Written by the SiWell content team ·
Brittle nails usually result from a combination of dehydration (nail polish remover, water, chemicals) and a deficiency in nutrients such as biotin, vitamin D, calcium, or zinc. A clinical study showed that daily biotin supplementation could increase nail thickness by 25% within 6 months in individuals with brittle nails. Do you experience splitting, thin, or easily broken nails? Below, you'll find out exactly what causes it and what research and practical experience suggest truly helps.
Why do you have brittle nails?
Often, it's due to things you do daily: using nail polish remover, painting nails with chemical-laden polish, or frequent contact with water. The weather also plays a role. Cold, dry air isn't good for your nails as it draws moisture out of them.
Additionally, internal factors play a role:
-
Lack of sleep. Your body repairs and builds tissue during sleep, including your nails.
-
A deficiency in biotin, vitamin D, calcium, or zinc. These nutrients are directly involved in the structure of your nails.
-
Frequent contact with water. Nails that are constantly getting wet and dry (think long baths, washing dishes without gloves) lose their natural moisture balance.
What can you do about brittle nails?
Are you fed up with your brittle nails? These four approaches are most commonly recommended:
Use a base coat. Your nails aren't always happy with nail polish, especially those full of chemicals. A base coat protects the nail and also helps your nail polish adhere better and last longer.
Hydrate your nails. A brittle nail is essentially a dry nail. Moisture-restoring nail polish, massaging in nail oil, or applying a repairing cream helps restore that moisture balance.
Wear gloves when working with water. This might sound excessive, but nails that frequently come into contact with water actually dry out, similar to how your nails become soft and flexible after a long bath. Do you often work with your hands in water? Protect them with gloves.
Supplement possible deficiencies. Biotin, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc all play a role in healthy nail structure. For biotin specifically, there is clinical research: in people with brittle nails, nail thickness increased by 25% after 6 months of daily biotin intake, and nail splitting noticeably decreased.
Silicon: what we can and cannot say with certainty
Silicon is a mineral naturally present in the human body, including in nails and connective tissue. Over the years, research has been conducted on silicon in relation to nails and skin, such as a study by Barel et al. (2005) on oral silicon intake in women with sun-damaged skin.
Some people choose to maintain their silicon intake through diet or supplements, in addition to the tips above. Triple A Silicon is a liquid supplement with silicon in concentrated form. Want to know more? Check out our page on silicon and nails.
Frequently asked questions about brittle nails
How long does it take for brittle nails to recover? A nail grows an average of about 3 millimeters per month, and full replacement takes approximately 4 to 6 months. Improvements in structure (less splitting, more strength) are often noticeable after just a few weeks, but allow several months of patience for a fully restored nail.
Is biotin proven effective against brittle nails? Clinical research shows a positive effect: a 1990 study found a 25% increase in nail thickness after 6 months of daily biotin supplementation in people with brittle nails. However, the study group was small, so larger follow-up studies would need to further confirm this.
Can washing hands too often cause brittle nails? Yes. Repeated wetting and drying draws moisture from the nail, causing it to dry out and become more brittle. Wearing gloves when doing water-related tasks helps to limit this.
Are brittle nails a sign of a vitamin deficiency? It can be a signal, particularly of insufficient biotin, vitamin D, calcium, or zinc. It's not the only possible cause, as dehydration due to water and chemicals plays a role just as often. But with persistent issues, it's not a bad idea to check your diet and possibly your blood values.
Sources
Further reading
