Print
Share
Click on a link below to share this article with your favourite link sharing site
-
Ruth Doherty
Celebrity Style Expert
Want to know how to get Sienna's hairdo or Angelina's perfect pout? Get some advice first from Ruth Doherty. -
Carolyn Newman
Hair Colour Expert
Colour director at Charles Worthington, Carolyn has over 26 years of experience as a colourist, with a celebrity client base that includes Jennifer Love-Hewitt and Sara Cox. -
Philip Kingsley
Haircare Expert
Philip Kingsley is the world's leading trichologist (hair and scalp expert) with over 50 years experience, treating royalty, celebrities and heads of state. -
Kevin Murphy
Hairstyle Expert
Stylist to some of the world's most beautiful women including Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Kylie Minogue and her sister Dannii, top Australian hair stylist Kevin Murphy knows sexy, stylish hair inside out. -
Cassie Steer
Make-up Expert
Desperate to track down turquoise eyeshadow? Can't find a waterproof mascara that works? Cassie has the answer to all your make-up muddles. -
Andrea Fulerton
Nails Expert
Twice voted British Nail Technician of the Year, and with numerous celebrity clients (including Nigella, Daisy Lowe and Annie Lennox), Andrea Fulerton is here to tend to all your nail needs. -
Heather Campbell
Skincare Expert
Whether it's your greasy T-zone or dry heels giving you grief, Heather knows a product that can help.
Q
What can I do about peeling flaking nails - I have tried hair, skin and nail tablets and rubbed in olive oil and eaten jelly cubes - what next?!
Sarah, London
A
Peeling nails are a type of brittleness of the nail plate. One of my personal thoughts on this problem, is that it is due to the weather, we just aren't getting any vitamin D from the sun as the summer season has been so slow in arriving. I've just spent a month in the USA sunshine and HEY PRESTO no more flaking.
It doesn't mean it's going to be the answer for you though so try more common solutions, such as using a non-acetone treatment nail varnish remover such as Cutex [available at Boots]. Prevention is better than cure so try not to apply and remove nail varnish more than once a week.
If you’re going to coat your nails in any varnish make it Nailtiques Protein Formula 2,which has been designed to harden and heal your nails without drying. You must use the formula once a day for four days - allowing the layers of protein varnish to slowly build up on the nails. Or a slightly less expensive treatment is the Bio-Build combo by Leighton Denny.
Be aware that nail hardeners and strengtheners are good for very weak and peeling nails when used for short periods of time as if you use them for more than 3-4 weeks they can become too hard, making them brittle and prone to breakages!
In between, be sure to massage a moisturiser such as Creatives Solar Butter into cuticles and nails to stimulate circulation and encourage the nails to grow.
Also, over exposure to water on our skin [nails are made of layers of skin] tends to make them dry and jelly cubes falls into 'old wives tale' category I’m afraid...
More about the expert...
Andrea Fulerton
Twice voted British Nail Technician of the Year, and with numerous celebrity clients (including Nigella, Daisy Lowe and Annie Lennox), Andrea Fulerton is here to tend to all your nail needs.
