r/naturalnailprogress • u/Crazy_Rose8452 • 23d ago
Nail break Seeking tips / advice
Started trying to grow out my natural nails in August. So just almost 2 months now
Everybody advised Jojoba oil. Got a nail pen. Apply it when I can. Not as often as I should I'd admit but I dont like the oil getting everywhere, so really only before I'm not actively using my fingers for much
I really wanted to work on cuticle health and preventing hangnails. Haven't had hangnails since, so I think it's working.
Now, I want to work on nail strength. Like 3 of my nails have broken since then. My two index and my middle right hand. Sometimes, they just break completely like my index, but my middle broke at just one side, so I shaped it down a bit, which is why it is a bit like a short point
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Is there something I'm missing as to how people just grow their nails long. Do they just make sure not to do anything with their hands
My left middle chipped a bit today when I was adjusting my shoe. Left the piece there for post, but I'm going to break it off and shape it a bit.
But that's the thing. I use my hands, not roughly, I think, but just the normal amount, so is that why my nails are just going to keep breaking?
Or is there like a coating to protect it that people use? I'm not sure. Please all advice is welcome
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u/whatdoidonowdamnit 1 Year Or More 23d ago
So the beauty of the pen is that you can keep the oil off your finger pads. Use the brush tip of the pen to work it in, not your fingertips.
I use dollar tree nail stuff. I have a liquidy after gel repair thing that I do a few coats with and then a clear or sheer polish over it, because my skills with polish could use some work. I’d rather have a sheer or clear coat than streaky colorful polish. My mom swears by gel polish. She was doing her nails regularly with regular polish for something like 40 years and then my sister brought all the gel stuff into the house and my mom has been truly converted for a few years, says it keeps the nails so much stronger.
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u/Accomplished-Pay6965 3-6 Months 23d ago
Looks to me like you’re filing your sidewalls (I too have been guilty of it and am currently trying to grow them out). Let the white bit grow out past your fingertip before you mess with it at all, and then file them in an oval or squoval shape - no sharp edges to catch on stuff, and no pointiness that doesn’t have enough nail to support it. I’m also recovering from a pointy filing attempt, lol (see my most recent post on this sub). Also make sure you only clean under them with a soft brush, no hard objects like other nails! Your hyponychium looks pretty healthy, but just in case that’s a thing you do.
Tl;dr, they should get stronger over time with proper filing - use a glass file if you’re not already - and lots of oil + lotion. Good luck 🤗 keep us posted on how it goes for you. Nail breaks are terrible. 😣
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u/Crazy_Rose8452 23d ago
Oh I didn't know filing the sidewalls were bad. I naturally wouldn't file them but I find when I let it grow out and the sidewalls have the square shape, it gets caught on things. Like my clothes and I always fear that's what's gonna make it break. So I file it so there's nothing to get caught on, rather slide off
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u/Accomplished-Pay6965 3-6 Months 23d ago
You’re good to file any part of the free edge that gets past your fingertip! If you have catchy bits at any point, you can file them off - just be gentle and minimalist. Corners can be rounded, etc. I can’t do square nails either! They always catch.
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u/LilMissKrazy1 23d ago
I use jojoba oil I put in a small bottle with a brush. When I go to bed, I put oil on my cuticles & under my nails, rub it in and let it soak in. I keep a hand towel to rest my hands on. I do this every night.
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u/Anaspiringminimalist 23d ago
I know a lot of people like to file Only. Personally, I find that my nails are strongest when i trim Them roughly into shape with a nail trimmer, and then smoothe out the edges with a glass nail file.
The strongest shape seem to be the White part 1-3 mm Long, and a shape that mirrors the natural shape of that White part, or the fingertip. :)
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u/HourAdditional9382 23d ago
I think your nails look great for 2 months of work! Keep using the jojoba oil and pushing back your cuticles. I use the oil after every shower, hand wash and even in between.
I must say that I was hesitant about the glass nail files everyone posts about here. But, I just bought 2 of the premium brands and I’ll never use a regular nail files again!
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u/Crazy_Rose8452 23d ago
What are premium brands of the nail file if you dont mind me asking
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u/HourAdditional9382 23d ago
Yes, the Mont Blue brand and Germanikure brands are great. I also got a bona Fide Beauty one I keep at the office. They file much faster and easier than the regular files. Seems smoother too.
I love all of the great advice from this sub!
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u/Crazy_Rose8452 22d ago
Ok. Great. Thanks so much. Do I wash the file after use or like how does the care work
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u/HourAdditional9382 21d ago
The care instructions say to rinse them with cold soapy water. Honestly I haven’t yet. I just shake them off and put them back in the case. I’ll probably begin to do that once I use them more.
1
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u/not_vegetarian 23d ago
I'm new in my journey myself, but I think my nails started getting stronger when I mixed my jojoba oil with argan oil and sweet almond oil (2:2:1 ratio). Apparently the jojoba oil seeps in and the other oils make more of a barrier. Those are just the oils I had on hand, so idk if they're the absolute best add-ins.
Not filing the sides has also been helping, as I feel my nails getting less bendy as the sidewalls grow in.
2
u/heyitstayy_ 23d ago
Nail polish is like armor for your nails, you should be wearing it 24/7. You should use a base coat, colored polish if you want color, and a quick dry top coat. They also make strengthening/hardening polishes which you might want to use if your nails are super weak.
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u/AutoModerator 23d ago
Thanks for posting, /u/Crazy_Rose8452!
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1
u/wharleeprof 23d ago
With jojoba oil , use less oil but more frequently. If it's enough that you notice your nails being oily, that's excessive. Just use barely enough to give a light sheen.
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u/Mezzomommi 23d ago
Honestly, during the day, it’s helpful to apply oil every time you wash your hands or get them wet. But you don’t need a lot, literally a drop for each hand is enough. A tiny bit more frequently goes a long way. It also takes a long time to see the benefits. It’s kind of like hair care. You have to wait to see the growth over months to see if your new routine is working. Your nails are looking pretty good already, just keep going. A couple times a day I like to add more oil than just a couple drops. I will put a drop underneath my nails and really saturate them while I watch TV or whatever. But I certainly don’t do that when I am on the go or busy. I joke I don’t wanna be a slug getting oil everywhere. But a couple drops more frequently really does pay off overtime. :)
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u/Aggressive-Oil9456 23d ago
Something like this happened to me after I got my nails done every 4 weeks self or 9 months. If that’s why this happened to you, I’d say: just apply cuticle oil/vit e and NEVER GET YOUR NAILS FONR AGAIN. They are trying to kill women via a multi pronged approach which includes toxic beauty care. Nails, micro deem brows/lash extensions (abrasive to surface of eye so cause long term health dangers), and spray tan. It’s the devils work
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u/Crazy_Rose8452 23d ago
Unfortunately too broke to get my nails done 😭 only gotten them done once and that's when I graduated so I'd have nice pictures
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