I am meticulous about my feet since I am so dependant on them for my sports (running, cycling, yoga, weight training, swimming.) I have ALWAYS cut my toenails short, and STRAIGHT across (like Joy says). I have only lost 1 toenail (right great toe) after one hilly marathon where the downhill runs resulted in some unplanned for friction. I do professional pedicures maybe 3 X per year, but I cut my own nails and ask the tech to ONLY FILE and do all the other soothing stuff.

I regularly clean my aesthetics gear with alcohol, and put my pumice files throught the dishwasher on high heat/disinfect. I like Tea Tree oil as a topical if I have p a concern, however so far no fungal issues*

Thin nails and splitting sounds like a nutritional thing, and not necessarily a hygiene thing. Trim your nails short, reinforce with a clear or translucent Polish (you want to see what is going on) and consider a supplement to your diet (as noted above).

*Just anecdotal, but by mother had a nail infection that was resistant to various treatments over the years. I gave her a pedicure using Tea Tree oil applied to the affected toenails, and then gave her my bottle. She reported that the tea tree oil worked like nothing else and resolved her problem.

I was reading a post on Facebook about the one to ten scale of pain, and accompanying ridiculous faces on the chart at the doctor's office, and someone said that a toenail ripping off was like a 10 (or childbirth).

I did lose half a toenail last summer and it was excruciating (and ugly). It was something sports-related but can't remember what exactly precipitated it.

I am a big fan of Viviscal supplement for hair and nails and have been taking it for about three years.

Diet is always worth reexamining when there's a problem, especially if you've narrowed the food groups you select from but because it's only the two big toes it does sound more like a shoe problem.
Maybe a higher/longer toebox to diffuse moisture and reduce/eliminate pressure?

And no polish for a few months!

I occasionally get split or torn toe nails but that is because I do karate and if I get a very vigorous block to a kick, the nail can get damaged. I get regular pedicures and my nail technician can give me a false nail over which she applies acrylic and then polish - so that no one can tell that I have a broken nail, it really seems to help the healing process, as the torn nail grows out in no time. So whenever I go to see her with a damaged toe nail she now laughs and asks "so who have you been kicking today?".

Thank you, ladies. I appreciate the insights.

Tex, of course. I am proud of my diet, actually - it’s a hobbie, it works for my body and mind, and I enjoy it. (LOVE cooking). I eat eggs, cheese, FAGE yoghurt and nuts almost daily. I add a protein like fish, chicken or tofu at night. I love lentils, beans and chickpeas too - but don’t eat them as much (find them a bit bloating). Eat LOTS of veggies, and absolutely eat carbs too. Nothing will stop me from eating the best bread with the best butter and cheese - I'm Euro and we love bread and cheese. I also eat rice, potatoes, pasta, quinoa and couscous. And the naughty stuff in moderation. We eat a lot of Asian food too - and I make everything from scratch. I’m not a big water drinker - don’t believe in it.

Suz, aha. I see. All those factors cause toenail loss. Makes sense. Good luck!

LBD, thanks for the toe protector tip.

Gigi, I will start with the Boitin.

Runcarla, I’ll try the clear polish too.

Bijou, I wish I could say that my nails split because I do karate.

AND, I've ordered the Biotin.

The more I think about it, the more I think that it's a shoe problem. I need to strengthen the nails with Biotin and clear polish (eventually, on the polish).

Ouch, Angie! I feel your pain. If you are in the habit of polishing your toenails, may I suggest leaving them unpolished through the Winter? I have found polish, and polish removers, to be extremely drying and weakening to nails. For stabilizing torn nails while they grow in, a piece of tape (like the non-pad part of a band-aid, or adhesive tape) cut to the size and shape of the nail, works better for me than glue, and avoids those awful moments when the torn nail catches on things. You can then wrap a band-aid around each big toe for further protection. After the nails grow back, try rubbing a little olive oil into them, and keep them unvarnished until Summer. Good luck!

Great advice, tulle. Thank you. I am SO leaving off the polish till Summer.

This has happened to me and it's worse than a broken or split finger nail! Toe nails take so darn long to grow out.

Here's what I do to as prevention: I go without polish in the winter to give my nails a breather and keep my nails short. The polish is just so drying and my skin and nails are dry to start. I also use a mix of Jojoba oil and Tea Tree oil (3-1) and apply it as often as I can to my toe nails, but usually out of the shower and before bed. The Jojoba moisturizes and the Tea Tree stimulates growth (and helps with fungus or bacteria). On occasion I slather on the moisturizer and sleep with socks for a deeper moisturizing treatment.

If I have a split I use a silk nail wrap cut to size and apply it with nail glue (or Krazy glue) to mend/strengthen the split. I also keep filing it short as it grows. Every so often you need to replace the silk wrap. Alternately, you can keep a bandaid on it. I do prefer the silk wrap as it's not as obvious but the bandaid is much easier.

I hope it grows fast!

Ouch! Sounds like a shoe issue and possibly brittle nails. I lay off the nail polish as Colette mentioned, because it make your nails brittle. And keep your nails cut short so they don't catch. Lots of great advice here.

Being in the medical field I don't like giving advice, but a simple blood test will tell if you are lacking certain vitamins in you diet. A lot of women our age are lacking iron and don't even know it. But your nails tell a lot about your health.

Ouch! Sorry to hear that your toes and giving you problems. I like the Opi line of strengthening polishes.

http://www.ulta.com/nail-envy-.....rod5180283

I also go polish free in the winter to give the nails a break. I also like foot creams, L'Occitane has a nice one, to soften the feet and I am convinced it helps nails grow too.

http://usa.loccitane.com/shea-.....tm#s=29469