Before we recommend new products, we always ask our trusted Mumsnet users, of which there are more than 7 million each month. That’s a lot of honest, impartial advice. Expert guidance

Very top of my list for most effective beauty product. Everyone I've recommended it to is in agreement!” Tried and tested by Sunflowers and Tulips A nail strengthener works over time, using nourishing ingredients to penetrate the nail plate to make your nail stronger, while a hardener adds a layer of protection to your nail to stop it bending or breaking. The latter is great if you want to protect your nail as it grows, while a strengthener is good for long term results. Why you should trust us It comes in various different formulas, including coloured versions, a matte one and formulas designed specifically for brittle nails, peeling nails and thin nails, depending on your nails needs.

2. Best Sally Hansen nail strengthener: Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat

CND is a professional nail brand and this is an essential in many nail tech’s kit, so you know it’s good. With continued use it prevents nails from peeling and splitting and it comes in both a nail polish style bottle and a pen applicator, for use on the go. Sally Hansen is another big name in the nail world - you’ll likely have seen the brand’s products on the shelves of Boots for your whole life. Sally Hansen offers a variety of different nail strengtheners, but this one gets our vote because it’s multi-purpose. Yes, nail strengtheners do work. In fact they work in two different ways. They provide a protective layer, to shield the nails against daily wear and tear, plus they infuse the nail plate with nourishing, strengthening ingredients to help your talons become more robust over time. Do nail strengtheners help nails to grow?

Users love it for strengthening the tip of nails, which is often the first part of the nail to show damage, splitting and bending. This provides an impressive layer of protection that even hours of typing won’t be an issue for. OPI is one of the biggest names in nails, creating endless gorgeously coloured polishes as well as this professional-approved nail strengthener. You’ll often see a bottle of OPI Nail Envy atop your nail tech’s desk, and for good reason. It’s a salon quality brand (hence the salon price tag!) that harnesses the power of hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium for their strengthening prowess. Glycerin is high up in the ingredients list and as a humectant that draws moisture in, it explains why this is so intensely nourishing. Pros Dr PawPaw is one of those beauty products that has seemingly endless uses, from lip balm, to soothing dry elbows, to adhering glitter makeup to strengthening nails. Rimmel’s protective base coat can be worn under your favourite nail polish as a protective base coat, or on its own to help nourish nails and give them a shiny finish. Say goodbye to weak and damaged nails!

11. Best nail strengthener with colour: Essie Nail Care Hard To Resist Nail Strengthener

This depends on the nail strengthener you choose. Some of the more intensive formulas, such as Mavala’s nail strengthener, are designed to be used two or three times a week, while products such as CND’s Rescue Rxx can be used daily.