Hardened Fingernails

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Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

Hardened Fingernails 1 votes

I suffer from really weak soft nails. They don't crack or break, they just tear or shred. I also work in construction and it can be hard on the nails. I'm also the first aider so I wear gloves as much as possible to keep my hands as clean as possible, and because it protects my nails (I don't tell my co-workers that second part), but wearing gloves and nail hardening products doesn't work well, it flakes off. Besides, I think it suffocates the nails and makes them weaker.

I did a lot of Googling and found some stuff suggesting white iodine. The most common suggestions were to use it every day for a week and then once a week. I don't even think that's necessary, maybe twice the first week. I just got my hands on some and it's pretty amazing.

Only thing is maybe to make sure you protect them from drying out. I cuticle rub (like lip balm for cuticles) is probably enough for that.

It took a lot of searching for this "white iodine." It's also called colourless, decolorized or white iodine. The regular tincture of iodine will stain your nails orange. I finally resorted to ebay, but the seller was taking forever to ship it and a friend just showed up with some; he found it at a pharmacist by his dentist, after I checked like 20 druggists....

Just a little tip for those who need it.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 24 2008 20:03:50

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Hardened Fingernails (in reply to Exitao)

Thanks for the great tip! Gonna look for some this morn. Do the nails grow faster as well?

regards

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 2:50:16

Ramirez

Posts: 243
Joined: Apr. 16 2005

RE: Hardened Fingernails (in reply to Exitao)

Don't know if it helps, but I used to have the weakest nails in the world. The slightest rasguado and my nails would split, crack, break - even with low tensioin strings.

I used to use nail hardeners, varnish etc. But in the long term, that stuff really weakens the nail.

What helped for me was cutting them right back. A glass of milk everyday (calcium!) and let them grow out without applying any product.

Now, I use hard tension strings, and use nothing at all on my nails. I practice around three hours a day and can't remember the last time one broke ( maybe a year ago...).

Hope that helps...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 3:15:02

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Hardened Fingernails (in reply to Exitao)

Exitao, could you tell me the brand name that you found? If Shoppers Drug Mart is going to order it, I have to give them a name. Or I need a name to search in order to buy on the internet, because I haven't found anything yet. Thanks!

Ramirez, I go natural now, too, because of the damage that various things caused and how ineffective they were for me. Mine hardly ever break it's just that they don't really grow the same way any more, not as long and they wear down. Natural is better sounding anyway.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 4:40:13

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Hardened Fingernails (in reply to Exitao) 1 votes

If you can't find a pharmacist who will turn red iodine to white iodine, then you can buy some from Amazon or other places like OTC Latino.

It's also good for hair loss by the way.

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Don't look at me in that tone of voice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 5:58:04

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Hardened Fingernails (in reply to Exitao)

I've also taken vitamins, including biotin, calcium and gelatin. None of them seemed to help. Just genes in my case.

I recently tried Nutra Nail and it seemed to help a bit with the growing and the thickening (I think they claim that it helps the layers bond or something). So far I haven't seen the iodine make the nails grow, too soon for that, and I doubt it should make them grow. What I have seen is the nails are harder and stronger.

Conrad, I didn't find it in a chain so I couldn't help you in TO. It seems that all the chains limit their stock to what they sell. There are stores that will order stuff in. My friend found mine in a little ma an pa style pharmacy, and it didn't come pre-packaged, the pharmacist dispensed it.

So, my advice is to let your fingers do the walking. And if you do go into pharmacies, ask the pharmacist. Or order online.

I did hear about the hair thing, but I have no reason to try.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 17:10:21