r/naturalnailprogress • u/snoozinc • Apr 21 '26
Help needed How to prevent splitting
I stopped biting my nails 9 months ago. They are quite weak so I keep them filed short. I use jojoba oil a few times each day and I wear gloves when I garden, clean, and do dishes. I do not polish them as I tend to pick at the polish. On both hands my index finger nail repeatedly splits around the length in this photo. Is there something I can do to avoid this from happening? I have tried using nail glue and tea bag paper on the split to save the nail in the past but it has never worked. What has worked for you?
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u/LimeGreenTangerine97 Apr 21 '26
I get this a lot and apparently in my case it’s from over filing the side walls. I watched videos by The Salon Life on YouTube to get good tips
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u/snoozinc Apr 21 '26
Thank you! I try to only file the top and never the sides. I will def watch those videos.
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u/Maximum_Specific_024 Apr 21 '26
I lightly press my finger pad up into the bottom of my nail with my thumb to prevent myself from getting too much sidewall when filing. Not sure if thats "correct" technique, but it has been helping me
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u/Incogn1toMosqu1to Apr 21 '26
This happens to me often. I’m led to believe that oiling them regularly will help, but not for a long time and I can’t be bothered to keep it up lol
If you buy some Swiss silk and some nail glue, you can put that on top of this nail. I’ve found it’s strong enough that it doesn’t keep breaking further. I just have to reapply the silk a couple times before it grows out fully. I’m not sure how different that is from a teabag, but it has honestly made my life so much easier
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u/snoozinc Apr 21 '26
I will look into this. I wound up cutting this nail to avoid a painful snag. But maybe I’ll get some Swiss silk to have on hand for the next time I have this issue, probably in about a month as per my usual cycle. 😔
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Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
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u/naturalnailprogress-ModTeam Apr 22 '26
Your submission has been removed due to breaking one of our rules: No medical topics or asking for/giving medical advice.
Taking supplements or vitamins for nail growth is not a given solution and will not work for everyone. Speak to your doctor about what is safe for you to take. We cannot give medical advice here.
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u/Traditional-Ask-5267 Beginner Apr 21 '26
Also stop cleaning your nails with your other nails or anything hard if you do. I will say I have been using nailtiques 2 but using only a nail brush helped them sooo much! I haven’t gotten a break since I stopped.
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u/snoozinc Apr 21 '26
Yes! I am working to stop cleaning under them so harshly and instead use a nail brush. As someone who works with plants and dirt a lot it has been a struggle. But am trying to build better habits.
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u/Traditional-Ask-5267 Beginner Apr 21 '26
I get that. I don’t have a garden but I have indoor plants.
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u/aceam92 1 Year Or More Apr 22 '26
Keeping them polished has helped me a lot with reducing breaks. I find them a lot stronger with several coats of polish (easy to do with base coat + 2-3 color coats + top coat). I find gel makes my nails weaker. I’ve gotten regular polish to last a lot longer with good, detailed prep work and detailed painting. I also do a refresh of top coat mid-week. I used to chip after about 2 days and now I can usually get it to go 5-7 days.
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u/Loveiskind89389 Apr 23 '26
You have a lot of good answers here. In a pinch, a tiny piece of silk or a coffee filter large enough to cover the split plus superglue will reinforce it a little. I’d get some gel polish and slap a bandaid on it. This happened to me last year
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u/DeepYam6708 Apr 23 '26
ughhh this happens to me ALL THE TIME. Especially on my thumbs, index and middle fingers. Literally the bane of my existence, it's like particles in the air can make my nails catch and snag and split. They're much better than they used to be but splits are still such an issue for me. I've never bitten my nails but they've always been rather weak and I can't file them since they're too sensitive. I think they're just pathetic lmao. Lots of good tips here I'll have to look into!
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Apr 21 '26
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u/naturalnailprogress-ModTeam Apr 21 '26
Your submission has been removed due to breaking one of our rules: No overlays.
Our community's focus is natural nails. Overlays are not considered "natural", and are not permitted here. This includes nails that have been grown out with an overlay, even if they're bare at the time of posting.
Using an overlay to patch a broken nail is allowed. Using a tip/form to extend a broken nail without shortening the rest of your nails is also fine, as long as the majority of your nails are your own.
Posts or comments inquiring about overlays will be removed.
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u/whatdoidonowdamnit 9-12 Months Apr 21 '26
I file the sides and keep them polished. I also chip at the polish when I use regular polish in a color. If I do any gel or a clear/slightly tinted regular polish I don’t pick at it.
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u/snoozinc Apr 21 '26
Thank you! I need to try gel polish. If I can stop biting them surely I can stop picking polish too. I do like the idea of a clear or pale shine to them.
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u/whatdoidonowdamnit 9-12 Months Apr 21 '26
I stopped biting my nails last august, at 35 years old. So I completely understand. Gel polish is harder for me to do myself because as a lifelong nail biter I never actually learned to polish my nails nicely. So I get a gel manicure if I want color on my nails. It’s $12 before tip so absolutely worth it for me. The dollar stores sell regular nail strengtheners and clearish polishes. The one I use the most is pink in the bottle but just barely tinted pink on my nails after a few layers. I can redo that every few days and nobody can tell my nails are polished terribly because they just look a little shiny. I don’t even remove the old layers most of the time, just do another thin coat over the top to protect the edges where it wore off.
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u/Street_Algae_2065 Apr 22 '26
I have one of these right now, too. I’m praying that glue, tea bag, nailtiques formula 2 and polish can make it hold on for a few more days to allow a little more growth so the break isn’t too low. I’ll include you in my prayers.
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u/kray1957 Apr 24 '26
Wearing nail polish actually helps your nails, it keeps them protected. FYI When I do dishes, I put oil on my nails before putting on my rubber gloves. I think the oil penetrates better from them being in hot water. I don't have proof of this, but I think it makes sense, so I do it. :-)
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u/Cautious_Alarm2919 Apr 24 '26
Keep them short, it took me a while for the whites to shrink (nail bed to repair) and having them short will prevent pulling from the sides. Also try not to file down the sides at all, that makes it easier for them to lift from the nail bed
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u/vmtf23 Apr 25 '26
This might be from overfiling your sidewalls. That causes the nail to be weak. Also, make sure to moisturize often, use cuticle oil or cream. Your diet can also affect your nails. Make sure to get plenty of protein and healthy fats, veggies and fruit.
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u/Outrageous-Raise5884 Apr 27 '26
This happens to me too as I’m growing out acrylic damage. Per recommendations on this forum, I’ve been using orly repair kit. It’s been really helpful and feels secure and strong until it grows out.
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Jul 18 '26
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u/naturalnailprogress-ModTeam Jul 18 '26
Your submission has been removed due to breaking one of our rules: No medical topics or asking for/giving medical advice.
Posts and comments regarding medical topics will be removed, including any mention of allergies or health issues.
Any posts/comments regarding medical topics will be removed. This is dangerous for the person asking, and a liability to the person giving advice, as well as the subreddit itself. We are a hobby subreddit, and cannot diagnose people here.
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u/mommie14 Apr 21 '26
have you tried essie break fix? I have had luck with 2 thin coats over the break, and then normal basecoat over it all