If you have weak, dry nails, this $25 OPI nail treatment can help you grow them out — I tried it and love it

Published Feb 18, 2025 12:53 am ET


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I’ve always had weak nails with ridges that cracked and split down the nail bed. And it’s been a cycle of elation and then frustration as many nail hardeners and gels did not live up to the hype of keeping them looking healthy when I wasn’t wearing nail polish. That was until I discovered the OPI Repair Mode nail building serum last year at the advice of a manicurist. I’ve been using it on and off for the last 12 months, and every day for the last 2 months. It’s been a game changer for the health of my nails and their durability. Here’s why I recommend this nail serum over the rest.

OPI Repair Mode, $24.99

Amazon

Since I have both dry ridged and weak nails, Repair Mode (especially in conjunction with the really nourishing OPI nail and cuticle oil) has allowed me to grow out my nails longer than ever — even my index fingers which frequently get chipped. It’s a vegan protein formula in a clear thin base that leaves no visible trace once it’s brushed on. OPI says it’s the first bond-building nail repair serum, and I can attest to its effectiveness as the cracking and splitting stopped within the first week of consistent use.

The instructions say to apply twice a day, but I tend to just make it a nightly habit and still see really great results. I did use it two times a day for about a week after removing a glittery manicure, and my nails bounced right back to being strong and healthy. If your nails tend to be paper thin after taking off gel or shellac nail polish, then a boost from the OPI Nail Envy strengthener can help, too.

And my manicurist and I aren’t the only ones who recommend this keratin serum for nails. One Amazon customer calls it a “one of a kind great product” saying, “This product does a really great job of strengthening nails in a short amount of time. Much more efficient than waiting for paper thin nails to grow out after they are damaged from nail applications. The liquid is watery and dries very very fast so it is easy to put on two (or more!) times a day without being inconvenienced! Worth the price!”

With a 4.5-stars out of 5 rating on Amazon and more than 2,900 five-star ratings, OPI’s Repair Mode is a well-reviewed serum. It’s a quick and easy way to care for your nails and help them grow stronger after manicure damage or get them healthy looking for the first time ever.

Lauren Wilrich

Lauren Wilrich

Author McClatchy Commerce

Lauren is a Commerce Updates Editor at McClatchy. She is based in Houston, Texas, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. Lauren has written for women’s accessories and home goods brands and has edited commerce content for numerous publications with a focus on home and kitchen gadgets, health, and beauty verticals. When she’s not editing, she can be found enjoying Houston’s restaurant scene and attempting DIY arts and crafting projects.

Abby Kass

Abby Kass

Editor McClatchy Commerce

Abby Kass is a Commerce Content Editor at McClatchy covering kids/babies, pets, beauty, and more. With more than seven years experience writing and editing shopping content, Abby has a strong understanding of how important commerce content really is and its important value to readers. She loves browsing online and finding innovative, unique, and just down-right cool products. Before McClatchy, Abby started her career working for Parents Magazine where she fell in love with writing about products. She then spent six years at BuzzFeed falling deeper into the shopping world writing more than 1,500 product roundups and reviews. She sees shopping as a sport and has worked hard at mastering it in order to help make people’s lives easier as they find cool and useful products.