Over the past year I've made a concerted effort to take better care of my nails as I've gotten back into regularly painting them. This sub has given me a lot of great advice and guidance on nail care. I switched to a glass nail file. I regularly oil my cuticles and moisturize. I regularly wear gloves when washing dishes and cleaning. I switched to a PVB-free base coat and started incorporating Nailtiques Formula 2 into my routine. I try to avoid using them as tools, but that's sometimes easier said than done. The peeling and breakage occur on the fingers I use the most (thumbs, index, and middle, as seen in the photos) and my job involves a lot of typing, so I'm sure that doesn't help either. Maybe it's my body chemistry? I'm thinking the only way to fix them is to take a break from painting them for a few months, but when I resume I'll just be right back where I started from. It feels so frustrating to do all the right things and they still regularly peel and break. Can anyone else relate or commiserate?🥲
by MicellarBaptism
18 Comments
I 100% feel you. My right (dominant) index and middle fingers are super short right now bc they just keep chipping and breaking and my left middle finger is still trying to grow back out after a tear several weeks ago.
I do the same as you although I’m not as good about wearing gloves when doing dishes or not using my nails as tools. I just don’t always have the patience or ability to prioritize my nails over getting things done.
I don’t have any useful advice for you, but you’re not alone. For now, I just try to keep my nails polishes most of the time so they’re better protected.
I just switched to Nailtiques 2 and my peeling is GONE!
I have the same problem and have tried most of the same remedies, to no avail. I recently bought KBShimmer’s Stay Put Hydrating Base Coat and am noticing much less peeling and breaking, but I’ve been using it for only a week, so who knows if that will continue.
I think some of us just have weaker nails, unfortunately. It’s probably genetic–my mom has never been able to grow her nails long, either.
Also, to comply with sub rules these are totally bare nails. No product, not even cuticle oil, because I applied Nailtiques Formula 2 not long after taking these photos.
Honestly, I was dehydrating my nails before polishing, and using Nailtiques Formula 2 and believe both things made my nails worse. They’ve become very brittle and ridged, and the free edges are in terrible shape now.
I’ve switched to Sally Hansen’s 7-in-1 treatment because it claims to be hydrating. I also do a nail soak between polish changes and just wipe off the excess with a paper towel, wait maybe 20-30 mins, then begin painting. I think it’s helping, but I’m keeping my nails pretty short so I can file down the damaged bits as they grow out (sigh). I also have really upped my oiling game.
All that to say, I empathize and sympathize with your frustration!
While I think switching to a glass file, no longer picking at my polish or any flaking nail bits, and keeping my nails painted 24/7 has probably done the most to stop my peeling (which was comparable to yours), I’d also credit Duri Rejuvicote 2 for helping strengthen my nails. If your current nail product isn’t working well for you, maybe give that one a try? I wear it under my basecoat all the time now and have decently strong nails.
I can relate. 😭 I’ve always had bendy, weak, peeling nails. 2025 was wild though, my nails would not stop peeling all the way down the nail plate. It was actually my OBGYN that ran a bunch of blood tests because she thought something was wrong. Turns out I have Graves Disease (Hyperthyroidism) and anemia.
I’m not a medical professional, but getting labs done can uncover underlying health issues that make growing your nails a challenge. After 4 months of treatment my nails are finally growing again. 💅💪
I can relate 😭 no matter how much I lotion and oil, they’re still brittle and peeling. I hate the way they look and I am so envious of all the laqueristas with beautiful nails.
ugh i totally feel your pain! i literally have the same issues and it’s so frustrating. i have found that my nails are extremely sensitive to any basic nail polish and will flake immediately if i use the wrong one — but they will just flake all the time in general anyway. i actually switched to allergen-friendly builder gels and have had a lot of success (brands like light elegance and attain – but there’s LOTS of prework on getting into DIY gels, i’m sure someone will come comment on allergens immediately after i post this). idk if this would help you, but i learned from my pedicurist that hand and especially feet skin have higher urea levels than other parts of your body, so i use a 10% urea lotion on my hands and feet every night now and have noticed a huge difference. good luck!! this sucks!! you’re not alone!!
