Noah Sinclair
Fingernails and toenails are constantly growing, but at different rates. While a healthy nail grows at an average rate of about 3.47 millimetres per month, toenails tend to grow slower, at an average rate of 1.62 millimetres per month. Several factors influence the speed of nail growth, including age, genetics, environmental factors, and behaviour. For example, nails on the dominant hand tend to grow faster due to more frequent use, and nail growth may slow down by as much as 0.5% per year after the age of 20. Maintaining good nail hygiene and strengthening nails with biotin supplements or nail hardeners can help support nail growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nail growth rate | 0.1 mm daily (fingernails), 1.62 mm monthly (toenails), 3.47 mm monthly (fingernails), 3 mm monthly (fingernails) |
| Factors influencing growth rate | Age, season, time of day, dominant hand, finger length, trauma/injury, genetics, behaviour, environment, hormones, pregnancy, puberty, underlying health conditions, nutrition, nail hygiene, nail-biting, nail clipping, circulation issues, diabetes, fungal infections, use of topical minoxidil, biotin, nail hardeners, glue-on nails, toxic polishes |
| Nail care tips | Cut nails straight, round edges, ensure no snags/tears, use nail file, keep toenails short, avoid pushing/cutting cuticles, apply cuticle oil daily, keep nails clean, trim nails regularly, take biotin, use nail hardeners sparingly, avoid glue-on nails and toxic polishes, opt for non-toxic/water-based polishes, keep cuticles pushed back/trimmed, moisturize |
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What You'll Learn
Factors that affect nail growth speed
While the exact mechanisms that control nail growth speed remain unknown, several factors influence how quickly your nails grow.
Handedness
The nails on your dominant hand tend to grow faster, as do the nails on your longer fingers. This is likely because your dominant hand is more prone to injury or trauma, which stimulates circulation in the nail bed and encourages nail growth.
Age
Nail growth typically peaks during puberty and slows down as hormone levels balance out with age. This may be due to decreased blood flow and the increased prevalence of health conditions impacting nail growth in older individuals, such as fungal infections.
Season
Fingernails grow faster during the summer and slower in the winter.
Gender
Nail growth rates may differ between men and women, with some sources suggesting that men's nails grow faster.
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to rapid nail growth, while lactation may have the opposite effect.
Overall Health and Lifestyle
Your overall health and lifestyle choices can also impact nail growth speed. Certain medical conditions, such as Raynaud's phenomenon, can affect blood flow and slow down nail growth. Additionally, maintaining good nail hygiene, including regular grooming and moisturization, can promote healthy nail growth.
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How to strengthen nails
Strong and healthy nails can be an indicator of good health. However, sometimes our nails aren't as strong as we would like them to be. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your nails:
Diet
A well-balanced, nutritious diet that contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, and protein can help keep your nails strong. Nails are made of the protein keratin, so ensuring you get enough protein in your diet can help keep your nails strong. Biotin, also known as vitamin H and vitamin B7, is one of the B vitamins that can help strengthen hair and nails. It is water-soluble, so it is not stored in the body, and you must consume it daily.
Nail Care
The products you use on your nails can directly affect their health and strength. Constantly using gels, acrylic nail polish, or nail hardeners can damage your nails and cause them to peel or break. Nail polish remover and other nail treatments may contain harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, which can make nails easy to break. Instead, opt for nontoxic or water-based polishes, and use nail hardeners sparingly. Oils, such as sunflower oil or canola oil, can help increase nail flexibility and combat brittleness.
Lifestyle Habits
Certain lifestyle habits can also affect nail health. For example, wearing gloves when washing dishes or keeping your hands out of the water while taking a bath can help prevent your nails from becoming weak and brittle. Keeping your nails clean and groomed is also key to overall nail health. Use a clean pair of clippers to trim them regularly and keep your cuticles pushed back or trimmed.
Medical Advice
If you have tried various remedies and nothing seems to help, consider seeking medical advice. Weak or brittle nails may be caused by underlying conditions, such as nutritional deficiencies, chemical exposure, or chronic conditions. A doctor can advise on potential treatments or solutions, including prescription-strength nail treatments.
