~I took this post off on Friday and reposting because I have more to update. ~
I used Super Nail Glue to adhere the layers back together. The first two days went really well, no discoloration and no further splitting. Also, the edge stayed smooth. On top of the gluing, I was moistening my hands with vitamin E oil, hand cream, and I wore a glove on my right hand. (Yes, I looked rather silly going out of my house wearing only one glove, I lost the other, but all for the good of the nails.)
I also wasn’t wearing any polish (well on my right hand anyways, as you know, I had to try the Halloween 2012 from OPI) because I was giving my nails a chance to “breathe” as many nail health article suggested. On the third day (yesterday,) I lax on moisturize with vitamin E oil and by the afternoon, I notice a piece of the top layer missing. There are also some color change around the original split area and maybe even a little larger, Further more, I took OPI, I spotted the lizard, off my toes and found the right big toe nail is also split, double OH NO!
What is a girl to do? Should I have worn polish covered the split nails because it might have made it stronger and harder to chip? If so, how are my nails suppose “to breath” all covered up? (Finger crossed. I guess, I am using myself as a human guinea-pig. At least I know, nails grow back pretty good, so I am pretty save. Or so I hope.)
First of all, What is brittle and dry nails? Here is an article explaining in medical terms. Causes of split or crack nails are frequent wetting of the hand/nails, use of nail cosmetics and harsh chemicals, trauma, and rare occasion, skin or other health conditions. The nails are hard but fragile/brittle, in another word, lack flexibility/strength. Brittle nails are very different from weak/soft nails and here is an articles explains weak nails vs. brittle nails. In short, weak/soft nails needs hardeners (thickness,) vis versa, brittle/hard nails needs strenghers (flexibility.)
Here are few ways to remedy brittle nails, it won’t fix the already split or crack nails you have now but it suppose to condition your nails. Also, other general “save your nail tips.” (Pun intended.)
-Weekly warm olive oil soak, 10-15 minutes. (to find the time?)
-Not wearing nail polish and not using acetone remover (oh, boy, there goes my favorite Zoya remover.)
-Moisturize with Vaseline (or anything you can think of really.)
-Wear cotton gloves to bed and wear rubber gloves when working with chemicals, like household cleaners. (golden rule in my mother’s everyday house keeping book.)
On the drug store shelves, a lot of times, I see the nail treatments packaging uses “harden” and “strengthen” interchangeably which is very confusing for those of us seeking the proper formula to target specific nail type. There seems to be more products in the store for “weak nails” that needs hardening. For those of us with hard (and originally strong) but now vulnerable nails needs “strengthening” formulas.
Currently, I am using two products, Nailtique formula 3 and Barielle Hydrating Ridge Filler with Silk Fiber, both sepecifically state to hydrate and promote flexibility for brittle nails. They also states that they 
promote binding of the nail layers together to prevent nails from splits and cracks. These products are not cheap.
Nailtique formula 3 – $19.99 in Rite-Aid/$11.49 on Amazon.com
Barielle Hydrating Ridge Filler with Silk fiber - $16.00 on barielle.com / I found mine at TJMaxx for only $3.99.
I purchased my Nailtique formula 3 from local beauty supply store for $17.99 so just a slight cheaper than Rite-Aid but a lot more expensive then Amazon. But I was desperate and I did not want to wait for shipping.
On the first day, I layer one coat of Nailtique 3 follow by a coat of Barielle Ridge Filler, then finish with another coat of Nailtique 3. This combo makes the naked nails looks healthy and does give a nice protective coat to the chipped nail.
On the second day, I layered one coat of Barielle over the exiting protective layer (because I could feel the edge of the chip, tip wear, obviously) and another layer of the Nailtique. I am planning on use as directed on my right hand (the left hand has OPI Halloween on) at least for another week before I polish them. That will give my nails some time to grow out. I read somewhere, after 1 week, I should use nail polish remover to clean up all the layers and start over again.
So it only have been two days, from what I read, I won’t see much change for at least three weeks. So in the mean time, I am going to try to wear my polishes for a bit longer so I don’t use too much remover. Also, I am going back to none acetone cleaner (no Zoya for a while, sad.) Will keep everyone on the hopefully “recovery” of my nails.