Do you pick at your skin or other things? I noticed that my peeling was worse on my index finger and edges of my middle and pinky and realised those are the nails I use to pick at my skin and that was causing damage.
My nails started peeling last year. I finally got nailtiques and it’s been a life saver. I always used jojoba oil (even before the peeling) and did not find it was helping. Using nailtiques for the pat crew months and slowly growing out the damaged worked a miracle. I’m finally getting some length back and not getting any new peeling. 😭♥️
Currently taking a break due to the same exact issues! I barely remember to wear dish gloves. I never remember to moisturize or oil my cuticles. But even when I do, it don’t do shit 🥲 solidarity in shitty shorties right there with you
There are silicone soft covers for keyboards to help with the edges splitting from typing all day. As a nail tech, I can tell you from this pic that I would not assume you take care of your nails much at all. You say you oil and moisturize, but with what oil and how frequently? I see you don’t push your cuticles back, which is an important part of nail health. You use polish products off and on, but you need to be following the directions in the packaging for best results. Naked nails are more prone to splits, snags, breaks, since they have no protection.
Are you using pure acetone? My nails HATE acetone so even with Nailtiques and a bunch of hydrating oil, they kept peeling when I used pure acetone. I switched to zoya which has only a little bit of acetone, and I do two coats of Nailtiques formula 2 instead of any base coat. It almost completely fixed my nails, save for two stubborn ones that occasionally peel again.
I did do two weeks at the start where I just did a coat of Nailtiques daily and then removed after day 7 to start fresh, so that might’ve helped too, but now my nails are painted 24/7 and always with Nailtiques as a base. Nailtiques has helped for sure but they really didn’t improve much until I cut out acetone. It’s supposed to be better for your nails than nail polish removing mixtures, but I’m pretty sure that some people’s nail chemistry just can’t handle it.
I was in the same boat for years (and still am a little bit). But what’s helped for me is 1) not pushing my cuticles back. I think whenever I did, I was accidentally scratching away at my nail plate. 2) using Nail-Aid Biotin 3) keeping my nails painted almost 24/7. Keeping them painted helps protect them a bit and also makes me more conscious of when I’m beating up my nails. Turns out I’m just really rough on them!
Someone else commented about skin picking…I also think this has wreaked havoc on my index fingers since I put pressure on them so that they almost bend every single night. Tough habit to break.
As a base coat I’ve always used a nail hardener/strengthener. I’m a stylist so hands always in water. If I don’t wear polish my nails peel like crazy. With polish or just using strengthener, no peeling. My personal antidote. And cuz I know I’ll be asked for more than 20 years I used beauty secrets, The Rock nail strengthener until they discontinued it last year. I’m currently using Essie and so far I’m satisfied with it. I’m still in mourning for my Rock
I was having that problem for a bit and I THINK I am on the other side of it. I cannot promise. First off, I took 2-3 months off of manicures. I cut my nails short and let the peels grow out, making sure to moisturize with Onyx hard as hoof nail strengthening cream once a day and lotion after washing my hands, and I started taking a B complex vitamin every morning. I also use mooncat nail strengthing base coat when I do manicures now. I haven’t had a peeling nail through two manicures. My current manicure has no chips after 5 days. Where as during my peeling nails days, they would start chipping within 24-48 hours.
It sounds like you’re doing all the right things which makes me wonder if it’s something internal. I am not a doctor at all (just a professional patient lol) but do you know if you have any vitamin deficiencies? Iron, B7 (biotin), zinc, B12, calcium, magnesium, and protein can all cause weak nails. For me I’m low in all of them right now so my nails are a mess.
Hypothyroidism is another cause, which I saw you say you have and you’re on meds for. Eczema and psoriasis can also cause nail damage, but I think it usually causes pitting and not peeling.
Your GP might be able to help and/or write a referral to a dermatologist since they’re like podiatrists but for fingernails (and skin and hair).
I wish I had better suggestions for you. I hope you figure out why they keep peeling and flaking. Good luck!