I have usually pretty darn good nails and last fall I decided to have nails put on...What a bummer ...it takes forever for my nails to recover from that treatment and I am just now getting back to normal. I do keep mine short these days because of all the gardening.

I have nails identical to yours. Through the years I've put everything on them and taken everything internally I've heard of, all to no avail. When I'm tempted to have acrylic nails put on, I remember how more damaged my nails were when I had them taken off several years ago. I agree with you...these nails are annoying and I never feel that my hands look good. :(

I probably will never have long nails, so I don't know if they would curve or not. Mine are stronger now than they were years ago. I've been a factory worker for a total of nearly 40 years. Many of those years were assembly line type of work. between that, crafting and gardening my nails don't stand a chance.
Linda

I do think curving nails can be caused by clenching your hand into a fist as you sleep. The nails bend against the palm of the hand.

I too have very soft nails, lots of fault lines and ones that grow faster on one side than the other. Someone tried to talk me into the acrylic nails once, but all I could think of is getting my finger caught in a dog collar or banging it on a fence and RIPPING the complete nail off. (I was boarding and grooming dogs at the time) No thanks. I have learned to just live with it. Out of necessity, I keep them short. My mom had nails to die for!! They were long and HARD. When she broke one though, it was a disaster, usually behind the quick!

Have you discussed your nails with your dr? Seems I heard somewhere that curved nails are a symptom of possibly serious health issues (heart? liver? kidney?)? Anyone else know about that? Hopefully, I'm wrong, but just in case, do ask your dr. next time you visit.

Please take care of yourself.

I know for a fact that weak nails are sometimes caused by anemia. A visit to your doctor seems like a good idea.

I am there with ya

Here is a link that might be useful: Our journey with autism!

Vitamin B12 according to my manicurist! She got her license years ago when there was a separate test and license issued, knowing potential health issues was part of it.

I have always had thin nails much like yours, last year went to the doc, she said I was anemic, took the iron supplements (and stool softener needed from that), 1 day I was getting vitamins and it hit me prenatal vitamins! My iron levels are good, getting the calcium and my nails are strong! (and no need for the stool softener)

I'd have the doc check for the anemia, but you may try the prenatal vitamins.

Thanks everybody. As it happens I went to donate blood last month and for the first time they couldn't take my blood because it was too low. So I am taking iron pills as a result. Went to the dr. last week and didn't think to mention my nails, but she took a blood test and will let me know, I hope.

I have extremely strong nails, but I never let them grow past my finger tips. I dig in the dirt and handle a lot of nasty stuff in taking care of animals. I don't like long nails. I just cut mine off with scissors.

Mine are so hard I can almost turn screws with them but they weren't always that way (except when on pre-natal vitamins) until I tried Nutra-Nail. Applies almost like water, dries fast & results can be seen in a week or so. Less than $7.00 at Wal_mart or most drug stores.

I handwash dishes 3x's a day in very hot water, scrub bathrooms etc., without gloves but do use them to garden only because I can't stand to get anything under my nails.

And nope, I don't work for them but so many people have bought the stuff after asking about mine, their company should pay me. :)

Suzi

Mine have always been a little thin. I can grow them pretty long if I want. I do have one that has a weak spot on the side. It will split if it gets very long. I admire manicured nails, but I don't have the time or patience. I do too much work on computers & too much gardening to keep mine really long. I just keep them nicely shaped.

My screen name says it all. Like Marilyn, I keep them short.

I have noticed that about my nails in the past year. If I let them grow much longer that the tip of my fingers, they start to curve in towards the finger tip. Other than that they seem to be strong and hard. I just figured it was another of "lives little mysteries" Dottie

I keep my nails short and that solves lots of problems.

GrittyMitts, thank you so much for mentioning Nutra Nail. I just went to check their website and it's a product I can actually use. I am allergic to formaldehyde and toluene and the Nutra Nail products are formaldehyde and toluene free. Yea!!!

Jodi-

My nails have always been soft and break easily. I keep my nails short.

Biotin is good for nails and hair. I have always had soft nails that broke or peeled easily and I could tell a difference when I started taking Biotin. Of course it takes a while to tell the difference while the nails grow out. I have also used Nail Tek II, It is for soft nails. It really makes my nails hard and easy to grow because of that. As for the ridges or "fault" lines. .you can lightly buff them out. Actually buffing makes any nail polish, especially the Nail Tek adhere to the nail better. With Nail Tek, you put a new coat on every day for several days, then you take it off and start over, it really does work great. It actuall looks like clear nail polish. You can get Nail Tek at Walgreens and a bottle lasts a very long time. I am not a nail tech. I don't work for Nail Tek. .haha. .Just a woman who has battle nail biting, soft, peeling nails for years and found some good answers. .Debbie

When I was in my 30's my nails would split. I started the Acrylic nails when I was 40. I wore them until a year ago. Now my nails are nice and hard and will grow long, but I keep them just a little past the tip of my fingers.

Gayle

{{!gwi}}
This is what I thought you were going to post about.

Oh YUCK. Don't those things make ya' wonder how anyone with nails that long zip their pants, make a fist to have blood drawn, fasten a bra, and excuse me, clean thier dang 'hiney' without major damage to uhhh...other body parts.

Suzi

We know a man who had his nails like the ones in your photo, Gayle, maybe even longer. For years. Recently one nail broke and he cut the rest off. We barely recognize him!

Like Debbie suggested, I've been taking the B vitamin biotin for some time and it has noticeably strengthened my nails.

I was watching one of the baby story shows one day and one expectant mother had nails about half as long as the ones in Gayle's picture.I sure hope she cut them off before handling her new baby!
My nails were always strong and tough and I kept them pretty long,up until 5 or 6 years ago.When I started having problems with them I started using the tips.They still haven't recovered from that.They won't grow very long now,split and peel and I have a split in one thumbnail that won't grow out.I have tried all sorts of vitamins and potions but no luck so far.I may try the Nutri Nail and see what happens.