Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Hardener 13.3ml

A cult treatment with genuine staying power. Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails Strengthener is the pale-pink bottle that's lived in British handbags for decades, and it earns the loyalty. The formula is infused with nylon and calcium to bond to the nail surface, and it dries to a subtle natural sheen rather than a hard gloss, so it looks like groomed bare nails rather than obvious polish.

Use it two ways. As a stand-alone treatment, paint two thin coats onto clean nails twice a week and let them rebuild over three to four weeks. As a base coat, a single layer grips colour brilliantly and stops darker polishes from staining. Remove and reapply fortnightly for ongoing conditioning.

A sensible buy if you've been wearing acrylics or gels and your natural nails need rehabbing. Pairs with a nourishing cuticle oil and hand cream for a proper at-home repair routine.