Liam Carter
Growing your nails can be a frustrating process, as nails only grow about 3.5mm per month. While there is no way to speed up this natural growth, you can ensure your nails are as healthy and strong as possible to help them reach their maximum growth potential in a week. This involves a combination of lifestyle changes, such as drinking more water and eating a healthy, balanced diet, as well as nail care practices, such as moisturising your nails and cuticles with oils.
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What You'll Learn
Consume vitamins and supplements
Consuming vitamins and supplements can be a great way to support nail growth and strength. However, it is important to note that the impact of supplements varies from person to person, and they are not a quick fix.
Firstly, it is recommended to focus on improving your diet to include a variety of vitamins and minerals. A well-rounded diet can provide the nutrients required for nail growth and strength, reducing the need for supplements. A nutrient-rich diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and adequate protein. Lean meats, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds are great sources of protein, which is essential for nail growth.
Zinc is specifically required for nail growth, and animal proteins are a great source. However, certain plant foods also contain this mineral. Iron is another important mineral for nail health, and a deficiency can cause brittle or misshapen nails. Vitamin B9, found in legumes and whole grains, is another important nutrient for nail health.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is often recommended as a supplement for nail growth and strength. While evidence is limited, some studies suggest that biotin supplements may help strengthen brittle nails and improve their growth. Biotin-rich foods include organ meats, egg yolk, dairy products, yeast, salmon, avocado, sweet potato, nuts, seeds, and even cauliflower.
Collagen supplements have also been found to improve nail strength and growth over a period of two to three months.
It is always recommended to consult a doctor before taking any supplements, as they may interact with certain medications or health conditions. Additionally, it is important to be cautious of the marketing hype surrounding supplements, as they are not regulated in the same way as medications.
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Moisturise with oils
While oils themselves cannot add moisture to your nails, they can prevent dryness. Oils can coat the nails and create a thin film that forms a moisture-resistant barrier. Underneath this barrier, moisture can build up, thus increasing the water content of nails.
- Olive oil is an extremely moisturising and healing oil that is easily absorbed into the skin, making it an excellent choice for nail and cuticle care. Rich in vitamin E, olive oil helps in the absorption of calcium, improves bone mineralisation and the process of calcification, to help nails grow faster. It also strengthens brittle nails, softens cuticles, helps prevent hangnails, and increases nail flexibility to avoid breakage.
- Sweet almond oil helps to naturally restore nail health. 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.
- Jojoba oil is abundant in vitamin E, which replenishes skin and treats weak and brittle nails. Jojoba oil also helps repair collagen loss within the nail beds, promoting healthy nail growth.
- Geranium essential oil helps moisturise nails and cuticles while promoting healthy and strong nail growth. Its antibacterial and antiseptic properties also protect the cuticles and nails from fungus and infections, which can hinder proper nail growth.
- Frankincense essential oil has historically been used to promote nail growth. Its antifungal properties help fight fungi that can slow down nail growth, while its moisturising properties treat and prevent peeling in the cuticle.
- Myrrh essential oil is one of the best essential oils for keeping nails healthy and strong. It protects nails from becoming brittle and thin, enhancing their resistance to breakage.
- Lavender essential oil possesses moisturising properties that nourish dry cuticles and replenish lacklustre nails. For brittle nails prone to breakage and splitting, lavender’s fortifying properties can help rebuild strength and prevent further damage.
- Lemon essential oil is reputed to harden nails as well as treat peeling and damage. When applied with a moisturising carrier oil, lemon oil’s rich antioxidant profile also replenishes dry cuticles.
- Rosemary essential oil possesses moisturising and disinfecting properties. To help maintain healthy nails, rosemary essential oil is believed to rehydrate dry cuticles and replenish moisture and shine in the nails. Rosemary’s antifungal properties may also help treat minor fungal infections.
- Tea tree oil can improve the appearance of fingernails and toenails with its conditioning and antiseptic properties. Tea tree oil can improve the appearance of discolouration, while also conditioning the nail and cuticle.
- Sesame seed oil is ultra-moisturising and deeply hydrating for the cuticles in order to keep the 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 during the winter months when nails are more susceptible to infections.
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Eat a healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet is crucial for nail growth. Firstly, ensure you are consuming enough protein, as this affects the speed at which your nails grow. Lean meats, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds are all excellent sources of protein. Additionally, consider including calcium-rich foods in your diet, such as dairy products and green vegetables, as calcium may help strengthen your nails.
