Keep Them Hydrated

To keep your nails hydrated, rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into your cuticle and the skin surrounding your nails every evening before you go to bed or whenever your nails feel dry. Keep a jar in your purse, desk drawer, car—anywhere you might need it. Not a fan of petroleum jelly? Substitute castor oil. It’s thick and contains vitamin E, which is great for your cuticles. Or head to your kitchen cupboard and grab the olive oil—it also works to moisturize your nails. 

Protect Your Paws

Wear rubber gloves whenever you do housework or wash dishes. Most household chores, from gardening to scrubbing the bathroom to washing dishes, are murderous on your nails. To protect your digits from dirt and harsh cleaners, cover them with vinyl gloves whenever it’s chore time. And for extra hand softness, apply hand cream before you put on the rubber gloves. 

Dry Your Digits

Dry your hands for at least two minutes after doing the dishes, taking a bath or shower, etc. Also dry your toes thoroughly after swimming or showering. Leaving them damp increases your risk of fungal infection. 

Eat Like a Horse

To make your nails as strong and resilient as a horse’s hooves, take 300 micrograms of the B vitamin biotin four to six times a day. Long ago, veterinarians discovered that biotin strengthened horses’ hooves, which are made from keratin, the same substance in human nails. Swiss researchers found that people who took 2.5 milligrams of biotin a day for 5.5 months had firmer, harder nails. In a U.S. study, 63 percent of people taking biotin for brittle nails experienced an improvement. 

Boost Your Zinc Intake

Add a glass of milk and a hard-boiled egg to your daily diet. Rich in zinc, they’ll do wonders for your nails, especially if your nails are spotted with white, a sign of low zinc intake.

File Them Right

File your nails correctly. To keep your nails at their strongest, avoid filing in a back-and-forth motion—only go in one direction. And never file just after you’ve gotten out of a shower or bath—wet nails break more easily.

Treat Your Nails To a Massage

Massage your nails to keep them extra strong and shiny. Nail buffing increases blood supply to the nail, which stimulates the matrix of the nail to grow. 

Put On Polish

Polish your nails, even if it’s just with a clear coat. It protects your nails. If you prefer colour, use a base coat, two thin coats of colour, and a top coat. Colour should last at least seven days but should be removed after 10 days. 

Beware of Polish Remover

Avoid polish removers with acetone or formaldehyde. They’re terribly drying to nails. Use acetate-based removers instead.