Moisturize
Try a dedicated nail oil or a hand lotion with alpha hydroxy acid or lanolin. If nails are soft but brittle, they may be too moist so cut back on the moisturizer.
Limit manicures. To strengthen brittle nails, limit the number of manicures to avoid subjecting nails to the chemicals in nail polish and polish removers. Especially avoid acetone-based nail polish removers. For soft, brittle nails, a layer of polish may actually help.
Avoid alcohol-based sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are a convenient way to keep the germs away when soap and water aren’t available. But alcohol can dry out your nails and skin.
Get a paraffin wax bath. As an indulgent nail treatment, an at-home paraffin wax bath soothes and moisturizes nails and hands. Soak your hands in the bath for 10 to 20 minutes; then give the wax time to dry before peeling it off.
Wear gloves. When washing dishes or doing housework, wear rubber gloves to protect your fingernails.