9 Best Nail Strengtheners of 2025, Tested and Derm-Approved

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Your nails go through a lot: handwashing, polishing, maybe some absent-minded picking (guilty). It’s only normal to find the occasional chip—but if you’re noticing that your tips are peeling or cracking far beyond what a manicure can fix, using a nail strengthener can help.

Think of these hydrating treatments like moisturizers for your mani. They can help hydrate and protect your nails so they’re less prone to breakage, Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Radiant Derm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, tells SELF. Bonus: They’re thin, (mostly) clear, and dry faster than regular polish, so they only take a few minutes to apply.

To find the best nail strengtheners, we chatted dermatologists up to learn which key ingredients you should look for. We also tested a bunch of options from top brands like O.P.I and Sally Hansen to find out if they really work. Ready to try one? Shop our favorites below.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: O.P.I. Nail Envy Original Nail Strengthener
2. Runner-Up: Olive & June Advanced Nail Strengthener
3. Best Budget Pick: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails

FAQs about nail strengtheners

Shop the best nail strengtheners

In between manis, these strengtheners can help you keep your nails looking (and feeling) healthy.

Best Overall: O.P.I. Nail Envy Original Nail Strengthener

Pros

• Comes in several colors
• Gives nails plenty of shine
• Can be used as a base coat

Cons

• On the pricey side
• Peels after about 5 days

If you feel naked without nail polish on, try O.P.I.’s Nail Envy. It’s packed with conditioning ingredients like biotin, but comes in colors that are just as opaque as regular polish. (You can even grab it in the brand’s staple shade, “Bubble Bath.”)

When you apply this treatment, it’ll form a film over your nails to prevent them from losing any more moisture. Our tester loves using the clear shade, which she says instantly makes her nails look healthier. “Applying two coats of OPI Nail Envy is like an IRL version of the beauty filter for my nails,” she says. “It adds a subtle shine that seems to blur any imperfections on my nails’ surfaces.” It also hydrates with panthenol—one of our experts’ favorite ingredients.

Runner-Up: Olive & June Advanced Nail Strengthener

Pros

• Dries super fast
• Very hydrating

Cons

• Won’t add any sheen or protective film to your nails

Olive & June’s strengthener contains major hydrators glycerin and panthenol, to deeply moisturize your nails while preventing flakes and breakage. I’ve been using it for the last few weeks, and I’m officially a big fan. I applied it two or three times a week (as the bottle recommends “for an intensive treatment”), and I definitely noticed a difference.

My nails were super dry from the cold NYC winter, and I’ve had hangnails galore. But after a week of regularly applying this, I realized that the layers of my nails weren’t peeling as much and I had less breakage. The best part is that it dries immediately, so I can do a quick layer before bed and not worry about it sticking or smudging, like nail polish can. It now has a permanent spot on my nightstand.

Best Budget Pick: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails

Pros

• Gives nails a glossy finish
• Brush is easy to use
• It’s one of our dermatologist’s personal favorites

Cons

• Takes longer to dry down
• Smells like nail polish

Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails is an OG—Dr. Spearman says she knows it works because she uses it on her own nails, and she recommends it to her patients often. Its ingredient lineup includes butylene glycol to hydrate, as well as a variety of oils (safflower, linseed, and soybean) to nourish.

One SELF tester says the packaging gave her no trouble—the brush has a handy shape and is easy to use (unlike that bulky, frayed brush in your most well-loved bottle of polish). She also likes the glossy finish that’s reminiscent of a top coat.

More great options

Still haven’t found “the one?” Below are a few more popular, dermatologist-recommended picks. Even though we haven’t tested them for ourselves yet, we still think they’re worth a try.

ISDIN SI-NAILS Nail Strengthener

Pros

• Travel-friendly packaging
• Can be used on nails and cuticles
• Soaks in well

Cons

• Pricey

“The key is to find a nail strengthener that is easy enough to be consistent with and addresses your specific nail concerns,” Dr. Houshmand says. For her, that product is this ISDIN serum because it’s easy to apply any time, anywhere. “It helps with both nail thickness and strength,” she says.

Its star ingredients are hyaluronic acid, a hydration superhero, and pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) gum, which has been shown to increase nail firmness, Dr. Houshmand says. Pop this pen into your purse, car, or work bag so you can apply it on the go.

Tenoverten The Foundation Base Coat

Pros

• Smooths nails
• Combats dryness

Cons

• On the pricey side

Tenoverten’s The Foundation is a base coat that doubles as a nail strengthener, with moisturizing ingredients and a formula that fills in cracks, so your mani looks smoother. Dr. Houshmand recommends it to anyone with dry nails because it has vitamin E, which helps hydrate and restore nails that are prone to cracking and breaking. (It doesn’t hurt that the sleek packaging will also look nice on your vanity.)

Essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener

Pros

• Has a shiny finish
• Comes in a few sheer colors

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it starts to yellow after a few days

Check out Essie’s Hard to Resist line if you want something that’ll add a nice tint to your nails while strengthening them at the same time. It comes in a few sheer colors that all have a glossy finish to spruce up your DIY mani. Dr. Spearman also says the formula stays put (read: no chipping).

Nails.INC Gimme Strength Nail Treatment

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Adds a subtle pink sheen

Cons

• Packaging is finicky to open

While I’m currently testing this Nails.INC treatment, my first impression was a positive one: Its creamy pink color instantly made my nails look more presentable (which was a tough feat, considering I broke two nails right before trying it).

I’m also impressed with the ingredient list, which includes a bunch of moisturizing oils like coconut, avocado, apricot, and rosehip, to name a few. I’ve been skipping regular polish to let my nails heal, but I’d rather wear this than go naked, so I’ll keep applying it regularly and update my review soon.

duri Rejuvacote 1 Nail Growth System

Pros

• Good for very dry nails
• Prevents chipping
• Dries quickly

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers say it stings

This formula “creates a protective barrier on your nails with hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, and calcium,” Dr. Houshmand says. It’s a great option if you’re struggling with nails that chip, peel, or crack, as it’ll create a seal over those layers to hold moisture in and keep dry air out.

Orly Nail Defense

Pros

• Prevents chipping
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Amazon reviewers say it has a chemical smell

Orly’s Nail Defense also uses hydrolyzed wheat protein to protect your nails and give them time to heal. Plus, it has soybean and safflower seed oils to moisturize and horsetail extracts to improve texture and brittleness.

Amazon reviewers say it works nicely as a base and top coat, so you can continue reaching for it even when your nails are strong again.

Related:

• The Cuticle Oils Derms Swear By to Prevent Dry, Cracked Nails
• 15 Hydrating Lip Balms That’ll Actually Get the Job Done
• Scaly Heels Are No Match for These Derm-Approved Foot Masks

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