Sophia Delgado
Keeping your nails healthy and strong can be challenging, especially if you have brittle nails that break and chip easily. Moisture loss is a major cause of nail brittleness, and one way to combat this is by applying hand lotion. But does lotion help nails grow? Well, it certainly helps keep nails strong and healthy, and some people have reported longer nails after using hand lotion. In addition to lotion, you can also try natural remedies such as massaging your nails with natural oils like olive, coconut, or jojoba oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of Moisturizing Nails | Hydration is crucial for nail health. Moisture loss is a major cause of nail brittleness and breakage. |
| Lotions for Nail Growth | Lotions can help nail growth by preventing brittleness and promoting hydration. CBD lotions, in particular, can provide fatty acids like omega-3 and -6, which maintain healthy nails. |
| Other Tips for Healthy Nails | Wear gloves when doing dishes to prevent water absorption and nail expansion. Buff nails gently to boost circulation. Massage fingertips daily to improve circulation and prevent cracking. |
| Nail Structure | Nails consist of layers of keratin, with five main parts: nail plate, nail folds, nail bed, cuticles, and lunula. |
| Dietary Impact | There is a weak link between diet and nail health. Eating calcium-rich foods and taking B vitamin biotin supplements may help, but there is limited scientific evidence. |
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What You'll Learn
Moisturizing nail care
Our nails are made of layers of keratin, a structural protein also found in our skin and hair. Nails grow from the cuticle, at a rate of about 0.1 mm a day. Moisture loss is a major cause of nail brittleness and breakage, so it's important to protect the moisture in your nails.
To keep your nails healthy, you should moisturize them regularly. Applying hand lotion helps keep moisture loss to a minimum. The more your hands and nails are exposed to drying elements, such as dishwashing, sunlight, or handling paper, the more frequently you should moisturize them. Keep a hand lotion that hydrates and protects your skin at every sink in your home, in your bag, and at your workplace—easy access is key.
You can use a moisturizer or a natural oil like olive, coconut, or jojoba oil. Vitamin E oil can also be applied to the nail plates and cuticles. One way to do this is to soak your nails in warm olive oil for about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can apply a cream or ointment to your hands, cuticles, and nail plates.
You can also use cuticle creams or cuticle oils to keep cuticles from drying and peeling. This also stimulates blood circulation in the matrix, which helps promote healthy nail growth. Buffing your nails and massaging your fingertips every day will also increase circulation to the skin around your nails.
Some moisturizing products that contain urea, phospholipids, or lactic acid will help prevent cracking. It's also important to wear gloves when doing the dishes to help keep the nails from becoming brittle.
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Cuticle creams
Moisture loss is a major cause of nail brittleness and breakage. Applying hand lotion helps keep moisture loss to a minimum. Additionally, rubbing cuticles with a cuticle oil or cream keeps cuticles from drying and peeling. Cuticle creams also stimulate blood circulation in the nail matrix, promoting healthy nail growth.
There are many cuticle creams on the market, and choosing the right one for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Some popular options include:
- Deborah Lippmann The Cure Cuticle Repair Cream: This cream is a favourite among beauty editors for its moisturising ingredients and antioxidants. It can penetrate painted nails and provides instant hydration without leaving a greasy residue.
- Dior Abricot Crème: This luxurious cuticle cream has a decadent feel and absorbs quickly, offering noticeable long-term benefits. It has a delicate fruity fragrance and provides an instant mood boost.
- Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream: This is a trusted budget option that delivers great results. It has a light lavender scent and is long-lasting.
- Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream: This cream is ideal for cracked cuticles, with a formula packed with nourishing and reparative ingredients like shea butter and sodium hyaluronate. It also contains protective antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E.
- Chanel L'Huile Camélia Oil: This cuticle oil is a favourite among beauty editors for its intensive moisturising properties. It has a lightweight formula that absorbs quickly, leaving cuticles soft and hydrated without any greasy residue.
- Butter London Quickfix Moisturizing Cuticle Balm: This award-winning balm has a lightweight, lotion-like formula with coconut oil and avocado oil as key ingredients. It is fragrance-free and helps reduce flakes.
- Lord Jones CBD Body Lotion: This lotion is derived from the hemp plant and provides a dose of fatty acids like omega-3 and -6, which help maintain healthy nails and hair. It has a musky fragrance but also comes in a fragrance-free formula.
These cuticle creams and oils can help promote nail health and growth, while also providing a sensory experience with their textures and fragrances.
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Healthy eating for nail growth
While keeping your hands and nails moisturised is important for nail growth, a healthy diet can also play a significant role in achieving strong and healthy nails. Nutrient deficiencies can affect your nail growth and strength, and a change in the appearance, texture or shape of your nails could indicate nutrient deficiencies.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a B-complex vitamin that promotes healthy cell growth and aids in the metabolism of protein-building amino acids that are essential for nail growth. Consuming biotin-rich foods or supplements may help strengthen your brittle fingernails and improve their growth. Biotin can be found in eggs, which also offer vitamin D and healthy fats, all of which are essential for nail growth.
Vitamin B12 is another important vitamin that plays a role in iron absorption and contributes to nail health. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in changes in pigmentation, such as blue nails or brownish pigmentation. Lean meats and sardines are good sources of vitamin B12, and iron, which is essential for carrying oxygen to cells throughout the body, including your nails.
