9 Greatest Nail Strengtheners of 2025, Examined and Derm-Accredited

Your nails undergo quite a bit: handwashing, sprucing, possibly some absent-minded choosing (responsible). It’s solely regular to search out the occasional chip—however should you’re noticing that your suggestions are peeling or cracking far past what a manicure can repair, utilizing a nail strengthener might help.

Consider these hydrating therapies like moisturizers to your mani. They might help hydrate and defend your nails in order that they’re much less vulnerable to breakage, Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founding father of Radiant Derm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, tells SELF. Bonus: They’re skinny, (largely) clear, and dry sooner than common polish, in order that they solely take a couple of minutes to use.

To seek out the most effective nail strengtheners, we chatted dermatologists as much as study which key components it is best to search for. We additionally examined a bunch of choices from high manufacturers like O.P.I and Sally Hansen to search out out in the event that they actually work. Able to strive one? Store our favorites beneath.

Our high picks

1. Greatest Total: O.P.I. Nail Envy Unique Nail Strengthener
2. Runner-Up: Olive & June Superior Nail Strengthener
3. Greatest Finances Choose: Sally Hansen Onerous As Nails

FAQs about nail strengtheners

Store the most effective nail strengtheners

In between manis, these strengtheners might help you retain your nails wanting (and feeling) wholesome.

Greatest Total: O.P.I. Nail Envy Unique Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Is available in a number of colours
• Offers nails loads of shine
• Can be utilized as a base coat

Cons

• On the dear facet
• Peels after about 5 days

In case you really feel bare with out nail polish on, strive O.P.I.’s Nail Envy. It’s full of conditioning components like biotin, however is available in colours which can be simply as opaque as common polish. (You possibly can even seize it within the model’s staple shade, “Bubble Bathtub.”)

Whenever you apply this remedy, it’ll kind a movie over your nails to stop them from shedding any extra moisture. Our tester loves utilizing the clear shade, which she says immediately makes her nails look more healthy. “Making use of two coats of OPI Nail Envy is like an IRL model of the wonder filter for my nails,” she says. “It provides a refined shine that appears to blur any imperfections on my nails’ surfaces.” It additionally hydrates with panthenol—certainly one of our consultants’ favourite components.

Runner-Up: Olive & June Superior Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Dries tremendous quick
• Very hydrating

Cons

• Gained’t add any sheen or protecting movie to your nails

Olive & June’s strengthener accommodates main hydrators glycerin and panthenol, to deeply moisturize your nails whereas stopping flakes and breakage. I’ve been utilizing it for the previous few weeks, and I’m formally an enormous fan. I utilized it two or 3 times per week (because the bottle recommends “for an intensive remedy”), and I undoubtedly seen a distinction.

My nails have been tremendous dry from the chilly NYC winter, and I’ve had hangnails galore. However after per week of often making use of this, I spotted that the layers of my nails weren’t peeling as a lot and I had much less breakage. The very best half is that it dries instantly, so I can do a fast layer earlier than mattress and never fear about it sticking or smudging, like nail polish can. It now has a everlasting spot on my nightstand.

Greatest Finances Choose: Sally Hansen Onerous As Nails

Professionals

• Offers nails a shiny end
• Brush is simple to make use of
• It’s certainly one of our dermatologist’s private favorites

Cons

• Takes longer to dry down
• Smells like nail polish

Sally Hansen’s Onerous As Nails is an OG—Dr. Spearman says she is aware of it really works as a result of she makes use of it on her personal nails, and he or she recommends it to her sufferers usually. Its ingredient lineup contains butylene glycol to hydrate, in addition to a wide range of oils (safflower, linseed, and soybean) to nourish.

One SELF tester says the packaging gave her no hassle—the comb has a helpful form and is simple to make use of (in contrast to that cumbersome, frayed brush in your most well-loved bottle of polish). She additionally likes the shiny end that’s paying homage to a high coat.

Extra nice choices

Nonetheless haven’t discovered “the one?” Under are a couple of extra well-liked, dermatologist-recommended picks. Although we haven’t examined them for ourselves but, we nonetheless suppose they’re value a strive.

ISDIN SI-NAILS Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Journey-friendly packaging
• Can be utilized on nails and cuticles
• Soaks in effectively

Cons

“The secret is to discover a nail strengthener that’s simple sufficient to be according to and addresses your particular nail considerations,” Dr. Houshmand says. For her, that product is that this ISDIN serum as a result of it’s simple to use any time, wherever. “It helps with each nail thickness and energy,” she says.

Its star components are hyaluronic acid, a hydration superhero, and pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) gum, which has been proven to extend nail firmness, Dr. Houshmand says. Pop this pen into your purse, automobile, or work bag so you’ll be able to apply it on the go.

Tenoverten The Basis Base Coat

Professionals

• Smooths nails
• Combats dryness

Cons

Tenoverten’s The Basis is a base coat that doubles as a nail strengthener, with moisturizing components and a formulation that fills in cracks, so your mani seems to be smoother. Dr. Houshmand recommends it to anybody with dry nails as a result of it has vitamin E, which helps hydrate and restore nails which can be vulnerable to cracking and breaking. (It doesn’t harm that the glossy packaging may also look good in your self-importance.)

Essie Onerous to Resist Superior Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Has a shiny end
• Is available in a couple of sheer colours

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it begins to yellow after a couple of days

Take a look at Essie’s Onerous to Resist line in order for you one thing that’ll add a pleasant tint to your nails whereas strengthening them on the identical time. It is available in a couple of sheer colours that every one have a shiny end to spruce up your DIY mani. Dr. Spearman additionally says the formulation stays put (learn: no chipping).

Nails.INC Gimme Power Nail Remedy

Professionals

• Finances-friendly
• Provides a refined pink sheen

Cons

• Packaging is finicky to open

Whereas I’m presently testing this Nails.INC remedy, my first impression was a constructive one: Its creamy pink coloration immediately made my nails look extra presentable (which was a troublesome feat, contemplating I broke two nails proper earlier than making an attempt it).

I’m additionally impressed with the ingredient listing, which features a bunch of moisturizing oils like coconut, avocado, apricot, and rosehip, to call a couple of. I’ve been skipping common polish to let my nails heal, however I’d slightly put on this than go bare, so I’ll maintain making use of it often and replace my assessment quickly.

duri Rejuvacote 1 Nail Development System

Professionals

• Good for very dry nails
• Prevents chipping
• Dries shortly

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it stings

This formulation “creates a protecting barrier in your nails with hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, and calcium,” Dr. Houshmand says. It’s an important possibility should you’re scuffling with nails that chip, peel, or crack, because it’ll create a seal over these layers to carry moisture in and maintain dry air out.

Orly Nail Protection

Professionals

• Prevents chipping
• Finances-friendly

Cons

• Amazon reviewers say it has a chemical scent

Orly’s Nail Protection additionally makes use of hydrolyzed wheat protein to guard your nails and provides them time to heal. Plus, it has soybean and safflower seed oils to moisturize and horsetail extracts to enhance texture and brittleness.

Amazon reviewers say it really works properly as a base and high coat, so you’ll be able to proceed reaching for it even when your nails are robust once more.

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