If your nail is getting stuck in your hair, your clothes and in every other thing because they have broken or separated, then you are suffering from a condition known as split nails. Having your nails separate in two, and stick out at odd angles so that they scratch you and tear at things and get stuck in places is legit the worst feeling ever, which is why it is high time that we tell you how to treat split nails, so that you never have to deal with the problem again.
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Split nails are a problem for several reasons. For one, they don’t allow your hands to function as they should, because the nails are constantly getting stuck in things and giving you that awful tingly feeling down your spine. However, a more serious consequence of split nails is the general health of your nails itself.
Split nails leave your nails vulnerable to disease and infection and the entrance of dirt and bacteria and other things. It also weakens your nails to a great extent, and makes them prone to other problems such as breakage, brittleness, weakness, etc.
Suggested read: The Best Brittle Nails Treatment That You Can Do At Home
If you don’t know how to treat split nails, and you think the only solution is to either cut your nails or cover the split part with nail polish, then worry not, for we have the perfect solution for you. Here is everything you need to know about treating your split nails yourself.
Step 1: Prepping your nails
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Before you start treating your nails, you have to prep your nails so that they are in the ideal condition to be treated. If you start treating your damaged nails, with nail polish and chipped nail enamel still intact, then the effect of the treatment will be completely lost, and you will suffer from the problem soon after.
To prep your nails, the first step is to remove any residual nail polish that you might have on. When you are removing it, make sure that none of the strands of cotton get stuck in your nails. This is a common problem that you have to deal with, when you are trying to treat split nails. Cotton strands can further get cemented in your nails and create problems such as infections. Clean your nails with an acetone-free remover, and cut out any extra bots of nail that might be sticking out.
Step 2: Identify the problem
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The next step of treating your split nails is understanding what the problem is. To do this, we first have to look at the causes of split nails. The most common causes include:
- Prolonged exposure to moisture and water
- Extreme temperatures
- Lack of nutrition
- External injury
- Hypothyroidism
- Chemicals (in household products, nail polish, etc.)
When you engage in certain activities, one or the above causes can lead to your nail splitting unexpectedly. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then your hands are constantly exposed to moisture and water, which can dry out your nails and cause them to split. Also, if you are wearing nail polish and removing it all the time, then the chemicals in these products can also cause your nails to weaken, and then split.
Depending on the cause of the problem, which you have to identify yourself, you can preventive and precautionary measures. You can wear gloves, and reduce the frequency with which you change your nail paint, or take nutrient supplements after consulting with your doctor, in order to prevent your nails from splitting. However, if they have split already, then proceed to step 3, so that you know the best way to treat it.
Step 3: Trim your nails
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This might sound like a very simplistic step, but it is in fact, the most practical step of all. Trimming your nails, especially the split part is one of the easiest ways to solve your problem. If you are a patient person, then you can wait for the split part of your nail to grow out completely, all the while trimming the area little by little without cutting off too much of your nail.
Step 4: Wear gloves
Working becomes a hassle when you have split nails. To protect your nails and also make working a less trying experience, you should cover your hands in whatever way you can. The easiest way to do this is by wearing gloves. Gloves protect your hands from chemicals and dirt, and also protect your nails from moisture and exposure to water all the time, so that the conditions doesn’t worsen, as you are treating your nails.
Step 5: Use a nail strengthener
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Nail strengtheners are a highly underrated nail product that everyone who suffers from any nail-related problem must own. They are fortified with essential Vitamins and compounds which help the keratin in your nails re-grow at a faster rate, and make your nails stronger.
Keratin is the protein that makes up your nails and is the primary constituent of your nails, which breaks down due to a number of reasons (most of which are listed above). However, when you use a nail strengthener, you can either promote the growth of keratin in your nails or mimic the function of the compound, or it can act like a natural glue, which holds the surface of your nails together, so that it doesn’t split any further.
Suggested read: The All-Round Guide For Choosing The Best Nail Strengthener
Step 6: Moisturize your nails
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Using too many chemicals on your nails can dry them out. Surprisingly, exposing your nails to too much water can also break down the keratin bonds in your nails, and dry them out. In order to reverse the damage that it causes, you have to moisturize your nails and your cuticles frequently. This also makes the base, and helps heal your split nails faster.
You can use store-bought moisturizers, which are especially made for your nails and cuticles. You can also make your own with naturally moisturizing ingredients such as vegetable oils like olive oil, coconut oil, etc.
Step 7: Take Vitamin supplements
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The deficiency of nutrients like calcium, protein and vitamins in your body can be one of the major reasons why your nails split. In fact, any nail-related condition is usually a telling sign of a much more serious problem in your system. In this case, it is the lack of certain essential nutrients, which you need to make up for, in order to treat your split nails and prevent them from occurring again.
The best way to do this is by taking nutrition supplements, especially multi-vitamin supplements, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E capsules, which can help your nails heal faster, and render you with overall good health.
Home Remedies for Split Nails
The steps for treating split nails at home were outlined above, and you have noticed, those were relatively uncomplicated. However, if even after following those steps you feel that you aren’t doing enough to treat your split nails, then you can check out some natural ingredients which you can use to cure the condition faster. Here are some things that you can find in your kitchen and pantry, ingredients that are loaded with healing properties so that you can treat your condition more effectively and emerge with healthy and intact nails.
1. Apple cider vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar is loaded with a number of minerals and vitamins which can help your nails heal faster. It also prevents your nails from developing infections and diseases during the healing process. Simply soaking your nails in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water is considered a highly effective treatment.
2. Sea salt
Sea salt has properties which can make your nails strong by rendering it with the missing minerals and vitamins, which is causing the problem in the first place. It is the ideal solution for broken and brittle nails, as it makes your nails strong, and shiny. Soak your hands in a bowl containing warm water with 2 tablespoons of sea salt dissolved in it, and you will be able to get rid of your condition within a week.
Suggested read: The Ultimate Nail Care Tips You Need For Healthy, Beautiful Nails
3. Beer
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Beer has a number of good properties, as it contains phosphorus, selenium and biotin, all of which are required by the nail for better growth and a stronger buildup. To help your nails by using beer as your home remedy, simply soak your nails in a solution containing a cup of beer, half a cup of olive oil and a cup of apple cider vinegar. This should help your nails heal and grow back at a considerably faster rate.
If you had any doubts about how to treat split nails, then this guide should have helped clear most of the questions you had regarding the problem. However, if you have anything else that you need to know about treating your split nails condition at home with maximum effect; don’t forget to ask us your questions in the comments section below!
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