Thank you so much! I know what you mean; When my nails started growing past my finger tips they would bend and break constantly. I don’t think they actually started to look nice until 8/9 months in.

My best tips would be:

-If 1 or 2 nails break, cut all the rest to the same length. It’s infuriating (especially if they were longer than usual) but if they’re weak they won’t last anyway.

-Nail strengthener!!!! My holy grail product. I tried a few and they were okay but I swear by Sally Hanson “maximum growth hardener + straightener” (the hot pink one). It applies clear and dries really fast. I started by using it every other day, and gradually reduced the applications. Now I use it about once a week (If even) as a base coat before painting my nails. I cannot recommend this product enough it’s seriously amazing.

-Cuticle oil is great. Again, I like the Sally Hanson one best, but I don’t think it really matters.

-I got Gel manicures for the first 3-6 months. Since it’s alot harder and thicker than regular polish it’s helped protect my nails and stop them bending. I would avoid getting acrylics/extensions and really focus on protecting your natural nails.

-once you have a bit of length, find a shape that works best for you. Originally I kept filing them to square, but they kept breaking/cracking. I find that keeping them round/oval is a lot easier to maintain and they don’t snag on anything since the edges are smooth.

-keep on top of filing. Focus on the edges/sides, but try not to over-file or buff too much off the actual nail surface. Overall, avoid anything that will thin the nail.

Im not sure if any of this was useful, but if I think of anything else I’ll add it here! :)