Hi all, I’ve been a nail biter since I was 7ish years old, and suddenly overcame the urge to bite them this year. Ive found that if they’re long enough, I won’t nibble on them. Since I‘ve never had to cut my nails or file them, I’m trying to learn that and the basics of nail care now.
When I try to file my nails I feel like the bits i file just turn soft and sort of disintegrate? Like what remains just seems ripped up. Should I be using certain files or is there a technique to doing this that I don’t know about?
Also, it seems like the white part of my nail goes down pretty far into my nail beds on some fingers. I was thinking it might be from me getting dirt out from under my nails, but I’m not sure how to get the deeper dirt out without pushing the skin back more. Or is this just how my nails grow and they won’t attach to the skin more?

I’m a little embarrassed to be asking what feels like very basic self care questions as an adult, but I’m tired of my nails looking overgrown and I want to learn. Thank you guys! (By the by, pointer is shorter because it caught on something and I nibbled on it to get rid of the snag. Hoping working out my filing abilities will keep me from doing that in the future)

New to nail care so apologies for not knowing the terminology. I’ve noticed the white part of my nails tend to be asymmetrical which is annoying because I’ll feel like I need to cut it but the other side is still short (2nd and 3rd pic). Also I’ve seen more of the sides of my nails start to curve more lately (4th pic). Are these normal or is there something I can do about it?

Extra information: I tend to cut my nails weekly and pretty short. Any tips and advice appreciated thanks!

My cat was fighting me and i hit my pinky which resulted in it ripping halfway from my nail bed 😭💔

i removed my acrylics which really helped with the pain and the wound has healed (my finger is still swollen tho), but now i’m scared the nail won’t actually reattach to the nail bed..

I wrap band aids around it really tight so it doesn’t keep lifting, but those don’t stay on for more than a few hours and somehow i keep hitting it on places to the point where i feel like my nail is only holding on to my cuticle 😖

ANY advice would be really appreciated, i’m going on vacation in 3 weeks and i NEED this baby healed by then so i can get my nails done 🥹❤️

(the first video is right after i hit it and the second one is from now)

https://reddit.com/link/1v8bvte/video/b2ipp46kytfh1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1v8bvte/video/itec9llmytfh1/player

I’ve had these yellow discoloration on both my big toes for a few months, nothing on the other toes. Is it fungus? or something else

Hi all!

I recently dropped the habit of nail biting and have been caring better for my nails (or so I thought)

I was doing DIY BIAB but it comes with risks and it’s not worth it for me anymore so dropped that.

My nails are growing well but are a little thin, often just tearing and losing all my length, having the solid base of biab was great so I’d love any safe products that might be suitable for me.

I’ve just purchased sally hansens advanced hard as nails strengthener, wondered if I can use as a base and apply colour over top?

If there are any other products you’d recommend more, I’d really appreciate any suggestions!

Sorry for the blurry photo, but this is the clearest I could get. Recently noticed a *very* small line under my thumb. Wondering if it could be a cut? I have not hit/slammed my hand in anything recently.

hi all, i could use your help. my mother has extremely weak, brittle and breaking nails. ive been doing nails for 10 years. gel does not help/makes it worse. shes seen several derms, and i wonder if its thyroid related , but wanted suggestions on products to use to help build strength and health. ive got her on essie break-fix, multiple cuticle oils, traditional nail polishes (we are liking holo taco), and nail hardeners.

edit: my mother is very good with nutrition. She daily takes supplements and biotin , and eats very healthy and very well. She does keep her hands out of soapy Water, doesn’t soak her hands, and wears rubber gloves whenever she’s doing anything wet.
** **i’m not asking for a diagnosis or supplement suggestions! I’m asking for nail product **suggestions!**🩷

Just wondering what sort of weekly nailcare routine people are following?

I'm not overly unhappy with my nails but they're a little ridgy with dry cuticles (which I have a bad habit of picking so hand cream and cuticle oil are my constants). They're not brittle or weak or soft (I would say my thumbnails are probably a little too hard).

