According to Our Testers, These Nail Strengtheners Will Leave Your Nails Seemingly Unbreakable (2024)

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TL;DR

The OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener is our best pick overall, thanks to its lightweight formula, hydrating benefits, and noticeable strengthening capabilities. It's also available in several colors, eliminating the need to layer on additional polishes for a finished manicured look. If you’re looking for a product you can apply daily on bare nails, we recommend the ONYX Professional Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream.

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Biotin, calcium, vitamins A, C, E | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

During our testing period, we found several great nail strengtheners, but OPI’s Nail Envy really stood out. It’s formulated with some of the best ingredients for improving nail health, including biotin, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and E. It also features OPI’s “Tri-Flex Technology,” which helps reinforce the nail. We were impressed with how this nail strengthener made our tester’s nails feel stronger and look healthier, too.

Another thing that makes this formula unique is that it’s available in several colors—which is helpful since you need to apply a layer daily for at least a week—so you don’t have to choose between strengthening your nails or adding a seasonal hue to your look. We also love that this polish has a shiny finish to keep your nails looking fresh, and once you get your nails back to peak health, we appreciate that you can use the clear formula as a base coat for maintenance.

Karla, tester with short, round nails: “Over two months of use, my nails became noticeably more hydrated. There was no chipping or peeling. The amount of breakage also decreased.”

Key Ingredients: Horsetail extract | Size: 0.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

ORLY’s Nail Defense Nail Strengthener is an ideal pick for someone struggling with peeling, brittle, or splitting nails. It’s made with horsetail extract, which helps strengthen the nail, hydrolyzed wheat protein for nail repair, and chamomile flower extract for shine. We were honestly blown away by how much firmer, stronger, and less breakage-prone our tester’s nails felt after using this treatment.

Initially, this polish should be applied every other day until your nails start to improve. Then, for maintenance, you can wait three to four days between applications. Additionally, this can serve as base and top coats, but if you prefer to wear it alone, it has a long-lasting shiny finish that we really love. Overall, this is an effective product, but you may want to pair it with a good cuticle oil to give your nails some hydration.

Karla, tester with short, round nails: “It’s a fantastic budget-friendly option. This product is particularly great if you have issues with peeling and splitting nails.”

Key Ingredients: Spinach extract | Size: 0.41 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Nailtopia’s Spinach Nail Strengthener is for anyone whose nails could use a little boost to encourage growth. The not-so-secret ingredient in this formula is spinach extract, which is packed with vitamins A, C, and E. With regular use, our tester found that this treatment visibly strengthened her nails and accelerated growth.

In addition to working as a nail strengthener, it can also serve as a base coat (but keep in mind you should apply the polish twice a week, removing it between applications) and works as a cuticle treatment. This treatment has a thinner formula, which our tester found made it a bit tricky to control during application. However, we can easily look past this, considering its effectiveness. After testing it for 12 weeks, our tester is hooked on this treatment.

Samantha, tester with medium-length, almond-shaped nails: “I do think that this product helped to both lengthen and strengthen my nails, which is saying a lot because, after years of doing gel powder on my nails, they were pretty stripped and weak.”

Key Ingredients: Camellia oil, cellulose | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

We love a product that multitasks, and Chanel’s Protective and Smoothing Nail Treatment doesn’t disappoint in this regard. It’s meant to be used as both a nail strengthener and a base coat that you can wear on its own for a milky finish, and the polish’s natural mineral pigments help even out the appearance of the nail’s coloring. We were truly impressed by all this polish did for our tester’s nails from the very first use. It promises to nourish the nail and alleviate dryness with camellia oil and calls on cellulose to repair the nail’s surface. After consistent use, our tester’s nails felt and looked less brittle, and she noticed less breakage. She didn’t note an improvement in nail growth, but the overall health of her nails was noticeably improved. She also shared that a simple coat of this treatment was enough to give her nails some shine and a rosy glow, a perfect middle between bare nails, and a minimalist manicure.

Taylore, tester with short, round nails: “It adds a nice sheen to the nails, as well as this barely there, almost rosy glow that made my nails appear more healthy instantly.”

Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, keratin | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This treatment is ideal for anyone who hates waiting for their nails to dry. Unlike traditional nail polish, the CND Nail Strengthener RXx Daily Keratin Treatment is brushed on and then rubbed in, resulting in minimal drying time. We particularly like that precise application isn’t necessary since the treatment is meant for both the nail and cuticle.

This nail strengthener is a twice-daily treatment formulated with sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and keratin. With regular use, our tester noticed that her nails felt stronger and looked much healthier, and her cuticles were moisturized.

Ashley, tester with short nails: “I love that it absorbs and dries so quickly; I can apply it before bed, rub it in, and I don’t have to worry about it getting on my sheets.”

Key Ingredients: Silk protein, jojoba seed oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, glycerin, vitamins A, C, D, E | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Instead of a polish, ONYX Professional’s Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream is more like a lotion with a creamy texture that absorbs into the nails with minimal effort. We love how easy this formula is to use and appreciate that only a small amount of product is needed per application. We’re also seriously impressed with its results. By the end of the testing period, our tester’s nails became significantly stronger.

