If flimsy nails are letting you down, it’s time to rethink your routine. We asked a nail expert to spill the secrets to strong nails that actually last.

Rochele Hanna Politis is a co-founder of Ezmio Beauty, an Australian nail brand making salon-quality nails simple for everyone, from beginners to seasoned nail techs. With a background in marketing and a passion for practical beauty, her main mission is to empower women and nail techs alike to feel confident, creative, and completely in control of their nails.

Owning a nail business has taught me so much about growing strong, healthy nails. I cannot tell you how many times I have tested certain products and found myself with dull, brittle, cracked nails!

Would it surprise you if I told you that almost every time I experienced this, it was always caused by over-filing and buffing? If you do your nails yourself or you do your own nail maintenance between salon sessions, here are my ultimate tips and tricks for strong, beautiful nails.

Avoid over-buffing your natural nails

Firstly, and I cannot state this enough, thin nails are most likely caused by over-buffing your nail plate. The nail plate is made up of many layers, and they are extremely delicate, so overbuffing can happen very quickly if you are not taking care.

If you need to prep your nails for a manicure, we recommend using a high grit buffer that has the perfect gentle coarseness for prepping your nails. If you are visiting a nail tech, make sure they take extra care of prepping your natural nails, especially if they are using an e-file.

Use a high-quality glass nail file

Do you experience nail splitting at the free edge? This can happen when you are using a coarse nail file. Try switching to a high-quality glass nail file instead. Unlike a coarse emery board, it seals in the keratin layers of your nail edge and prevents micro-tears and splitting along the free edge of your nails.

Stop cutting (or biting) your cuticles!

Constantly picking at your skin and nails can weaken your natural protective barrier and lead to infections. The same thing can happen when cutting your cuticles incorrectly or in some ‘Russian Manicures’, where too much of the skin and cuticle can be removed and inevitably exposed.

Your fingers are sensitive and fragile. If you would like to shape your cuticles, the best thing to do is simply push them back gently.

Protect your nails when cleaning

Always make sure you wear gloves when doing housework. If you are immersing your hands in water for a prolonged period, it can weaken the nail plate and make it more flexible, which can also lead to nail splitting and breakage.

Wearing gloves will also preserve the integrity of your manicure.

Use cuticle oil daily

Healthy, strong nails start at the cuticle! Applying cuticle oil in the morning and before bed at night is a great habit to get into. Keeping your cuticles healthy and hydrated supports a stronger nail matrix, the foundation from which your nails grow. And a strong foundation will help form strong nails.

Use a nail serum

If you have very brittle and thin nails, a nail serum is for you! Unlike cuticle oil, a nail serum starts working on your nail plate right away, almost like skincare, except for your nails.

Nail serums help to rebuild your nail structure by making the nails healthier. You can apply nail serum twice daily and see some fabulous results fast.

Choose a Builder Gel manicure

A Builder Gel manicure is a great choice if you have brittle nails or nail deformities like nail ridges. Builder gel has a thicker viscosity than your average nail or gel polish, which means it can easily assist in filling and ‘building’ your natural nails.

Builder gel is also great for a long-lasting manicure. If your nails can last three weeks or more, it means less time doing your nails or getting them done, which means less work on your natural nail plate. The longer your nails grow without buffing, the stronger your nails.

We have seen incredible before and afters using our Ezmio Coloured Builder Gels, and I must say our colour range is gorgeous!

What does your nail routine involve? Leave us a comment below.