There are plenty of skin care rituals to keep our faces, hands and feet looking their best. But, beyond the occasional manicure, our nails — composed of the same protein as our top layer of skin — often remain untreated, leading to frequent splitting and breaking.
We spoke to nail experts about everything you need to know to nourish your natural nails properly, including their recommendations on the best nail strengtheners for healing damaged nails. We also included everything you need to know about the recent ban on gel nail polish products in Europe (more on that, and what it means for you and your nails, below).
Brittle nails that crack or peel are not uncommon. In fact, Harvard Medical School suggests that over one in four women have onychoschizia, or nail fragility. Various factors like dehydration, nail-biting and even everyday tasks like typing can be the cause. That being said, experts recommend nail strengtheners for people with nails that frequently split or crack.
How we picked the best nail strengtheners
To pick the best nail strengtheners, we followed expert guidance and included only options with active healing ingredients, which you can read more about below.
“Nail strengtheners work by providing extra protection to your nails and helping them to become thicker and stronger over time,” says Dr. Randa Jaafar, who specializes in interventional pain and wrinkle reduction. “They contain ingredients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E, which help to nourish and protect the nail. When used regularly, these ingredients can help improve your nails’ overall strength and health.” While nails generally become weaker over time, with regular use, nail strengtheners can help to rebuild and revitalize your natural nails.
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The best nail strengtheners in 2025
There are dozens of nail strengtheners on the market today, many of which use similar ingredients to achieve the best results for your nails. Deciding which brand works best depends on various factors, including application type, frequency of use and price point. To help you, we’ve followed expert advice to round up some highly rated picks that our editors and nail enthusiasts love.
Best overall
“After a few back-to-back Gel-X manicures, my nails need a breather — but once I leave them bare they immediately start breaking. That’s when I turn to this nail strengthener from OPI. It keeps my nails healthy for when I head back to the salon for a new set,” says NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez.This nail serum is designed to rebuild the damaged keratin bonds in your nails to help make them stronger, according to the brand. It has maleic acid to penetrate the surface of the nails and strengthen them from within, making them more resistant to breakage and giving them less ridges and better color.
Best for nail growth
Keratin is one of the essential proteins required for nail growth, which is why it’s a common ingredient in nail strengtheners and frequently recommended by our experts. This Nail-Aid treatment, a favorite of NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson and associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris, facilitates nail growth in just a few days, especially when used regularly.
Best for damaged nails
NBC Select editorial intern Andriana Kourkoumelis uses Dermelect’s smoothing ridge filler to help her bare nails look healthy after years of biting and damage from extensions. “I’m on my journey to grow out my natural nails this year and this product truly gives my hands a makeover. No matter how weak or short they are, just one coat helps them look like I got them cleaned up at a salon,” she says. The polish has strengthening protein peptides to smooth over any imperfections on the nail, plus it has a sheer shimmery pink finish.
Best hand lotion
This hand and nail lotion not only helps to moisturize skin with Vaseline Jelly, but it also has mineral oil and keratin, two ingredients Green recommends in any nail strengthener. This product has a 4.4-star average rating from over 1,500 reviews on Amazon, with several reviewers citing a noticeable improvement in nail strength in a couple of weeks.
Best base coat
NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown loves acrylic tips, but when she’s ready to give her nails a rest, this Sally Hansen nail strengthener is her favorite product. “I like this one because it doubles as a clear polish, so my nails are naked but not that naked, and still getting the nourishment they need from the protein and silk formula,” she says. “Whenever I’m wearing this, my nails feel harder and break way less.”
Best value cream
Morris was initially introduced to this nail-strengthening cream by her roommate, who’s sworn by it for years. It has vitamins A, C, E and D, beeswax and jojoba oil to condition and nourish nails while moisturizing the skin around them, according to the brand. Morris says the formula isn’t drying, and that there’s no strong chemical smell — instead, it has a lovely coconut scent.
Best primer
Editorial operations associate Jem Alabi loves to prep her nails before a manicure with this nail strengthening primer by Dazzle Dry. “It comes as part of a system for nail care, and I plan to buy the bundle in the future,” she says. This product removes excess oils and cleans the nail to create a clean canvas for an at-home manicure, according to the brand. The formula also prevents chipping, according to reviewers.