Our tester also found this treatment left his nails looking more hydrated, which makes sense since it’s formulated with moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil, which also gives the cream a subtle coconut scent, shea butter, and jojoba seed oil. While we love the creamy texture of his treatment, it’s worth noting that a small portion of reviewers say it left their hands feeling a little greasy.

Saleam, tester with short, round nails: “I like how easy it is to apply. A little goes a long way and it absorbs into the nails and skin easily and quickly.”

Key Ingredients: Silanediol salicylate, pistacia lentiscus gum, cationic hyaluronic acid | Size: 2.5 mL | Cruelty-Free: Yes

ISDIN’s Si-Nails serum has a gel-like consistency that’s easy to rub into the nail and cuticle and absorbs within seconds of application. It’s formulated with a blend of fortifying and hydrating ingredients (including hyaluronic acid), which work together to make the nails harder and stronger, and the cuticles moisturized.

Since it’s a serum, our tester didn’t experience any of the typical pitfalls of polish like chipping or fading. We were truly impressed by how this treatment transformed our tester’s nails and pleasantly surprised by how much faster their nails were growing with the serum (and how much healthier they looked as a result). The click-pen applicator can disperse a bit too much product, leading to waste, but we think the impressive formula makes it worth buying regardless.

Aamina, tester with short, round nails: “It spread really evenly across my nail bed and cuticle and felt more like skincare than a nail product.”

Key Ingredients: Patented Hexanal, glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, vitamins C, E, B5 | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

JINsoon’s HyperRepair is a low-maintenance treatment that leaves nails looking healthy and freshly polished long after application. We like that this treatment starts working after just two applications and that it provides a gorgeous shine that offers a smooth, polished finish. It can also serve as a strong base coat for layering other polishes on top.

After consistent use, our tester’s nails felt less brittle, more pliable, and less prone to breakage. She also noted that her nails felt generally stronger and looked well hydrated. Finally, we like that this polish is 21-free and made without any harsh chemicals.

Taylore, tester with short, round nails: “This product has a really pretty, high-shine finish. It actually lasted almost two weeks before I noticed chips, and the shine never dulled.”

Key Ingredients: Rapeseed oil, biotin, vitamins A, E | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With Londontown’s Nail Hardener and Base Coat, your manicure will look great without compromising your nail’s health. This hardening polish is made with rapeseed oil, vitamin A, vitamin E, and biotin, which leaves nails hydrated and nourished. Its smooth texture is perfect for layering another polish on top. When our tester used this strengthener as a base coat, her polish brushed on flawlessly.

In addition to its layering ability, this product serves as an effective protective barrier between the nail and typical nail polish. Throughout the testing period, our tester’s nails stayed healthy with daily use of this product, and we were impressed by how well the treatment maintained and even slightly improved her nail strength. The results weren’t dramatic, so this isn’t the ideal option for those with extremely damaged nails, but we highly recommend it for people who paint their nails frequently and want a strengthening base coat.

Aamina, tester with short, round nails: “The application is so smooth. I have a hard time imagining doing an at-home mani without it now.”

Key Ingredients: None listed | Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Struggling with brittle nails? MiniLuxe’s Pure Strength Nail Strengthener is an excellent option. It’s made with 80% plant-based ingredients and is formulated to serve as a protective coating immediately upon application and to strengthen the nail over time. It can also serve as a basecoat if you want to layer other polishes on top, but if not, it has a super shiny finish that looks great on its own.

If you opt not to layer any polish on top of this treatment, simply reapply a coat every day or every other day. When using it as a base coat, reapply several times a week to protect your nails and keep your manicure looking fresh. With consistent use of this treatment, our tester’s nails became noticeably stronger while also looking more hydrated and generally healthier.

Saleam, tester with short, round nails: “I have noticed an improvement in the strength of my nails overall, and my nails have appeared less dry since using the product.”

FAQ

• Do nail strengtheners work?

  Yes. Gerstein says you just have to use them correctly so that the nail can absorb the nutrients. "Clean the nail with antibacterial soap, wipe it with alcohol to balance the pH level, then apply the nail strengthener," she says. Also, remember that using these products consistently is key; it will likely take some time to see results If you’re not seeing improvements within a few weeks, Dr. Lipner advises seeing “a board-certified dermatologist who can diagnose your nail condition and prescribe appropriate treatment.”

• Does a nail strengthener help nails grow?

  "Nail strengtheners promote growth, as they ensure a well-sealed, hydrated nail," Gerstein explains. "Nails are just like a sponge—when a sponge is hard and dry, it cracks, which is the same as a nail without a proper manicure.

• How often should you use a nail strengthener?

  Gerstein suggests using a nail strengthener once per week and complementing it with a daily application of your favorite cuticle oil to help keep the nails hydrated. But if you're dealing with really damaged nails, check in with your doctor to make sure there’s no underlying health condition that could be leaving your nails in such bad shape.

• Can you put nail strengthener under gel polish?

  Unfortunately, most nail strengtheners (in polish form) can't be used under gel polish. "Regular polish and gel polish are two different things that do not interact together," says Gerstein. That said, if you're looking to boost the strength of your nails before you get a gel manicure, treat your nails for two weeks leading up to your service or opt for vitamins and the other forms of strengthening treatments listed above.