Top 5 Reasons Why Your Nails Keep Breaking & How to Strengthen Them

1. Nutritional Deficiencies: Your Nails Are Starved for the Right Building Blocks

Your nails are essentially a mirror reflecting your internal health. When they're brittle and prone to breaking, it's often because they're not getting the essential nutrients they need to grow strong.

The three key nutrients for nail health are:

• Protein (especially keratin-building amino acids)

• Biotin (vitamin B7)

• Collagen (the structural protein that supports keratin formation)

Many people don't realize that collagen makes up a significant portion of your nail bed and the surrounding tissue. As we age, our natural collagen production declines by about 1% per year after age 25. This is why you might notice your nails becoming thinner and more brittle as you get older.

The solution? Supplementing with a high-quality hydrolyzed collagen powder can make a dramatic difference. Hydrolyzed collagen is broken down into smaller peptides that your body can easily absorb and use to rebuild stronger nails from within. Look for a product that contains Types I and III collagen, as these are most beneficial for nail and skin health.

2. Frequent Water Exposure: The Hidden Nail Killer

You probably know that excessive hand washing can dry out your skin, but did you realize it's equally damaging to your nails? Here's why:

When nails absorb water (from washing dishes, swimming, or long showers), they temporarily swell. Then as they dry, they contract back to their normal size. This constant expansion and contraction weakens the nail structure over time, leading to peeling layers and breakage.

Chemical exposure makes matters worse. Harsh soaps, detergents, and cleaning products strip away the natural oils that protect both your nails and cuticles. Salon chemicals like acetone removers and gel polish treatments can be particularly damaging with repeated use.

The fix is threefold:

• Always wear waterproof gloves when doing dishes or cleaning

• Apply a nourishing cuticle oil immediately after any water exposure

• Strengthen nails from within by boosting your collagen intake

3. Physical Trauma: Your Nails Aren't Tools!

Many of us are guilty of using our nails as impromptu tools - opening soda cans, scratching off labels, or prying things open. But each time you do this, you're causing micro-traumas to the nail plate that accumulate over time.

Other damaging habits include:

• Filing nails back and forth (always file in one direction only)

• Buffing too aggressively

• Picking at polish or gel manicures

• Using metal tools under nails

These actions create tiny fissures in the nail structure that eventually lead to splits and breaks. The solution is behavior modification combined with internal support. While you work on breaking these habits, supplementing with collagen helps repair existing damage and makes new nail growth more resilient.

4. Dehydration: Nails Need Moisture Balance

Just like your skin, nails require proper hydration to stay flexible and strong. When they get too dry, they become brittle and prone to cracking. But paradoxically, too much moisture (like from constant water exposure) is equally damaging.

The key is maintaining the right balance by:

• Drinking plenty of water daily

• Using a good quality nail and cuticle oil

• Avoiding overly harsh soaps and sanitizers

• Wearing gloves in cold, dry weather

Collagen plays a crucial role here too - it helps maintain the nail bed's moisture retention capabilities. Many people report their nails become noticeably less dry and brittle within weeks of starting collagen supplementation.

5. Aging and Hormonal Changes

As we get older, several factors conspire to weaken our nails:

• Natural collagen production declines

• Circulation to the extremities decreases

• Hormonal changes affect growth cycles

• Years of accumulated damage takes its toll

Pregnancy, menopause, thyroid issues, and other hormonal fluctuations can all impact nail strength. The good news is that while we can't stop time, we can counteract these effects. Regular collagen supplementation has been shown in studies to improve nail growth rate and reduce brittleness in as little as 4 weeks.