Most people don’t give a lot of thought to their nails beyond applying a little polish or trying not to gnaw them during a stressful commute.

But your nails are actually very important. They protect the tips of your fingers and toes, and they aid you in many of life’s small tasks. And like it or not, gnarly nails can tell a lot about an individual’s attention — or lack thereof — to detail.

Most people can agree that a jagged or broken nail has a big impact on seemingly mundane tasks, such as pulling on a pair of socks or pantyhose. Despite their practical importance, however, nails get very little regard or appreciation — few of us know how to keep our nails healthy and in good shape. Almost one quarter of the people in the United States have what’s known as brittle nail syndrome. Brittle nails break and chip easily, and they may also peel off in layers. They are much more likely to have jagged, rough edges instead of a smooth surface.

Although some health conditions may lead to brittle nails, dry nails also are caused by activities such as washing dishes and using harsh cleaning products. The very things that make your nails look shiny and beautiful can also cause them to be brittle and breakable. Ingredients in nail polish, such as formaldehyde, can dry out nails. And nail polish remover is doubly damaging. The acetone in many removers is extremely drying to nails.

For the majority of people with brittle, dry nails, the best treatment is the most simple: moisturize. If you want to learn more about healthy nails, discover ways to avoid brittle nails and get some tips to help you moisturize your nails effectively, then read on.

Moisturizing Brittle Nails

Before you start applying moisturizer to your cuticles, it may help to understand a little bit about the nail and what makes it healthy or not. Nails consist of layers of keratin, the structural protein that you’ll also find in your skin and hair. There are essentially five main parts to your fingernails and the area around them:

Nail plate — This is part of your nail that’s on the surface, which you can see, touch and tap.

Nail folds — These are the areas of skin that surround your nail plates.
Nail bed — The skin underneath your fingernail is what’s called the nail bed, which is partially responsible for holding on to the nail plate.
Cuticles — Your cuticles are the protective layers of tissue that overlap the nail plate at the edge of the nail folds.
Lunula — The lunula is the whitish strip that appears at the base of your nail plate.
So why do nails get brittle in the first place? Your nails grow from the cuticle at a rate of about 0.004 inches (0.1 mm) a day. As soon as the nail is exposed to everyday wear and tear, it may begin to suffer damage. In between layers of keratin, there are small spaces. When nails are exposed to air and water, the spaces can swell. This makes the layers easier to separate, resulting in increased breakage.

Applying moisturizer to your nails can keep them from becoming brittle. Moisturizer protects the nail plate from the air and water that can cause damage. There are two common methods of moisturizing nails. One way is to apply a cream or ointment, such as petroleum jelly, to hands, cuticles and nail plates. Another is to soak nails in oil, such as bath oil or olive oil. In extreme cases, you may want to combine these methods. First, soak nails in oil, wipe any excess oil off hands, and then apply a moisturizing cream.

Keep reading for some practical tips to keep your nails moisturized and healthy.

Tips for Moisturizing Your Nails

Now that you know the common culprits of brittle nails and the basics of moisturizing, there are some extra steps you can take to care for cracked, dry nails or to keep brittle nails at bay:

Don’t use a nail polish that contains formaldehyde. You should also stay away from any nail polish removers that contain acetone. If you struggle with brittle nails but still want to add some shine to your nails, limit application of polish to twice a month.
Wear gloves when cleaning or doing the dishes, since the use of soap and the action of scrubbing can dry out your hands and nails.
Health experts recommend that we wash our hands frequently in order to avoid harmful viruses and bacteria, but all of this washing is hard on skin and nails. Use a mild soap when possible and, after washing, apply a moisturizer.
Avoid long, hot baths or showers, as hot water is especially drying to skin. And, as when washing hands, be sure to moisturize your skin and nails as soon as possible after bathing. By doing so, you can lock in any remaining moisture from the shower.
For intensive moisturizing, apply liberal amounts of hand cream or petroleum jelly before bed, then pull on gloves or socks. Special cotton gloves for this purpose are available at many stores.
Choose a moisturizer that contains alpha hydroxy acids.
Use a humidifier in winter, when the air is often very dry, which can be hard on skin and nails.

