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Nails splitting vertically - help.

(34 Posts)
kittylester Sat 06-Jun-26 13:08:55

My nails are a mess. I have vertical ridges which are starting to split.

Anyone else? Anyone have a solution?

SueEH Wed 10-Jun-26 08:12:20

My nails are a very good stress indicator and one has been splitting vertically for a few months - the others have just been dry and splitting at the edges. I’ve just been keeping it very very short and filing the catchy bits, and rub olive oil in (to all my nails) every day. I also have started taking a very good over 50s multi vitamin. There’s a definite improvement but the gradual removal of the stress must also be helping (parental death/IHT/probate etc).

cc Tue 09-Jun-26 12:57:50

Seabreeze

My nails were dry and peeling with vertical lines. I think washing up liquid was the cause of the dryness. I have been using Healthy Hoof cream for about 3 months now. My nails are no longer dry and have a healthy sheen. The vertical lines have gone as well. I think it was from Amazon or eBay.

My finger nails are terrible, vertical ridges which often split at the top. I have a pretty healthy diet and take vitamin and mineral supplements but nothing seems to help really.
I'll give healthy hoof cream a try!

Purplepixie Mon 08-Jun-26 22:43:35

My nails were a mess until I starting taking Biotin. It takes months but it does work.

pen50 Mon 08-Jun-26 22:30:54

The only thing that works for me is BIAB gel nails. But they're worth it to me to avoid the splitting.

lizzypopbottle Mon 08-Jun-26 21:24:10

My nails were splitting vertically and flaking. Turned out I was anaemic. GP prescribed iron tablets but they make me constipated so I've been using Better You Iron 10mg from Amazon. My haemoglobin is now in the normal range and ferritin going on the right direction. My nails have improved no end. No splits.

SaxonGrace Mon 08-Jun-26 17:17:11

Quite a few of my nails split length ways, about two months ago I saw recommended online a treatment called OPI repair mode, which you paint on twice a day then once a day, it’s a clear non shiny liquid. I’ve done this and my nails have definitely improved now being in the best shape for many years and not splitting, I now paint it on about once every two days. I was hesitant as it was about £20 and I’m not one for
spending but this seems to have been worth it. Time will tell.

Greciangirl Mon 08-Jun-26 16:04:48

I have spent so much money on my nails in the past and they never improve.

Mine split , but not vertically They just splitting at the top.
They have been like that for years.
I do my own manicure and pedicure…
my nails have always been weak.
I will not recommend any products because I don’t think they work.
I buff them and paint with clear nail hardener.

NanKate Mon 08-Jun-26 16:04:07

I have crumbling nails for years and also an underactive thyroid.

I have tried so many remedies which haven’t worked. However I recently bought some Mavala (Mava Strong) £11 for a small bottle but surprisingly my nails have started to grow. Give it a go kitty hope it works for you. 👋

Dearknees1 Mon 08-Jun-26 15:53:48

My manicurist’s explanation for a ridge in one of my nails which splits when the nail grows out is nail bed damage. I’ve had it for years. I only ever have my nails looked after in a salon. They apply builder gel to the damaged nail which keeps it strong. All my other nails are fine.

Geordiegirl1 Mon 08-Jun-26 15:30:13

Have you had your thyroid function checked?

Neveellatheo3 Mon 08-Jun-26 15:27:34

Sorry , Acrylic.

Neveellatheo3 Mon 08-Jun-26 15:26:38

I know its not one which fixes it so your nails are natural and healthy but after enduring splitting and painful nails ripping half way down I went to the nail bar and had acrlic french manicure which I now have every month. You could try castor oil and massage it into your nails a couple of times a day and wear rubber gloves for when doing your WU etc.

GrannaKaye Mon 08-Jun-26 15:14:55

I had a chronic split in my right thumb nail for years and had to keep it very short. I asked my esthetician what to do and she said it's something "wrong in your body." I had been taking a number of supplements following feeling low after Covid. I have since stopped all supplements except Vitamin D3/K2 and the split has repaired itself over the past few months. Not sure if that is coincidental but from here on in I am getting my nutrients from food not supplements.

Seabreeze Mon 08-Jun-26 14:54:13

My nails were dry and peeling with vertical lines. I think washing up liquid was the cause of the dryness. I have been using Healthy Hoof cream for about 3 months now. My nails are no longer dry and have a healthy sheen. The vertical lines have gone as well. I think it was from Amazon or eBay.

Dodo43 Mon 08-Jun-26 14:50:34

I had nails that split regularly. Nail repair and collagen didn't appear to help at all. My DH would apply some super glue to the split to stop it tearing away from the nail bed.
I eventually went along to the nail salon and asked if there was anything that could be done to help.
So now I have lovely nails, thanks to what they call BIAB (builder in a bottle) which provides a hard layer of protection to my nails, and on top of that my choice of colour of nail varnish.
I have been doing this for the last 18 months or so and wish I had done it earlier. As a matter of interest, I keep my nails shortish, and the treatment stands up to gardening and housework etc. It's a treat that is really helpful.

Bookfan Mon 08-Jun-26 14:48:47

Also looking for help with splitting nails, I stick mine together with bits of plaster and nail glue 😄. Has anyone tried Qlear? It has good reviews but expensive so don’t want to waste money.

LucyAnna5 Mon 08-Jun-26 14:44:04

sandye

I worked with a pharmacist that used to say a square of raw jelly a day is needed but would take about 6 months to benefit your nails, as the body would take it for other things first.

Is it the gelatine in the jelly that’s said to help?

Missiseff Mon 08-Jun-26 14:28:13

Gran22boys

My Mum had this problem. She was advised (don’t know by who) to eat a whole almond a day. It worked.

I've been eating 5 almonds a day for years, hasn't stopped mine

sandye Mon 08-Jun-26 14:16:38

I worked with a pharmacist that used to say a square of raw jelly a day is needed but would take about 6 months to benefit your nails, as the body would take it for other things first.

aggie Sun 07-Jun-26 12:56:51

Vitamin D cured my splitting nails

rosie1959 Sun 07-Jun-26 12:35:13

My nails used to be terrible but for a few years now I have been using Boots No 7 strength and grow along with the No 7 nourishing nail and cuticle care. Now they are pretty strong and grow well. Eggs eaten regularly also seemed to help.

twiglet77 Sun 07-Jun-26 10:16:26

My late mother used to eat a cube of old-fashioned lemon jelly every day “to strengthen the nails”, but I don’t think it made a difference!

Mind you, children she fed us loads of sugar for energy, reasoning that its wartime rationing made it a post-war luxury that was surely good for us. Amazingly we were all slim!

FindingNemo15 Sun 07-Jun-26 10:06:41

My nails have vertical ridges and also split. I understand it is connected to thyroid problems and fibromyalgia. I have both.

Visgir1 Sun 07-Jun-26 09:57:41

I have this too. My nails get longer then one splits, it's only one nail , which to me is bonkers. I have tried several things, nothing really works.

I recently saw an article in The Sunday Times about poor nails, the woman who wrote it said she found a product called Active blur from Manucurist worked.
So I bought some, I have trimmed all my nails to the same length and painted this on, the jury is out.
I expect it's a long term issue but hopefully this will help.

Gran22boys Sun 07-Jun-26 09:46:42

My Mum had this problem. She was advised (don’t know by who) to eat a whole almond a day. It worked.