Best oil
Vitamin E, which Green notes is critical for healthier nails, is a primary ingredient in this nail and cuticle oil. Jojoba oil, which helps lock in moisture over time, is also a primary ingredient.
Best polish
You can use this polish either a standalone treatment or as a base coat underneath your manicure. “I stopped biting my nails just last year after over 20 years, and this treatment was one of the only products that actually brought my brittle, damaged nails back to life,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio. Ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium help build stronger nails over time, while the variety of color options lets you maintain a stylish manicure while your nails heal.
Best cream
This nail cream works best when applied a couple of times daily, according to the brand. Its main ingredient, lanolin, has been found to reduce the amount of water lost through the skin by up to 30%, which in turn helps to prevent nail cracking and cuticle peeling. This cream has a 4.5-star average rating from 1,800 reviews on Amazon.
Best vegan
Expert-recommended vitamin E enhances this vegan and cruelty-free formula, which is made without harmful chemicals like acetone and formaldehyde. You can also use it underneath polish, but it may affect how long your manicure lasts. The product has a 4.3-star average rating from 9,700 reviews on Amazon.
Best top coat
You can use this Duri product as both a base coat and a top coat to help keep in moisture and provide a healthy dose of collagen and fatty acids, which are two expert-recommended ingredients for stronger, healthier nails. It has a 4.4-star average rating from over 4,700 reviews on Amazon.
Best for peeling
This Orly nail treatment works over two weeks to promote strong and healthy nail growth, according to the brand. It has bamboo extract, green tea, hemp seed oil and vitamin C to prevent your nails from peeling, splitting and breaking, and it’s especially great for nails that have been damaged by acrylic or gel nails. It also has a 4.2 star average rating from 80 reviews at Ulta.
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How to shop for a nail strengthener
When it comes to finding the right nail strengthener for you, experts say that there are a few ingredients to look for and avoid while shopping. “When looking for a nail strengthener, you should look for key ingredients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E,” says Dr. Jaafar.
In addition to looking for certain nourishing ingredients, she recommends steering clear of nail polishes and other nail-strengthening products that contain harsh chemicals, which can damage nails.
Ingredients to look for in nail strengtheners
- Calcium: Brittle bones and nails are often linked to calcium deficiencies, especially since calcium is a key mineral for stronger nails. Insufficient calcium intake could result in nails that break or chip more easily or become thinner over time.
- Magnesium: Given that magnesium is necessary for protein synthesis in your body (which nails need to grow), it isn’t surprising that this mineral is important for healthy nails. Folks with vertical ridges in their nails may even have a magnesium deficiency.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps keep your nails hydrated and promotes nail growth, says Dr. Jaafar. In particular, vitamin A promotes the synthesis of keratin, which is what our nails are made of.
- Vitamin C: Collagen production in the body depends upon vitamin C intake, and the collagen protein helps build fingernails (hair and teeth). Insufficient vitamin C intake could result in more brittle nails or slower-growing nails.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is crucial for keeping your nails hydrated and protecting your cuticles. Our experts note that using vitamin E oil — especially around your nail bed and cuticle — can help to undo the damage done by polish use.
Ingredients to avoid in nail products
- Formaldehyde: Jaafar and the FDA warn that excessive use of products containing formaldehyde can make nails more brittle and likely to peel. Moreover, some folks have sensitivities to this compound, which could result in allergic reactions.
- Toluene: While toluene can help to keep your nail polish smooth upon application, the chemical has been linked to nervous system damage; so much so that the EU has restricted toluene inclusion in a range of beauty products, including nail polish.
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): While DBP can make nail polish more durable, some studies have linked the compound to endocrine issues, making it difficult for the body to produce hormones. As with toluene, the EU has banned DBP use in nail polish and other beauty products.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Randa Jaafar, MD, is an anesthesiologist, interventional pain specialist, and the founder of FILD Studio, which focuses on precision wrinkle prevention.
- Thea Green MBE is the founder of Nails. INC. Since founding Nails. INC. in 1999, her brand portfolio has expanded to include INC.redible Cosmetics, My Mood, and Holler & Glow.
Why trust NBC Select?
Lulu Chang is a freelancer based in Washington, DC and New York City. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness and more. For this piece, they interviewed nail experts on everything you need to know about nail strengtheners, including how to find the best one for you.
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