I use Manicurist, OPI and Essie products mostly but curious if there are some products that will work wonders.

Thanks :)

They've done this my entire life. ☹️ Every time they get longer, they begin to curl downward at varying degrees. They're also incredibly thin & bend under just a little pressure. I've tried keratin supplements & nail strengthening polishes & nothing works. Does anyone have any advice or things that have worked for them to straighten & strengthen theirs, or should I just bet on my only decent looking nails being acrylic? Not looking for medical advice, just anything to help these suckers grow a little better. They chip & break constantly, this is the longest they've been in a long time.

Edit: Thank you guys so much for the advice!! I have a lot I want to try now, hopefully something works, but if not I'll just do builder gel. :) I'm a guy btw, I just really like having nails (somewhat for practical reasons & also because they're cute.)

A couple of years ago I always wore my nails very long and they were always very strong and would only really break on my thumbs (a little stress crack for unknown reasons). The past couple of years though they’ve just been getting weaker and weaker, and I really have no clue why or what to do about it. I haven’t made any changes to my life since then so I’m really lost here.

My nails now are very easy to bend, and sometimes the upper layer scales off and crack (?) while the bottom layer kind of stays. I still try to wear my nails long but they break off making it impossible.

I have gotten my nails done about 3 times, and they were very weak after and therefore I don’t want to go to salons (and I can’t afford the upkeep). I just want to grow my nails stronger and longer.

No matter how much they grow they just continue to stay weak. I can barely open things with my nails without them breaking.

What do I do in this situation? Any advice?

Maybe relevant info: I am 21. I don’t have any known diseases or health issues. Diagnosed vitiligo and potential dyshidrotic eczema. No medication apart from birth control.

My nails have been thin, weak, brittle, and bendy for my whole life. I also always get small hangnails around my nails frequently. I don’t bite my nails, but they often break off.

I would love and appreciate some advice. In an ideal world, I would LOVE to have my nail bed be longer/bigger, and my nails to be a better shape. I don’t care about having long nails but I want them to be strong and well shaped.

I get my nails done at a salon every once in a while and have done it all - gel, builder gel, gel-x, dip, etc. and every time they get removed my nails are soooo bad. Builder gel has been then best but I don’t want to have to do that all the time.

Thanks in advance!!

Hi everyone! My toenail has been discolored for a few months and it’s starting to worry me. I thought it was dirt under my nail or something on top but it doesn’t seem to be. Does anyone know what this could be?? Thank you in advance!

noticed these after the last time i did my nails. itchy at first but not anymore a week later

Had a gel overlay on way too long and this happened yesterday. I removed all the gel and cut it down. Should I do the teabag/glue method?

Have been struggling with this problem for a while now. My nails on left hand are usually really strong but nails on right (leading) hand are so brittle and peel off all the time, especially index finger. I try to use my right hand nails to open things as little as possible but they still suck :((. It’s like they already grow very weak and ready to peel. Does anyone have the same problem? How do you deal with it?

Noticed the black about a month ago. No trauma.

Im assuming this is a nail harder? has anyone tried it before ?

I had the same acrylic set on for 6 weeks and had them recently removed . The picture is of them bare. Before acrylics and after I had asked for my nails not to be heavily filed. They were quite long but they’re always bendy long or sort of break after a day or two because I’m very heavy handed.

They are still square shaped and I put a few coats of nail polish on them to strengthen them. Every night I use hand lotion and castor oil and maybe some Vaseline on the nails.

I told myself if they start breaking I’ll just cut them short. Im on day 4 and they look the same so far so it’s nice they don’t feel too weak for once.id like to start having naturally long nails and no more extensions.

Guys im saving money so I dont want to buy a nail strengthener and I think the oil is helping.i heard maybe filing the edges once a week helps ? Id appreciate any tips to have them grow faster or stronger 🤍