Our nails are more than just a canvas for polish—they’re a reflection of our overall health. Strong, smooth nails can signal good nutrition and proper care( and sometimes just great genetics) but stress, lifestyle factors, or even underlying health issues can often cause our nails to become brittle, peeling, or weak.  The good news? With a little attention, you can keep your nails healthy, resilient, and looking their best.

Why Nail Health Matters

Nails are made of keratin, the same protein found in our hair and skin. Healthy nails act as a protective barrier for your fingertips, support daily tasks, and of course, add to your appearance. Taking care of them isn’t just cosmetic—it helps prevent painful conditions like infections, hangnails, or splitting. What you eat shows up in your nails. For stronger nails include adequate protein, an essential for keratin production (think eggs, fish, beans, chicken). Biotin, Omega 3’s, iron and zinc can help support thickness, reduce brittleness, and heal ridges and white spots and can be found in many of our healthy foods or with supplements. 

How to Best Protect Your Nails 

First and foremost, regular manicures at Define allow your nail health to flourish. By regular filing and shaping, we can combat most of those pesky uneven edges that can get caught and cause our nails to tear. In addition, proper cuticle care can keep them safely under control but also moisturized, using our favorite cuticle oils such as Dadi Oil and Solar Oil. At home, be sure to be mindful of moisture trapped under the nails that can encourage bacterial or fungal growth. After washing your hands, dry thoroughly—especially under the nails. When doing dishes or cleaning, wear gloves to protect your nails from harsh chemicals and prolonged water exposure. Typing, opening cans, or peeling labels with your nails can lead to chips or breaks. Just remember- your nails are not tools! 

What If I Have Tried Everything, and My Nails Are Still Weak? 

Still struggling with your nails even with great habits? Enter IBX! IBX is a professional two-part nail treatment designed to strengthen, repair, and protect your natural nails from within—not just sit on the surface like our common nail strengtheners. The system includes:

•IBX Repair: Targets and fills in damaged areas (splits, ridges, white spots) for precision repair.

•IBX Strengthen: Penetrates the upper nail layers to reinforce and bond them together for lasting integrity.

IBX works by using a patented penetrative technology and is formulated with monomers that, when aided by gentle heat, penetrate the nail plate and cure beneath the surface to create an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)—essentially fusing the layers within the nail for internal reinforcement. Unlike surface coatings, IBX bonds with the nail plate, eliminating the need for frequent removal and providing durable support. 

IBX treatments strengthens weak nails by bonding internally to make bending and breaking far less likely and repairs damage by filling splits, smooths ridges, and addresses peeling.  It’s excellent under gel or regular polish and acts as a protective shield beneath gel X enhancements, helping polish last longer and reducing damage during removal. It smooths surface irregularities like white spots or grooves, giving nails a healthier, more uniform look.  

At Define, nail technicians Rachel Gribbin and Tessa Hurlburt recommend starting with an introductory series of 4 treatments, spaced a week apart.  If the desired result is achieved in the first 4 week cycle, additional treatments can be added on in monthly sessions or as needed.  For serious, repair, 8 consecutive treatments may be advised.

Reserve your IBX treatment online or via our concierge specialists and add on to any manicure or pedicure service!