I have always had soft nails and could not grow them much passed the fingertips before they would tear off. I read in a Dr.'s column to buy colorless (sometimes called white) iodine. Ask the pharmacist for it. Apply it to the nails every day for 10 days then once a week thereafter to help harden them. I use a q-tip to do this. IT WORKS!!! My nails grow longer and I have to file them now to keep them shaped up. Of course it is not instant but keep doing this , they definitely get alot strongerer and harder. The only draw back is , do not put your hands in clorox water for a couple days after using the iodine or the nails will turn orange. I did it but it did scrub off. If using clorox or bleach just wear rubber gloves, probably better for your hands anyway. I have been doing it for over a year and my nails are really nice and hard now. Ruth