ll tailor a repair routine just for you 💛