Nail Care

How to Treat Split Nails

Got nail problems? Our team at the OPI nail clinic is here to help you handle all of your nail emergencies. Today’s issue: split nails.

We're on a mission to help you get your nails healthy and help you treat split nails by busting myths about every manicure ailment to help you find a surprisingly easy solution with our treatment range.

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What Causes Split Nails?

Nails have multiple tough layers that can peel. This can make them appear thin and leave them weakened, causing them to split. There is a number of causes for split nails, though interestingly they occur a lot more in women than men.

Onychoschizia, aka splitting nails, is caused by overexposure to water. The fluid makes the nail cells expand beyond their limits, and since the cells are unable to shrink back to normal after the nails dry, the nail layers separate, and the nail splits.

Wondering what causes split nails? Look around you. Environmental factors (excessive exposure to water) and chemicals in household cleaning products can cause your nails to become dehydrated and lead to peeling at the tip of the nail. It’s also worth looking at the ingredients in your hand sanitizer and nail polish remover—alcohol and pure acetone can be extremely dehydrating to nails. In addition, incorrect gel polish removal could be the source of the problem.

Finally, age has to come into consideration. The body’s ability to retain moisture begins to change around age 35, leading to brittle nails and nail splitting.

How Can I Solve The Issue?

Before you start any form of split nail treatment, try to identify the cause.

Do you work in a kitchen? Do you have repeated exposure to cleaning chemicals? We recommend investing in a pair of moisture-blocking gloves to protect your hands and nails from exposure. Wear these gloves when you’re doing chores around the house and always hydrate your hands with lotion and nails with cuticle oil. You’ll thank us later.
Next, examine your beauty products. Switch your regular hand sanitizer for a travel-size moisturizing body cleanser or wash to stop any dehydrating effects.

When you’re removing polish, switch to OPI’s Nail Lacquer Expert Touch Remover, a non-drying formula that leaves cuticles soft and supple to help avoid dryness and splitting nails.

Explore Split Nail Treatments

Explore Split Nail Treatments When you’re getting ready to paint your nails, trim away the splitting or peeling area and cover the nail with Nail Envy Sensitive, which contains concentrated calcium to thicken your nails, along with Vitamin E to protect the nail from future exposure. Plus, if you have regular gel polishes, try OPI’s Gel Break, our formula enriched with reparative vitamins and minerals to help restore nail health.

Taking the supplement Biotin is another effective way of strengthening brittle nails. Though, please note, this isn’t a quick fix, and you should consult your physician before starting any new regimen. In general, it can take up to six months for a complete regrowth and for you to notice any major improvements.

If you want to know what causes split nails and how to deal with them, we hope this advice helps you nail it. Plus, don’t panic! We have the right treatments in place to ensure your nails are strong and healthy.