9 Best Nail Strengtheners of 2025, Tested and Derm-Approved

Your nails undergo so much: handwashing, sprucing, perhaps some absent-minded selecting (responsible). It’s solely regular to search out the occasional chip—however should you’re noticing that your ideas are peeling or cracking far past what a manicure can repair, utilizing a nail strengthener may help.

Consider these hydrating remedies like moisturizers in your mani. They may help hydrate and defend your nails so that they’re much less liable to breakage, Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founding father of Radiant Derm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, tells SELF. Bonus: They’re skinny, (largely) clear, and dry sooner than common polish, so that they solely take a couple of minutes to use.

To seek out the very best nail strengtheners, we chatted dermatologists as much as be taught which key substances you must search for. We additionally examined a bunch of choices from prime manufacturers like OPI and Sally Hansen to search out out in the event that they actually work. Able to attempt one? Store our favorites under.

Our prime picks

1. Greatest General: OPI Nail Envy Authentic Nail Strengthener
2. Runner-Up: Olive & June Superior Nail Strengthener
3. Greatest Funds Choose: Sally Hansen Onerous As Nails

FAQs about nail strengtheners

Store the very best nail strengtheners

In between manis, these strengtheners may help you retain your nails trying (and feeling) wholesome.

Greatest General: OPI Nail Envy Authentic Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Is available in a number of colours
• Provides nails loads of shine
• Can be utilized as a base coat

Cons

• On the dear facet
• Peels after about 5 days

In case you really feel bare with out nail polish on, attempt OPI’s Nail Envy. It’s filled with conditioning substances like biotin however is available in colours which might be simply as opaque as common polish. (You possibly can even seize it within the model’s staple shade Bubble Bathtub.)

If you apply this remedy, it’ll kind a movie over your nails to stop them from shedding any extra moisture. Our tester loves utilizing the clear shade, which she says immediately makes her nails look more healthy. “Making use of two coats of OPI Nail Envy is like an IRL model of the wonder filter for my nails,” she says. “It provides a refined shine that appears to blur any imperfections on my nails’ surfaces.” It additionally hydrates with panthenol—one among our specialists’ favourite substances.

Runner-Up: Olive & June Superior Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Dries superfast
• Very hydrating

Cons

• Received’t add any sheen or protecting movie to your nails

Olive & June’s strengthener incorporates main hydrators glycerin and panthenol to deeply moisturize your nails whereas stopping flakes and breakage. I’ve been utilizing it for the previous couple of weeks and I’m formally a giant fan. I utilized it two or thrice per week (because the bottle recommends “for an intensive remedy”), and I positively observed a distinction.

My nails have been tremendous dry from the chilly NYC winter, and I had hangnails galore. However after per week of often making use of this, I noticed that the layers of my nails weren’t peeling as a lot and I had much less breakage. The very best half is that it dries instantly, so I can do a fast layer earlier than mattress and never fear about it sticking or smudging like nail polish can. It now has a everlasting spot on my nightstand.

Greatest Funds Choose: Sally Hansen Onerous As Nails

Professionals

• Provides nails a shiny end
• Brush is straightforward to make use of
• It’s one among our dermatologist’s private favorites

Cons

• Takes longer to dry down
• Smells like nail polish

Sally Hansen’s Onerous As Nails is an OG—Dr. Spearman says she is aware of it really works as a result of she makes use of it on her personal nails, and he or she recommends it to her sufferers typically. Its ingredient lineup consists of butylene glycol to hydrate, in addition to a wide range of oils (safflower, linseed, and soybean) to nourish.

One SELF tester says the packaging gave her no bother—the comb has a useful form and is straightforward to make use of (in contrast to that cumbersome, frayed brush in your most well-loved bottle of polish). She additionally likes the shiny end that’s paying homage to a prime coat.

Extra nice choices

Nonetheless haven’t discovered “the one?” Under are just a few extra standard, dermatologist-recommended picks. Despite the fact that we haven’t examined them for ourselves but, we nonetheless suppose they’re price a attempt.

ISDIN SI-NAILS Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Journey-friendly packaging
• Can be utilized on nails and cuticles
• Soaks in effectively

Cons

“The bottom line is to discover a nail strengthener that’s simple sufficient to be in step with and addresses your particular nail considerations,” Dr. Houshmand says. For her, that product is that this ISDIN serum as a result of it’s simple to use any time, anyplace. “It helps with each nail thickness and power,” she says.

Its star substances are hyaluronic acid, a hydration superhero, and pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) gum, which has been proven to extend nail firmness, Dr. Houshmand says. Pop this pen into your purse, automotive, or work bag so you’ll be able to apply it on the go.

Tenoverten The Basis Base Coat

Professionals

• Smooths nails
• Combats dryness

Cons

Tenoverten’s The Basis is a base coat that doubles as a nail strengthener with moisturizing substances and a system that fills in cracks, so your mani seems to be smoother. Dr. Houshmand recommends it to anybody with dry nails as a result of it has vitamin E, which helps hydrate and restore nails which might be liable to cracking and breaking. (It doesn’t damage that the smooth packaging may also look good in your self-importance.)

Essie Onerous to Resist Superior Nail Strengthener

Professionals

• Has a shiny end
• Is available in just a few sheer colours

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it begins to yellow after just a few days

Try Essie’s Onerous to Resist line if you’d like one thing that’ll add a pleasant tint to your nails whereas strengthening them on the identical time. It is available in just a few sheer colours that every one have a shiny end to spruce up your DIY mani. Dr. Spearman additionally says the system stays put (no chipping).

Nails.Inc Gimme Power Nail Therapy

Professionals

• Funds-friendly
• Provides a refined pink sheen

Cons

• Packaging is finicky to open

Whereas I’m at the moment testing this Nails.Inc remedy, my first impression was a optimistic one: Its creamy pink colour immediately made my nails look extra presentable (which was a troublesome feat, contemplating I broke two nails proper earlier than making an attempt it).

I’m additionally impressed with the ingredient listing, which features a bunch of moisturizing oils like coconut, avocado, apricot, and rosehip to call just a few. I’ve been skipping common polish to let my nails heal, however I’d fairly put on this than go bare, so I’ll maintain making use of it often and replace my evaluation quickly.

duri Rejuvacote 1 Nail Progress System

Professionals

• Good for very dry nails
• Prevents chipping
• Dries shortly

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it stings

This system “creates a protecting barrier in your nails with hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, and calcium,” Dr. Houshmand says. It’s an excellent possibility should you’re battling nails that chip, peel, or crack, because it’ll create a seal over these layers to carry moisture in and maintain dry air out.

Orly Nail Protection

Professionals

• Prevents chipping
• Funds-friendly

Cons

• Amazon reviewers say it has a chemical scent

Orly’s Nail Protection additionally makes use of hydrolyzed wheat protein to guard your nails and provides them time to heal. Plus, it has soybean and safflower seed oils to moisturize and horsetail extracts to enhance texture and brittleness.

Amazon reviewers say it really works properly as a base and prime coat, so you’ll be able to proceed reaching for it even when your nails are sturdy once more.

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