If you struggle with soft, bendy, and breakable tips, we hear you.
Some people naturally have thinner nails.
To come, everything you’re gonna wanna know about soft and bendy nails.
What are soft and bendy nails?
Not sure if you actually have bendy nails?
Causes of soft and bendy nails:
Exposure to cleaning ingredients.
You could be exposed to these chemicals through work, cleaning your home, etc.
The fix
Acrylic nails or gel manicures.
This one is a bit easier to spot, given that you either have acrylic tips or you dont.
However, its important to note that these effects can be lasting.
If your brittle nails arent something new, it may be genetic.
Family history was significantly associated with the likelihood of having brittle nails,researchers note2.
Dont fret if thats the casetheres nothing wrong with keeping your nails short.
Look at the nail matrix, Stern says.
you could usually see this as the half-moon on the thumbnail.
If you have a small nail matrix, youre more likely to have thin nails.
A larger matrix symbolizes the potential for thicker, stronger nails.
Keep reading to learn more.
Working with your hands.
Research demonstrates that working in wet conditions can lead toincreased nail brittleness3.
Moreover, repeated water exposure can also lead tonail peeling4.
So if your nails are both soft and peeling, this may be your main culprit.
Some diseases.
Decreased vascularization and oxygenation of the nail matrix is associated with brittle nails, she adds.
This can occur in diseases such as peripheral artery disease, and Raynauds disease.
Aging leads to a decrease in cholesterol content in the nail which results inincreased brittleness, Stern says.
This is inevitable but may help explain why your nails have become increasingly thinner over time.
Nutrient deficiencies.
When youre not getting enough of certain nutrients, your nails will likely reflect the lack.
Summary
How to strengthen bendy and soft nails.
You may now have a hint as to why your nails are chronically bendy.
Next, lets dive into the actionable tips.
Take a break from nail styling.
If you could, take a break from those invasive nail styles.
In the meantime, work on tending to your nail health and use natural polish.
Take nail supplements.
Nail growth is highly dependent on topical care of the nail.
However, you may consider adding abiotinsupplement to your routine.
Specifically, biotin has been shown tosupport thickness and firmness of nails6in several human studies.
Not sure where to look?
Weve compiled a list of the8 best hair, skin, and nail supplements hereto ease your search.
Address nutritional deficiencies.
You cant know what nutrients youre deficient in without getting tested.
Instead, visit a medical professional.
Try natural strengthening treatments.
Youll want to invest in a strengthening treatment if you really want to see a difference in nail thickness.
Hydrate your hands, cuticles, and nails.
), that function will be affected as well.
To sum it up: Cuticle care is essential for thriving, long nails.
In fact, you should be using it daily.
If you don’t have one on hand already, here are10 A+ oils to choose from.
Use a base coat.
Before you apply polish, be sure to slather on a nutrient-rich base coat.
FAQ
Are healthy nails bendy?
Because bendy nails can be resulting from genetics, theyre not always a sign of unhealthy nails in general.
What does having bendy nails mean?
Are bendy nails triggered by vitamin deficiencies?
Although its not well documented, some studies have shown that iron deficiency may cause brittle nails.
To be sure, visit a medical professional to test your nutrient levels.
The takeaway.
If you struggle with nails that tear like a piece of paper, youre not alone.
Remember that some people naturally have thin nails, and that’s okay too.
Ready to ditch your gel for a healthier manicure?
If so,this guide is for you.