Vitamin C is also essential for nail health as it is a key component in collagen production. Collagen is necessary for strong nails and skin health. Increasing your intake of vitamin C can help prevent brittle, cracking nails. Strawberries, for example, are a great source of vitamin C.
In addition to these vitamins, consuming healthy fats can also help supply the body with magnesium, which is essential for nail health. Avocados, nuts, and seeds are great sources of healthy fats and can help your nails grow shinier and stronger. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, flaxseeds, and walnuts, are another great way to prevent brittle nails and keep them moisturised.
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Natural oils for nail health
Moisture loss is a major cause of nail brittleness and breakage. Therefore, natural oils can be used to moisturize, treat and heal nails and cuticles, promoting healthy and strong nail growth.
One of the best oils to treat and soften dry cuticles is jojoba oil. This seed-based oil has small molecules that are easily absorbed into the skin for intensive hydration and natural moisture. Jojoba oil is rich in vitamins E and B, which help repair damaged collagen inside nail beds, improving strength and promoting healthy nail growth. Sesame seed oil is another ultra-moisturizing and deeply hydrating option for the cuticles, keeping nails healthy. This mineral-rich oil coats the skin with high levels of minerals and fatty acids, acting as a barrier to protect it from damage. It is also naturally antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal, making it a great nail treatment to prevent infections.
Olive oil is an extremely moisturizing and healing oil that is easily absorbed into the skin, making it an excellent choice for nail and cuticle care. It is rich in vitamin E, which helps in the absorption of calcium, improves bone mineralization, and the process of calcification, aiding in faster nail growth. Olive oil also strengthens brittle nails, softens cuticles, prevents hangnails, and increases nail flexibility to avoid breakage.
Sweet almond oil is another natural oil that helps to naturally restore nail health. It is rich in essential antioxidants, omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, and vitamins E, A, B1, B2, and B6. Almond oil coats the nails with rich nutrients that protect them from peeling, cracking, dryness, and breakage. A few drops of almond oil will also smooth out the cuticles and give nails a glossy shine.
Other natural oils that can be used for nail health include argan oil, coconut oil, geranium essential oil, lemon essential oil, rosemary essential oil, tea tree essential oil, and myrrh essential oil. These oils have various benefits, such as improving blood circulation, moisturizing properties, antifungal and antibacterial properties, and strengthening nails.
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Hand creams for nail growth
Moisture loss is a major cause of nail brittleness and breakage, so using hand lotion can help keep nails healthy and strong. Hand creams that contain ingredients such as vitamin E, soybean oil, coconut oil, and castor oil are great for promoting nail growth by moisturising and soothing irritated skin.
There are many hand creams on the market that can help with nail growth. For example, Deborah Lippmann's The Cure Cuticle Repair Cream is a top-rated product that promises to add instant hydration to dry cuticles. It contains nourishing ingredients like lemon oil, vitamin E, and almond oil, and has a luxurious, soft texture. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is another highly-rated product that instantly enlivens your hands and helps lock in hydration. It contains almond oil, cocoa seed butter, and beeswax, as well as vitamin E and sunflower oil, which help boost brittle and peeling nails.
If you're looking for a more intensive treatment, Chanel's Protective and Smoothing Nail Treatment can be used as a nail strengthener and a base coat. It contains camellia oil to nourish the nail and alleviate dryness, as well as cellulose to repair the nail's surface. ONYX Professional's Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream is another option, with a creamy texture that absorbs into the nails easily. It contains moisturising ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and jojoba seed oil, which help to strengthen and hydrate the nails.
For those who prefer natural ingredients, Lord Jones CBD Body Lotion is a great choice. CBD is derived from the hemp plant and provides fatty acids like omega-3 and -6, which help maintain healthy nails and hair. This lotion also has a pleasant musky fragrance, although a fragrance-free formula is also available for sensitive skin.
In addition to these specialised hand creams, simple hand lotions can also be effective in promoting nail growth by preventing moisture loss. It is recommended to moisturise hands and nails frequently, especially if they are exposed to drying elements such as dishwashing, sunlight, or handling paper.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, lotion can help nails grow. Moisturized nails are less likely to break and chip, and lotions with ingredients like urea, phospholipids, or lactic acid can help prevent cracking.
Lotion helps nails grow by preventing moisture loss. Nails that are exposed to drying elements like dishwashing, sunlight, or handling paper are more prone to breakage, so keeping them moisturized is essential.
It is recommended to apply lotion to your nails daily, especially after washing your hands or exposing them to drying conditions. Keeping a hand lotion at every sink in your home is a good way to ensure easy access and frequent application.
Lotions that contain ingredients like urea, phospholipids, or lactic acid are effective in preventing nail cracking. Additionally, CBD lotions derived from the hemp plant can provide fatty acids like omega-3 and -6, which promote healthy nails and hair.
Yes, besides using lotion, you can also try the following:
- Wear gloves when doing dishes to prevent constant expansion and contraction of your nails due to water exposure.
- Buff your nails gently to boost circulation to your nail bed, but avoid over-buffing, which can weaken your nails.
- Massage your fingertips daily to increase circulation and prevent cracking and peeling.
- Eat foods rich in calcium and consider taking supplements like biotin to treat brittle nails, although there is limited scientific evidence for this.
