Isla Bennett
Healthy nails are a reflection of your overall health. While there is no magic solution to make your nails grow faster, taking good care of them will help them grow stronger and last longer, making them less prone to breakage. This involves maintaining a well-balanced diet, staying hydrated, and keeping your hands and nails moisturized.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nail Care | Moisturize hands and nails with lotion or cream, especially at the base where the cuticles are located. |
| Avoid nail biting, cutting nails too short, and picking at nail polish. | |
| Avoid aggressive manicure techniques such as cutting the cuticles too short, which can weaken the nails. | |
| Use a glass/crystal nail file instead of clippers to prevent micro-cracks and splits in the nail plate. | |
| Wear gloves when washing dishes and when taking showers to prevent water from making nails brittle. | |
| Diet | Drink enough water to stay hydrated, which is essential for healthy nail growth. |
| Eat a well-balanced diet with adequate protein and vitamins (especially biotin, vitamin B, and folic acid) to support nail health and growth. | |
| Nail Polish | Keep nails painted to prevent picking and promote growth. |
| Use a clear or coloured nail polish as a protective layer to prevent breakage. | |
| Use a peel-off base coat to satisfy the urge to peel without damaging the nails. | |
| Nail Strengtheners | Use nail hardeners sparingly as they can make nails brittle and prone to breaking. |
| Consider using jojoba oil or vitamin E oil to strengthen nails and improve flexibility. |
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What You'll Learn
Keep nails painted to prevent picking
Keeping your nails painted is an effective way to prevent nail biting and picking. The polish acts as a mild form of aversion therapy, as it tastes bad and visually hides the part of the nail that is bitten or picked at. The time and money invested in a manicure may also encourage you to stop biting or picking at your nails.
To maintain your painted nails, it is important to keep your nails and cuticles hydrated. This will help to prevent chipping and splitting. Skyy Hadley, a celebrity manicurist, recommends applying cuticle oil to your nails and cuticles every other day. Jin Soon Choi, a celebrity manicurist and founder of JINsoon Nail Polish, warns that picking at your nails when your polish starts to chip can remove the top layer of your nail bed, leading to weakened nails. Choi suggests carrying pre-moistened nail polish remover packets to gently remove any chipped polish.
To further prevent nail biting and picking, it is recommended to use a clear top coat, as it is less noticeable if you pick at it. Additionally, maintaining your nails by keeping them moisturized and using a file or trimmer to address any snags can help reduce the urge to bite or pick at them.
While painting your nails can be an effective way to prevent biting and picking, it is important to be mindful of the potential negative effects of nail polish. For example, water can cause the nail plate to absorb, expand, and become brittle over time, so it is advisable to wear gloves when washing dishes or doing similar activities.
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Moisturise hands and nails
Keeping your hands and nails moisturised is key to maintaining nail health and promoting faster growth. When your hands get wet, always follow up with a moisturiser, hand ointment, or a buttery, thick cream with petrolatum or glycerin. This will help keep your hands and nails hydrated and healthy.
Exfoliation is also important. When you notice a buildup of dry, flaky skin, scrub your hands with a tablespoon of sugar and a few drops of olive oil. You can also use a good hand cream or body lotion to moisturise your hands and nails. Make sure to rub it into your fingernails, especially at the base where the cuticles are located.
To keep your nails strong and healthy, consider using cuticle oil, which can be purchased or made at home. A blend of jojoba and vitamin E oil is a great option, as jojoba is nourishing and vitamin E provides extra moisture. You can also use coconut oil or argan oil, which are both rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
If you want to give your nails some extra TLC, slather on a heavy cream, put on some gloves, and leave it on overnight. This will help the moisture sink in and nourish your hands and nails.
Remember, you can't make your nails grow faster magically, but by keeping them moisturised and healthy, they will be less prone to breakage, allowing them to grow longer and stronger.
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Take multivitamins
Taking a daily multivitamin can be a great way to support nail growth and overall nail health. Vitamins and minerals are essential for the growth, formation, and strength of new nail cells.