Your fingernails say a lot about you. Neatly trimmed and well-maintained nails hint that you take care of yourself. Nails bitten to the core signal that you may be anxious and stressed. But split and cracked nails mean your nails need a little attention — otherwise, they may catch somebody else’s.

When your nails start to crack and split, it’s natural to point the finger at something in your life. You may think you need to eat more gelatin or take iron supplements, but neither of these is to blame — cracking, splitting nails typically result from repeated exposure to water over long periods of time. Baths, showers, dishwashing and swimming can all break down the cells that hold your nails together, and so does frequent use of nail polish and nail polish remover.

But you can repair the damage. Before you call the salon to schedule an emergency manicure session, take a good look at your nails. If they’re dry and cracking, it’s going to take time and patience to repair them. Fingernails grow slowly at a rate of about 0.08 to 0.12 inches (2 to 3 millimeters) per month. Because it takes your nails three to six months to grow from cuticle to tip, you’ll have to maintain treatments and preventions for a while.

Before you do anything with those cracked nails, you need to gently clip excess parts that could catch on something and cause tears that go deeper into the nail bed. Then you need to figure out what’s making your nails crack and split. Keep reading to what causes cracked nails and how to treat them.

Moisturizing Cracked Nails
Cracked nails are dry nails. Exposure to water breaks down the glue-like keratin that strengthens and holds together the top layer of your nail — too much of the abrasive chemicals in nail polish remover can also have this effect. To counter the dryness, you need to keep your nails moisturized.

Moisturizing your nails is simple. Whenever you use hand lotion or moisturizer, just take an extra moment to rub it in and around your nails. You should use moisturizer after washing your hands, taking a bath, doing dishes or using nail polish remover. If you forget during the day, apply a small amount of moisturizer to your nails and cuticles before you go to bed at night. This simple step will go a long way toward healing your damaged nails.

Of course, not all moisturizers are created equal. So many lotions, creams and other moisturizing products populate the shelves of your local drug store that you may wonder which is best for your nails.

Look for moisturizers that contain the following ingredients:

Proteins, such as collagen and keratin, strengthen cells in the nail plate, making the nail more resistant to splitting and cracking.
Occlusives, such as petrolatum, lanolin and mineral oil, slow the rate of moisture loss from your nails, preventing dryness.
Humectants trap moisture in the nail plate to prevent drying and cracking. Common humectants include urea, lactic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, alpha hydroxy acids and phospholipids.
You may have to spend a few minutes reading lotion labels, but the time will be well spent. A moisturizer that contains a protein, an occlusive and a humectant will give your nails the moisture they need to prevent and treat dry, cracked nails.

Continue reading to learn about other preventive tips and home remedies that will keep your nails looking and feeling healthy.

Home Remedies for Cracked Nails

Living with cracked nails can be frustrating and sometimes even painful, but there are some simple steps you can take at home to prevent, repair and minimize damage to your nails:

Watch the water. If you expose your nails to a lot of water over the course of the day, you may want to invest in a pair of cotton-lined rubber gloves or disposable plastic gloves. You should especially consider wearing gloves when washing dishes or cleaning with chemicals.
Go easy on the chemicals. Harsh soaps and chemicals can dry out your nails, making them split and crack. If you use a lot of chemicals and soaps, be sure to wear those gloves while doing so.
Switch it up. You can’t avoid soap all the time, so you may want to use a different soap. Mild soaps that contain moisturizers are gentler not only on your nails, but also on your hands.
Limit the remover. Nail polish remover, especially varieties that contain acetone, can be drying to fingernails. Try not to use nail polish remover more than once every other week and look for removers that don’t contain acetone.
Trim your nails. Nails that are ragged and chipped are more likely to catch and split. Keep fingernails short, cut straight cut across the top, and gently file the sides to a rounded shape.