This depends on the nail strengthener you choose. Some of the more intensive formulas, such as Mavala’s nail strengthener, are designed to be used two or three times a week, while products such as CND’s Rescue Rxx can be used daily. It uses protein to penetrate the nails to make them resistant to bending and splitting and fans have been wowed by the results this delivers, transforming tired talons into strong, split-free nails to be proud of. All of the products in our edit of the best nail strengtheners are tried, tested and approved by Mumsnet users and our editors, so they’re all worth investing in. Choosing the right one for you is down the personal choice. You’ll notice in this edit that very few nail strengtheners are vegan or cruelty-free, which makes this formula immediately stand out. All Nail Berry products are vegan, cruelty-free, 12-free (meaning they don’t contain any harmful ingredients), plus they’re halal. Our Swears By edits are compiled by journalists with expertise in the areas they’re writing about. To help ensure we give the best, most accurate and trustworthy recommendations, they follow several steps when choosing products. Recommendations from real parents

It works well as a base coat too, allowing polish to glide on smoothly on top. It has a wide tapered brush for easy application, for one last bonus point . Pros OPI is one of the biggest names in nails, creating endless gorgeously coloured polishes as well as this professional-approved nail strengthener. You’ll often see a bottle of OPI Nail Envy atop your nail tech’s desk, and for good reason. It’s a salon quality brand (hence the salon price tag!) that harnesses the power of hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium for their strengthening prowess. Sandwich a coat of your chosen polish between two layers of this for a long-lasting, strong manicure that looks good and keeps your nails in top condition.

Rimmel’s protective base coat can be worn under your favourite nail polish as a protective base coat, or on its own to help nourish nails and give them a shiny finish. Say goodbye to weak and damaged nails! One thing to note - only use this after you’ve applied your nail polish. It creates a slightly oily protective barrier that means lacquer will apply streakily. Loved by nail professionals and consumers alike, OPI’s Nail Envy comes out tops in the nail strengthening world. Not only does it level up your nails, infusing them with nourishing ingredients and keeping them from splitting and breaking, it’s easy to apply with a wide, flat brush that even novices will be able to get to grips with. This luxurious-feeling cream helps make nails more resistant as well as softening cuticles in one softly scented pot. It’s expensive for something so small, but each nightly application feels like a self-care moment, plus it looks beautiful on your bedside table.

A nail strengthener works over time, using nourishing ingredients to penetrate the nail plate to make your nail stronger, while a hardener adds a layer of protection to your nail to stop it bending or breaking. The latter is great if you want to protect your nail as it grows, while a strengthener is good for long term results. Why you should trust usIt’s a thin, glossy formula that should be applied directly to the nail. You can apply polish on top, but given that it’s recommended to apply this every night for at least a week, we’d leave this as the only thing on your nails to allow it to work its magic. It needs to be applied directly to the nail, without any base coat or polish, to fully get to work. Pros This makes cuticles supple too, with nail biters saying it soothes even their most ragged of cuticles. The only downside to note is that as this is an oil, it is… oily, so if you don’t like that texture, you’d be better suited to a base coat style nail strengthener Pros