Rimmel London Nail Nurse Stronger Nail Polish, 12ml

Product Information

All of the products in our edit of the best nail strengtheners are tried, tested and approved by Mumsnet users and our editors, so they’re all worth investing in. Choosing the right one for you is down the personal choice. One thing to note - only use this after you’ve applied your nail polish. It creates a slightly oily protective barrier that means lacquer will apply streakily. It certainly makes nails look healthy, filling in ridges, while antioxidant ingredients such as acai berry and vitamin E protect, while Argan and baobab oils nourish. A good nail strengthener not only acts as a shield for damaged nails, it works to deliver nourishing oils and proteins to your nail to keep it from breaking or feeling brittle. Loved by nail professionals and consumers alike, OPI’s Nail Envy comes out tops in the nail strengthening world. Not only does it level up your nails, infusing them with nourishing ingredients and keeping them from splitting and breaking, it’s easy to apply with a wide, flat brush that even novices will be able to get to grips with.

Glycerin is high up in the ingredients list and as a humectant that draws moisture in, it explains why this is so intensely nourishing. Pros

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It’s made from ingredients with naturally healing properties, hence why it’s so soothing and we love to keep it by our bed to apply before we nod off. Yes, nail strengtheners do work. In fact they work in two different ways. They provide a protective layer, to shield the nails against daily wear and tear, plus they infuse the nail plate with nourishing, strengthening ingredients to help your talons become more robust over time. Do nail strengtheners help nails to grow? Just one coat of this transparent base coat start your transformation to dramatically stronger and healthier nails! The unique formula nourishes nails, shields against damage and acts as a base coat to help prolong your nail polish wear.

As the name would suggest, this has keratin in for its strengthening powers, as well as jojoba oil to condition the nail plate and surrounding skin, and sweet almond oil for that gorgeous scent and to soften the skin. I use CND RescueRxx. I’m on a medication that causes brittle nails as a side effect but have been fine since using CND.” Tried and tested by Dameofdilemma OPI is one of the biggest names in nails, creating endless gorgeously coloured polishes as well as this professional-approved nail strengthener. You’ll often see a bottle of OPI Nail Envy atop your nail tech’s desk, and for good reason. It’s a salon quality brand (hence the salon price tag!) that harnesses the power of hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium for their strengthening prowess.Nail strengtheners don’t generally encourage the growth of the nail, however they will protect your nail from breakage, which makes them longer. If you’re a fan of gel manicures, you’ll likely know the sad feeling of removing your gel polish and finding your natural nails look rather sad and damaged - we’ve all been there. It works well as a base coat too, allowing polish to glide on smoothly on top. It has a wide tapered brush for easy application, for one last bonus point . Pros Because the formula is so powerful when it comes to hardening, be careful not to get this on the skin around your nails, as it will harden them as well. Mavala recommends holding your hands upside down for a minute after applying this to ensure it doesn’t run onto your fingers. We agree, it sounds a little scary, but when you see the effect it has on strengthening weak nails, all will be forgiven. If you struggle to apply nail products neatly though, we’d avoid this. Pros

Sally Hansen is another big name in the nail world - you’ll likely have seen the brand’s products on the shelves of Boots for your whole life. Sally Hansen offers a variety of different nail strengtheners, but this one gets our vote because it’s multi-purpose. This depends on the nail strengthener you choose. Some of the more intensive formulas, such as Mavala’s nail strengthener, are designed to be used two or three times a week, while products such as CND’s Rescue Rxx can be used daily.You’ll notice in this edit that very few nail strengtheners are vegan or cruelty-free, which makes this formula immediately stand out. All Nail Berry products are vegan, cruelty-free, 12-free (meaning they don’t contain any harmful ingredients), plus they’re halal. CND is a professional nail brand and this is an essential in many nail tech’s kit, so you know it’s good. With continued use it prevents nails from peeling and splitting and it comes in both a nail polish style bottle and a pen applicator, for use on the go. I’ve been using Dr Paw Paw (which is same consistency as Vaseline) and that’s worked well too. My nails are the strongest they’ve been for a long time." Tried and Tested by OhMyMG In the case of base coat nail strengtheners, use these every time you do your nails for best results over time. What is the best nail strengthener? Very top of my list for most effective beauty product. Everyone I've recommended it to is in agreement!” Tried and tested by Sunflowers and Tulips