MAVALA Scientifique

This just plain and simple works. where I live, it's available in a felt tip pen applicator. Contains formaldehyde (i would prefer to avoid it, but at this concentration and given I've only used it for short periods once every few years, I'm not worried), which strengthens keratin cross bonds, binding the layers of the nail together. It's to only be applied to the tip of the nail, once a week. If applied on entire nail, formaldehyde may cause the nail to lift off of the nail bed. Using it more often than weekly makes the nail excessively hard, thus not flexible, so when it presses against something, it breaks rather than bends. A person a page down gave it one star because her entire tips snapped off from using it daily. That's exactly why it's to be used once a week, on soft, splitting nails and stop using it immediately when they've hardened. Like someone else mentioned, mavala customer support is happy to advise, so take your time to figure out if and how you should use it. It's essential to know whether the nail is splitting, or breaking before using this. If the entire tip of the nail just breaks off (snaps, like a reviewer below reports), it needs flexibility. If it splits, like at the sides, and you try changing the shape of the tip to file off the split side of the nail, if it bends and peels, it needs strengthening, and a formaldehyde product should work. If used as per instructions, the pen works. It's also ridiculously easy to apply and dries instantly, and the pen packaging makes it easy to keep in a purse, work desk, etc.

Do not buy a backup. I have had the same pen for YEARS and it refuses to dry out. I don't think you can pan this one up in a lifetime. I've never had issues with the tip of the pen either. The scent is also not a big problem with the pen.

I have to keep my nails short these days for work, and I've found effective natural alternatives for nail care, plus I still have this pen lying around, so I won't have to repurchase any time soon. But if I wanted something to prevent my nails splitting and to preserve length (or if my nails peeled), I wouldn't even think about buying anything other than this (unless the garlic thing works. I'll try that at some point too).

I had been using Essie Millionails, but that seems to have disappeared. So my search for a nail hardener turned up this product. Four months after taking off my acrylics my nails were sad. I've vowed never to wear acrylics again. But I hoped that this nail hardener would be the ticket. I found this at Ulta. I've been using this twice a week on nail tips as directed for the past two months. My nails are strong and healthy. Yes this formula doesn't smell nice. But it works as promised. This tiny bottle will last for a long time. I know it has formaldehyde but it works. I would totally recommend this!

I have had acrylic nails for 14 years and now have tried to go back to natural nails. This is the first product to work. What I am doing is putting this on the whole nail and not getting any on the skin around the edges. The skin will be rock hard if you do. It is a hardener and it does get the job done!  It is very easy to be very accurate with the application as the item is very well designed.  
The next thing I do is not necessary but I have found it easy and helpful. I then glue with Wonder Bond glue(it is the best I have found! Cost is about$4 from Sallys) fake nails from Sally's called Terrific Tips. These can be a tip or a full nail. I use them as a full nail and I like them because they are strong BUT very very thin. They cost maybe $7 for 100 assorted tips. I can get an easy week out of them before I take them off because the glue is that good!  Then I paint my nails and use Seche Vite -Sally's also-for a top coat. I have used many high end and drug store top coats but for me this is the very best I have found. I really love it and will never be without it. 
When I take off the fake nails I find that my natural nail has been growing very well while under the fake nail.

i like many bought this after reading good reviews.i have been using it for a couple of months, i cant say its the worst thing i have tried but its not that good either my nails still split/peel and chip they dont break as often but when they do its more of a snap. i am holding out hope that things may improve by the time i finish the bottle, which will obviously effect whether i will purchase it again but at the minute a leaning towards no

This time last year my nails were awful, they were bitten down, weak and really ugly, now they're long(ish) and much stronger. I bought this on a whim but I'm so glad I did, I couldn't live without it now. I apply it every time I re do a mani so 1-2 times a week. When I first started using it my nails started to harden in about a week, from the on they have got stronger and longer. Its not that cheap but considering how long it lasts it is really good value for money. Packaging is okay, nothing special. After a few months of use I noticed this dries out my nails so I use a cuticle oil straight after. I do still get broken nails but its rare and to be expected.

This hardened my nails just like it promised to do. My nails used to be pretty soft, they didn't break, but literally were tearing off until I started to use this. For the first time in my life I am able to grow my nails, and they are super hard. This product is also super easy to apply, comes in a small bottle, it is not like a polish, but a blue liquid, so quite runny. You apply it to your nails, and simply let your nails absorb the product, which happens with in seconds. Will continue to use.

I absolutely love this product! It makes your nails hard enough so they finally have a chance to grow longer without peeling/breaking/splitting.

Although the directions say to only apply to the tips, I apply to the majoirty of the nail because otherwise the top is hard and breaks off. In addition, I also file and buff my nails regularly to get rid of the little "ridges" in the body of my nail that contribute to breakage. I've been using scientifique for about 2 weeks and my nails are so long I have to clip them to keep them at a reasonable length.

The product is a littlle pricey, but it is definitely worth it because it lasts forever! I will definitely buy again.

My nais were completely out of control with peeling. No matter what I did I coundn't grow my nails much more then 2 mm beyond the fingertip. My nails would peel so much that it would become extremely thin and weak.

Anyway, I have owned this product for a while and have tried it a couple of times on separate occasions. I was not too impressed and never used it continually. But now that my nails were a complete disaster I decided to commit myself to using this under my base coat every time I do my manicure (every 4 days). and guess what! It totally works. My nails are now the longest in a couple of years. I only use it on the tips which is where I have the problem and they have finally stopped peeling after only 3 weeks. I am too nervous to stop using it now so will carry on for a while.

You get a very small amount in the bottle but if you use it on the tips only as recommended it will definitely last you longer than a year. The only con is the price....

This is a really good product that hardens nails, and though it comes in a small vial, it's more than enough and will last you a long while.
A reviewer mentioned that it hardens nails, but doesn't strengthen it, which I found to be somewhat true. Of course, the harder the nail the stronger it becomes (as opposed to brittle and thin) but I did find that although my nails became rock hard, it still split at the base - potentially even worse than when it split normally! It says on the instructions to use it sparingly and only on the nail tip, but I am using it a few times a week on the whole nail so that it doesn't break in the way that I explained above (hard tip, weak base, it breaks and is painful!)
Then again, I do work with my hands a lot for my job so that may be why my nails suffer more than most. Overall, a good product and good value for money.

I have always had extremely soft nails, that peel off really easily. Only a few months ago I started wearing polish regularly, changing it every other day, sometimes everyday. Before I even knew base coats existed I thought I couldn't even wear polish because after two weeks or so my nails began peeling dramatically, like onions, crumbling literally into pieces. Base coats have obviously improved this situation, but after a while I realized that changing my polish that often was forcing me to face that peeling problem again. Enter Scientifique: I now take my polish off, slather my nails with cuticle oil and massage a bit, than wash my hands and put this product (two times a week, not every time I change my manicure) on before applying my basecoat. It dries immediately, so it just requires a minute or two for application. It really has changed my nails. Seriously. After the first applications they were already visibly improved, but after a few months I can say it has transformed them. They have never been so hard, smooth and thick. I still hardly believe it. I realize that it's not supercheap, but bear in mind that I have used it regularly since June and the bottle is still like new, no dent. You have to use a ridiculous amount, so it will last forever. I think now I'll switch to applying it once a week, just for maintenance, but I'll ALWAYS repurchase. It's not only science, it's science-fiction!