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Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/p>\nAccordionItemContainerButton<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest Overall:<\/strong> ePhD Nail Bond Treatment<\/h2>\n\n
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Epres<\/p>\n
ePhD Nail Bond Treatment<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why it\u2019s worth it:<\/strong> The ePhD Nail Bond Treatment is a kit staple for Los Angeles-based manicurist Alex Jachno. It repairs broken bonds in the nail and acts as a protective layer underneath base coat and polish. \u201cThink of it as the most beneficial pre-base coat step,\u201d she says. She likes that it penetrates down to the nail bed to hydrate, support growth, and help your manicures last longer: \u201cI\u2019ve never used a better treatment, and I use it on all of my clients,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> ethyl acetate, diethylhexyl maleate<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.3 fl oz.<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> Those with damaged nails that grow slowly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest for Discoloration<\/strong> Chanel Le Base Camelia<\/h2>\n\n
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Why it\u2019s worth it:<\/strong> Another (ultra-luxurious) conditioning pick from Jachno, Chanel\u2019s Le Base Cam\u00e9lia smooths and protects nails while leaving behind a sheer, even, milky base that looks chic alone or layers nicely under polish. You\u2019ll notice your nails feel harder and smoother almost immediately after applying it, but the real payoff comes after a few weeks of regular use\u2014think visibly healthier, more even-looking tips. The secret? Camellia oil and cellulose, which help fill in ridges and keep your nails from drying out (which can cause them to break more easily).<\/p>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> camellias oil, cellulose<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.4 fl oz.<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> those with dehydrated nails that have ridges, or just want a milky base coat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest for Nail Growth:<\/strong> CND RescueRXx<\/h2>\n\n
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Why it’s worth it:<\/strong> When your nails are constantly splitting, it\u2019s time for a hard reset. Apply CND\u2019s Rescue RXx to bare nails and avoid polish for a week or two after for the best results. This deeply conditioning, oil- and keratin-based treatment can help repair cracking and splitting nails with white spots caused by wear and tear, like picking, buffing, and scraping. Take it from New York City-based nail artist Miss Pop, who calls RescueRXx “one of the best strengtheners out there.”<\/p>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> jojoba oil, almond oil, keratin<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.5 fl oz.<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> people taking a mani break to strengthen their nails<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest for Breakage:<\/strong> Essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener<\/h2>\n\n
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Essie<\/p>\n
Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why it’s worth it:<\/strong> Essie is a mainstay in the manicure game, so it’s no surprise the brand is also serious about promoting healthy nail growth. The Allure<\/em> Best of Beauty Award-winning Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener uses MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), a compound rich in sulfur, to boost keratin production in the nails, which helps build overall strength. Just prep your nail beds with a quick clean and apply the product. If you’re struggling with yellowish nails, you might be better off with Neutralize & Brighten, a purple-tinted formula to neutralize discoloration, but this is our recommendation when you\u2019ve just come off a long streak of acrylic or gel manis or when you simply haven\u2019t been prioritizing nail care.<\/p>\n\n
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\u201cI wasn’t always sold on nail strengthening treatments, but now I can’t go without Essie’s. I put it on whenever my nails are feeling worn down from too much dishwashing or gardening. And they feel way less prone to bending and breakage.”\u2014Kara McGrath, former content director<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> MSM, vitamin B5, silica<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.5 fl oz.<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> everyone<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest Base Coat:<\/strong> Nail Essentials by ASP Artificial in a Flash<\/h2>\n\n
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ASP<\/p>\n
Nail Essentials by ASP Artificial in a Flash<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why it\u2019s worth it:<\/strong> If your nails are weak and brittle, but you still need your mani to shine, nail expert Juli Russel says the Nail Essentials by ASP Artificial in a Flash Super Hard Base Coat is a good place to start. \u201cIt hardens your natural nails and adds reinforcement to help prevent breaks,\u201d she says\u2014even under a fresh coat of polish. The formula taps hydrolyzed keratin, a protein that penetrates the nail, to strengthen and smooth. Longer tips (and therefore, sleeker manicures) are just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, hydrolyzed keratin, calcium<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.5 fl oz<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> those with thin nails that break easily<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest Tinted:<\/strong> Butter London Jelly Preserve Strengthening Treatment<\/h2>\n\n
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Butter London<\/p>\n
Jelly Preserve Strengthening Treatment<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why it’s worth it:<\/strong> We’re sure you know (and love) the K-beauty jelly nail trend\u2014now, it comes with a tip-strengthening twist. Butter London\u2019s Jelly Preserve Strengthening Treatment has a sheer, tinted finish that comes in several colors and is infused with nail-loving ingredients like hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, tea tree oil, and olive oil. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, is a fan: “It contains argan oil, which has emollient and occlusive properties,” she says, adding that it’s free of potentially harmful ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene, and formaldehyde resin.<\/p>\nIf you want a see-through treatment, skip this one\u2014it only comes in colors. Instead, try Butter London’s clear Base Coat Nail Polish Horsepower. Regardless of your chosen base, Dr. King recommends using the brand\u2019s Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat after to shield your nails from UV damage.<\/p>\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, tea tree oil, vitamin E, calcium, arginine<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.4 fl oz.<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> jelly nail lovers or anyone who wants a dose of color<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMost Versatile:<\/strong> Margaret Dabbs London Nail Strengthening Treatment<\/h2>\n\n
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Margaret Dabbs<\/p>\n
London Nail Strengthening Treatment<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why it\u2019s worth it:<\/strong> Plenty of nail strengtheners promise results, but don\u2019t do much beyond adding shine. Margaret Dabbs London\u2019s Nail Strengthening Treatment is the real deal (it is a 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, after all). With just one coat, it helps fortify weak, bendy nails, thanks to a nutrient-packed formula featuring celery seed extract and vitamins B5, E, and F. The soft, barely-there pink tint is an added bonus\u2014layer on a second coat, and it looks polished enough to wear solo (pun intended). You can also use it as a strengthening base coat under any nail polish. It\u2019s everything we want in a nail strengthener in one power-packed formula.<\/p>\n\n
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\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to rebuild my nails after giving up gels for good, and it\u2019s been a journey. I\u2019ve tried loads of strengtheners, and this is the first one that made an immediate, noticeable difference. After one coat, I\u2019m able to unbox dozens of beauty products without having to fret over my nails breaking, splitting, or folding.\u201d \u2014Sophia Panych, contributing writer<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> celery seed, vitamins B5, E, and F<\/li>\nSize:<\/strong> 0.3 fl oz<\/li>\nWho it’s for:<\/strong> those who don\u2019t want to choose between stronger nails and a colorful mani<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBest for Nail Ridges:<\/strong> DefenAge 360-Rejuvenation Nail Root Serum<\/h2>\n\n
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DefenAge<\/p>\n
360-Rejuvenation Nail Root Serum<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why it’s worth it:<\/strong> DefenAge’s 360-Rejuvenation Nail Root Serum earned a coveted Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award for its data-backed nail growth and strengthening results. “It is unique in that it focuses beyond the nail [itself], at the root where the new nail is generated,” manicurist Julie Kandalec previously told Allure<\/em>. “Ridges have long been a common complaint of my clients, and it is really impressive that this product can get rid of them.” The formula boosts keratin production, delivers antioxidants, and goes on effortlessly with a brush applicator.<\/p>\n