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, which are essential for nail growth. Biotin-rich foods include organ meats, egg yolk, dairy products, yeast, salmon, avocado, sweet potato, nuts, seeds, and cauliflower. You can also take biotin supplements, which have been shown to strengthen brittle nails and improve growth.
Vitamin C is another crucial nutrient for nail health, as it is essential for the production of collagen, a protein that gives shape, strength, and structure to nails. Aim to include vitamin C-rich foods in your diet, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, green vegetables, and tomatoes.
In addition to vitamins C and B7, ensure you are getting enough folate, a B-vitamin that helps create healthy red blood cells, which are necessary for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the nail beds. Folate can be found in beef liver, spinach, black-eyed peas, fortified breakfast cereals, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts.
Minerals like zinc and magnesium are also important for nail growth. Zinc helps with the healthy growth and replication of cells, and a steady supply is needed to promote nail growth. Oysters, beef, crab, fortified breakfast cereals, and lobster are good sources of zinc. Meanwhile, magnesium is involved in protein synthesis, which is required for nail growth. Whole grains, dark leafy greens, quinoa, almonds, cashews, peanuts, edamame, and black beans are all magnesium-rich foods.
Remember, while taking a multivitamin can help provide your body with the nutrients it needs to support nail growth, it is also important to take care of your nails through proper hydration, moisturization, and protection.
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Avoid nail hardeners
While nail hardeners are often recommended to prevent nails from breaking, they can have the opposite effect in the long term. Hardeners create a protective barrier on the nail, but they can make your nails harder and more prone to breakage. Rigid, stiff nails will snap and break when hit on a hard surface, whereas soft nails with flexibility will bend and not break.
Nail hardeners are substances that are painted onto nails like a polish and are later removed with nail polish remover. They usually contain ingredients like wheat protein and keratin, which are effective in strengthening nails. However, it is important to be careful with nail hardeners as they can contain harmful ingredients such as formaldehyde or formalin. These chemicals can have toxic and detrimental effects on your nails and health.
Instead of using nail hardeners, you can try jojoba oil or vitamin E oil to strengthen your nails. These natural oils will help keep your nails flexible and less likely to break. You can also try a nail-strengthening treatment with ingredients like keratin or wheat protein, which will nourish your nails from the inside out and make them more durable.
Additionally, it is important to keep your nails moisturized and well-maintained. Use sharp manicure scissors or clippers to trim your nails and avoid biting your nails or cutting them too short. Keeping your nails dry and clean will also help prevent bacteria from growing beneath them.
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Consume folic acid and protein
Consuming folic acid and protein is essential for nail health and can help support faster nail growth. Nails are made of protein, so ensuring you consume enough protein-rich foods is vital for maintaining strong and healthy nails.
Protein is a building block for the body and is essential for growth and development. It helps repair and build cells and tissues such as muscles and plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including blood clotting, fluid balance, and immune response. Aim to include a variety of protein-rich foods in your diet, such as lean meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, beans, peas, and lentils, nuts and seeds, and soy products. These foods provide essential amino acids that your body needs to function optimally.
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is also important for overall health and can be found in many foods. Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, romaine lettuce, and broccoli, are excellent sources of folate. Additionally, folic acid is added to fortified foods like breads, cereals, pasta, rice, and other grain products, making it easier to include in your diet.
By consuming a balanced diet rich in folic acid and protein, you can support the health and strength of your nails, promoting faster nail growth. Remember, taking care of your overall health and well-being is reflected in the strength and appearance of your nails.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no magic solution to make your nails grow faster, but there are some things you can do to improve their health and protect them from breakage.
To improve nail health, you should keep your hands and nails moisturised, especially in winter. You can also try using cuticle oil and taking a daily multivitamin.
Avoid biting your nails or cutting them too short. You should also avoid cutting your cuticles as this can expose the nail matrix or nail bed and lead to damage and infection.
Painting your nails can help prevent breakage, but it won't make them grow faster. Some people find that painted nails are less likely to be bitten or picked at.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B, may help your nails grow faster. Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is also important for nail health as it helps repair the cells that make up your nails.
