How do you make weak nails grow, and brittle nails stop flaking and breaking? The answer is… nail strengtheners, of course! Apart from the obvious, they can also work as a good base coat and make your nails look a lot smoother, polish dry faster and your manicure last longer.
Personally, I’m addicted to Orly Nailtrition. Of all base coats I’ve tried, it meets my nail needs the best. But there are plenty of other fantastic products that address different nail problems. So we asked you, our nail polish savvy readers, to nominate your favorite base coat. There were so many great suggestions that we decided to put together a list of your collective knowledge for everyone to share.
The 10 best nail strengtheners according to you, guys, are:
1. Essie Grow Stronger, $8.00 here.
Leyla: “Right now I’m using Essie Grow Stronger base coat. It strengthens my nails and also makes them grow faster. So far, so good!”
Read Essie Grow Stronger review.
2. OPI Start to Finish, $13.95 here or AUD$25 here.
Squeaky: “I’ve been using OPI’s Start to Finish, and haven’t had a break for the last 7 months!”
3. OPI Natural Nail Strengthener, $10.50 here.
Kitty: “OPI Natural Nail Strengthener is the best product for me. Have been testing others – Essie, Nailtek, Qtica but always return to NNS + on occasions ridge filler by either Essie or Orly.”
4. Revitanail, $29.99 30 ml bottle here.
Chandelle: “My favorite nail strengthener is Revitanail (It’s just called nail strengthener- nothing fancy). I used to have weak nails that broke whenever they grew past the end of my finger… A lady at Priceline recommended the Revitanail and within a month I stopped getting breaks. It has now been over a year since my last nail break!”
5. OPI Nail Envy, $16.95 here.
Chantal: “My favorite base coat is OPI Nail Envy, strengthen, grows and helps prevent chipping And cracking on nails, best I’ve ever had!”Amanda: “I’ve been using OPI Nail Envy for awhile now! I used to only use it while I was taking a break from colors but then I started just using it as a base coat and it works really well.”
Read OPI Nail Envy review.
6. Orly Nailtrition, $9.90 here.
Amy: “OPI Nail Envy mixed 50/50 with Orly Nailtrition is like the ultimate holy grail base coat. The strengthening of Nail Envy and the good stuff from Nailtrition knocked out every since peel and bad nail issue I had.”
Read Orly Nailtrition review.
7. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Hardener, $12.45 here.
Samantha: “I haven’t tried a huge number of different ones, but so far I think the best performing ones in my book are the nail strengthening base coat from Sinful Colors, and Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails Hardener (the pink tinted one). Both of them have really good staying power and have definitely made my nails stronger.”
8. Nail Care HQ Simply Smooth, (not available anymore).
Fingers: “I’m loving an indie made base coat from Nail Care HQ called Simply Smooth. It really keeps my polish stuck to my nails better than any that I’ve tried before.”
9. Valmy, $unknown (we couldn’t find anywhere).
Anais:“The base coat I use is a brand we have here in Venezuela, i really don’t know if it’s known internationally. Its name is Valmy, I’ve been using it for 4 months now and it works fine for me. It dries fast and protects my nails also making them stronger. It’s a good and cheap nail strengthening!“
10. Nailtiques Formula 2 + protein, $9.50 here.
Gail: “I use a combination of three. First I use Nailtiquies 2+ protein. On top of that goes Essie Ridge Filler. Finally I use a coat of Sally Hansen Hard As Nails. Yes this is overkill but I am 60 years old and have splitting peeling nails… So I always make sure my nails are well protected… with all that I have long nails again!”
Now that you’re equipped with this list, there’s no reason to suffer weak nails any longer. Just choose the product that suits you and watch your nails grow!
Did your favorite nail strengthener make it to the list or did we miss some fantastic product? Let us know in the comments below. We’re always looking to try and share more great finds!
– Maria, xx
More tips for longer and stronger nails:
- Top 5 tips for strong nails – totally doable!
- The best 5 tips for long nails – expert advice.
- Top 5 hand lotions for smoother hands and stronger nails.
- The best cuticle care for longer and stronger nails.
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Jessi says
So amazing to see a Venezuelan beauty product be recognized!! I used that base coat for a really long time back when I lived in Venezuela. Now I’m using OPI Nail Envy. Love them both but I do like Nail Envy a little better.
@SoNailicious says
Wish we knew where to buy it online! It sounds like such a great product, few of our readers recommended it. x
Patatina069 says
I think Ill try the Orly one, Nailtrition, as the sally ha s’en just didn’t work for me :-(
My nails are hard but dry and split themselves each time
Thank you for this review
Maria @SoNailicious says
Great choice, Orly Nailtrition is perfect for dry nails! x
Rita says
Sally Hansen cost $3 in Russia!
Gosh, it don’t cost 13!!!
Maria @SoNailicious says
Well, I guess next time, we all will fly to Russia to get some nail supplies. I’ve heard polish is cheap there too. xx
StanBell says
So far I’ve only tried Revitanail, Nail Care HQ Simply Smooth and Essie Grow Stronger and they’re all good products. Thanks for sharing this review! I will definitely try other products you posted for a change although I must admit that I’ m a nail strengthener hoarder. I buy it compulsively, use it once and then it sits in a cabinet for all of eternity with other bottles of barely used polish. Thanks for sharing the post! Cheers!
kim says
soooooooo which one should I buy? lol
Maria @SoNailicious says
Haha I know! That’s a lot to choose from. Try maybe Nailtrition and see how you go. It’s my favorite ;)
Bonnie says
i found a remarkable nail hardner at Sally’s Beauty Supply called Nail Savvy. I use it as a nail hardner and also as a base coat. My nails are stronger now, and white! No staining from colored polish!
Maria @SoNailicious says
Thanks for sharing Bonnie! I’ll give it a try.
Pauline says
I used to use Nail Magic but white spots appeared on my nails so stopped using it any other comments on nail magic .???
Maria @SoNailicious says
I haven’t tried it yet Pauline, but would love to. Where can I buy it?
Margaret says
L’occitane nail&cuticle nourishing oil I’ve suffered from split nails for 3 years and since I’ve been using l’occitane nail& cuticle nourishing oil my nails have stopped splitting and it worked after a few weeks . Paint it on before bed for four weeks and once your nails have stopped splitting repeat 2 or 3 times a week I’ve now got lovely strong long nails
Maria @SoNailicious says
Thanks for sharing Margaret! very timely indeed, I noticed some splits appearing on my nails recently (maybe because of the winter), so I’ll try L’occitane cuticle oil. Hope it will help! x
Jax says
Quimica alemana or Butter London Horsepower are my go-to’s the butter line is a little pricey but working at Ricky’s I’m always tempted to try everything. I’d heard nothing but great and finally caved, bought it, and now I’m in love ^_^
Beth says
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails is only $4-5 at most at Walmart.
Maria @SoNailicious says
I think OPI Nail Envy is one of the most effective nail strengtheners ever! I’ve only heard good things about it. Your story is pretty amazing, though. It helped you to recover nails so well!
Linda R. says
I got Sally Hansen Hard as Nails at my Walmart for $2.38.
Jill Webb says
Hard as Hoof nail strengthening cream by Onyx Professional is by the best one i have ever used.
Maria @SoNailicious says
I haven’t tries Beauty Secrets nail hardener yet… sadly we have a very limited selection of nail care products here in Sydney. Sally’s Beauty Supply seems like an amazing shop – they have all the best treatments and nail polishes (and the prices are SO cheap!). Wish they were shipping to Australia!