Patent ID: 7476396

Claim:
A method of hydrating brittle toenails or fingernails comprising applying to brittle toenails or fingernails a solution consisting of: urea in an amount from 15 percent by weight to 35 percent by weight based on the weight of the entire solution; a hydrophilic film-forming agent in an amount from 15 percent by weight to 35 percent by weight based on the weight of the entire solution, wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is a compound selected from acrylic/methacrylic acid ester copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinyl alcohols, vinyl acetate/vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers, methyl vinyl ether/maleic acid copolymers, polyesters, polyester amides, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof; and an aqueous-alcoholic mixture that comprises an alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, and mixtures thereof.