If you suspect a vitamin deficiency, consult your doctor, as certain deficiencies can hinder nail growth and lead to weak, brittle, or misshapen nails. For instance, an iron deficiency can cause brittle or misshapen nails, and taking an iron supplement may help promote nail growth and strength. Biotin, also known as vitamin B-7, is another supplement that may help strengthen weak or brittle nails. Biotin can be found in various food sources, including beef liver, egg yolk, salmon, avocados, sweet potatoes, and nuts.
To further support nail growth, focus on consuming foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and lemon juice. Vitamin C helps strengthen nails and promotes their growth while also keeping them clean and bacteria-free. Additionally, consider including honey in your diet or as a topical treatment, as it helps fight bacterial and fungal growth, keeping your nails and cuticles nourished and supple.
Remember, a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients is essential for overall health and nail growth.
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Avoid biting your nails
Biting your nails can be a hard habit to break. However, there are several strategies you can employ to stop biting your nails and allow them to grow.
Firstly, identify your triggers. Nail biting can be caused by physical triggers, such as hangnails, or emotional triggers, such as boredom, stress, or anxiety. By figuring out what causes you to bite your nails, you can avoid these situations and develop a plan to stop.
One strategy is to keep your nails trimmed short. Having less nail provides less temptation to bite. You can also apply bitter-tasting nail polish to your nails. This safe, but awful-tasting formula discourages many people from biting their nails. Alternatively, you can dip your nails in saltwater, which will leave a gross taste in your mouth when you bite your nails.
Another strategy is to replace the nail-biting habit with a good one. When you feel the urge to bite your nails, try playing with a stress ball or fidget toy instead. You could also try chewing gum or sucking on hard candy to keep your mouth occupied.
You can also try to make your nails look nice by getting a manicure or painting your nails. You are less likely to bite your nails if they look good. Additionally, you can moisturize your nails with cuticle oil to keep them healthy and strong.
Finally, some people find it helpful to wear lightweight gloves or tape on their fingers to prevent biting.
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File your nails regularly
Filing your nails regularly is an important step in achieving faster nail growth. While it may seem counterintuitive to cut your nails when you're trying to grow them, filing helps to reshape and smoothen the edges, promoting longevity.
Firstly, it is crucial to select an appropriate nail file. There are various types available, including glass, emery board, and metal files. Each type offers different levels of grit, which refers to the coarseness of the file. For natural nails, it is generally recommended to use a finer grit, as coarser files can be too harsh and damaging.
When filing your nails, it is essential to follow the correct technique. Start by washing your hands to ensure that your nails are clean and free of any dirt or debris. Gently dry them with a soft towel. Next, identify the shape you wish to achieve. Common shapes include oval, square, and almond. For an oval shape, file the sides of your nail with gentle, smooth strokes, working towards the centre. For a square shape, file straight across the tip of the nail, and for an almond shape, softly file the sides towards the centre, creating a tapered point.
It is important to be gentle and avoid over-filing your nails, as this can lead to thinning and potential breakage. Always file in one direction, avoiding the back-and-forth "sawing" motion, which can cause splitting and fraying. Take your time and be careful not to file too far down the sides of your nails, as this can weaken the nail plate.
Regular filing helps prevent nails from becoming too long and prone to breakage. It also smoothens any rough edges that could catch on fabrics or other surfaces, reducing the risk of accidental tearing. By incorporating this step into your nail care routine, you can maintain strong and healthy nails, promoting faster and more effective growth.
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Frequently asked questions
While it is difficult to speed up the natural growth of your nails, you can try the following to help them reach their maximum potential growth in a week:
- Moisturise your cuticles with coconut oil, apricot oil, or sweet almond oil.
- Take biotin supplements to make your nails stronger.
- Eat a calcium-rich diet of dairy products and green vegetables.
- Get enough protein by eating lean meats, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
Certain foods can help your nails grow faster and stronger. Here are some foods you can incorporate into your diet:
- Egg yolk
- Milk
- Honey
- Garlic
- Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons
- Nuts and seeds
Vitamins and supplements can help support nail growth. Here are some vitamins you can take:
- Biotin (Vitamin B-7)
- Folic acid
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
Yes, there are certain habits that can hinder nail growth. Try to avoid the following:
- Biting your nails
- Dehydration
- Aggressive manicures, such as over-filing
