'I'm a beauty editor with terrible nails - so I tried the viral hack to make them stronger.'

My nails. They look like an absolute bin fire. Yes! I'm the owner of the ones in the picture. Goodness, what a mess.

Despite pulling it back on the SNS, shellac, and all that jazz (so I'd stop absolutely annihilating them when I inevitably pick it all off), they're still in a pretty ragged and shabby shape. 

And before you ask - yes, I eat pretty well, drink heaps of water, slather on lots of hand cream, etc.

This is just them right now and they're kinda... gross.

Like, they're okay up to a certain point - but once they get a little longer, the peeling and flaking ramps up. And then they just break. So, I cut them. And then it happens all over again.

Watch: How to remove SNS without stuffing up your nails. Post continues below.

When I recently went to Paris (YES, HAVE YOU HEARD), I picked up this La Roche-Posay Toleraine Silicum Nail Polish that you can't get over here (!!!) - and it's been an absolute godsend for strengthening them and keeping them in good shape. I haven't stopped using it since I got it. 

But once I take it off - my nails always go back to being their best, messed up selves. And the fact I can't get this little golden nugget of a nail treatment over here is making me feel a wee bit nervy and like I need to get on top of it.

With my wedding around the corner, I really want to get them looking all healthy and nice. Look, I'll probably end up getting a manicure, but I still really want them to feel as strong as possible.

And then, because my phone has been spying on me, I came across this nail hack on TikTok, posted by popular dermatologist Dr Dray (you need to follow her, immediately), who shared her easy trick for better nails.

So, I tried it. Here's what happened.

What is the TikTok nail hack?

According to Dr Dray, you can get rid of that annoying peeling and flaking by using one simple trick  - using a skincare ingredient you probably already have sitting in your beauty cupboard. 

Told you it was easy.

"I'm a dermatologist and here is my secret for healthier-looking nails," begins Dr Dray. 

Please, TELL ME MORE.

"Use a moisturiser with an alpha hydroxy acid in it, whether it be glycolic [acid] or lactic [acid]." 

@drdrayzday #tiktoktaughtme #tiktokpartner #amlactin #amlactindaily #lacticacid #moisturizer #moisturizing #moisturizinglotion #dermtok #drdrayzday ♬ original sound - Dr Dray

Why are we using skincare on our nails?

Well, both of these ingredients are part of the alpha hydroxy acid family (AHAs) and are generally used to help exfoliate dead skin cells and promote fresh skin. 

However, according to Dr Dray, they also work wonders on your nails. 

In the clip, she uses AmLactin Daily Moisturising Body Lotion which has lactic acid in it, adding that it can "really help improve the health of the nail plate".  

Well, how did you go with it?

Okay. So, I didn't have the exact product Dr Dray has in the video and I didn't want to waste time trying to order it somewhere. (You can purchase this online via Amazon Australia if you want that particular one). But she said you could use anything with AHAs, so I used the Sunday Riley Good Genes serum.

Like Dr Dray's product of choice, it contains lactic acid - which is one of the most gentle forms of AHAs getting around. Using a cotton pad, I applied it to my nails and cuticles in the evening.

Since Dr Dray's had some sort of moisturising element (it's a lotion), I decided to back it up with CeraVe Overnight Moisturising Cream for a boost of nourishment and hydration (it has ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides).

While you can probably use this combo every day without irritation (Good Genes is super gentle), my skin can be a d**k sometimes - so I started with using it every second day.

It's been about a week since I tried Dr Dray's hack - and while the best results are apparently seen over the course of three weeks or more, I can honestly say I've already noticed a big difference in the appearance of my nails. Huge.

I've noticed I have WAY fewer flakes on my nails, meaning I'm not constantly peeling and picking at them like I usually do. My nails look overall healthier - everything looks smoother and less ragged, including my cuticles.

Here's what my nails looked like before and after trying the hack.

Before and after the nail hack.

Am I right?! How much better do they look??

Kind of makes me hella embarrassed that I let them get to that stage tbh. But we're here now.

The verdict.

So, will I keep up with it? Yes. I think yes. 

In fact, because they don't look so brittle and gross at the moment I've decided I'm going to grow them out a bit more and continue using this combination of products to see how it goes.

So, yeah. While I've come across a lot of TikTok beauty hacks that end up being a total flop, this is one that's worth trying, in my opinion. I'm definitely going to keep going with it - because the results speak for themselves!

Want to hear more from Erin Docherty? Follow her on Instagram.

Would you try this nail hack? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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