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Nail growth during pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause changes in your body, and this includes changes to your nails. While some women report that their nails became harder and stronger during pregnancy, allowing them to grow longer, others have found that their nails became softer or more brittle. These changes are temporary, and your nails should return to normal within three to six months of giving birth.
There are several factors that can affect how fast your nails grow. Firstly, the nails on your dominant hand tend to grow faster, possibly because you use that hand more often, and so are more prone to nail trauma. Your fingernails also grow faster during the day and in the summer. Your nails may also grow faster if you are young, as it is thought that nail growth peaks during puberty and slows as your hormone levels balance out with age.
If you are pregnant and want to keep your nails strong and healthy, you can take biotin supplements, which can improve nail firmness, hardness and thickness. Biotin is a B-complex vitamin found in nuts, eggs, oatmeal, spinach, broccoli, bananas and whole grains. You can also use nail hardeners, but only sparingly, as prolonged use can cause nails to break down over time.
Some women have reported that taking prenatal vitamins made their nails stronger and healthier. However, it is not proven that prenatal vitamins have any impact on nail growth or strength. If you are not pregnant or breastfeeding, taking prenatal vitamins may expose you to high levels of nutrients that can be harmful.
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How to cut your nails
Fingernails and toenails are constantly growing, with fingernails growing at a rate of about 0.1 millimetres daily and toenails growing at a slower rate. Nails on your dominant hand tend to grow faster, as do the nails on your longer fingers. This is because you use your dominant hand more often, making it more prone to trauma, which stimulates nail growth.
To cut your nails, follow these steps:
- Gather the proper tools: Use a nail clipper or nail scissors for your fingernails and a toenail clipper for your toenails. Ensure that your tools are disinfected and completely dry.
- Cut your nails: Cut your nails almost straight across, leaving 1-2 millimetres before the pink coloured zone. Avoid cutting your cuticles, as they protect the nail root. Cutting them can lead to bacterial infections.
- File your nails: Use a nail file or emery board to gently file and round the nails at the corners. Filing helps to smooth out rough edges and prevent your nails from catching on things. If your nails are too short to trim, you can use a nail file to guide the shape as they grow out.
- Moisturise: Moisturising after trimming is important to keep your nails flexible and prevent them from splitting, especially in dry conditions.
- Maintain good nail hygiene: Keep your nails clean and trim them regularly. Push back or trim your cuticles, but avoid cutting them. If you notice any changes in the colour, texture, or shape of your nails, consult a dermatologist.
Remember that everyone's nails grow at a slightly different rate, and factors such as age, hormones, and environmental conditions can influence nail growth.
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The science of nail growth
Nails are made up of a protein called keratin, which is also found in skin and hair. The average fingernail grows at a rate of about 3.47 millimetres per month, or about 0.1 millimetres a day. Toenails grow at a much slower rate, at 1.62 millimetres per month.
Several factors influence the rate of nail growth. Firstly, the nails on the dominant hand tend to grow faster, likely due to more frequent use, which can lead to trauma and injury. The body's natural response to trauma is to send more blood and nutrients to the affected area, promoting faster nail growth. This is also why nail biting, which causes minor trauma to the nail bed, has been associated with faster nail growth. Additionally, nails tend to grow faster during the day and in the summer.
Puberty is a period of rapid nail growth due to fluctuating hormone levels. However, as people age, nail growth typically slows down, with a noticeable decline around the age of 20. Older adults are also more prone to nail disorders, such as fungal infections, which can impact nail growth.
To promote healthy nail growth, it is important to practice good nail hygiene. This includes keeping nails clean, trimming them regularly, and moisturising the cuticles. Avoiding glue-on nails, toxic polishes, and prolonged use of nail hardeners can also help prevent nail breakage. Additionally, taking biotin supplements and using topical treatments like cuticle oil can strengthen nails and enhance their growth.
While there is no magic solution to accelerate nail growth, maintaining strong and healthy nails through proper care and nutrition can support the growth process.
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Frequently asked questions
If you lose a fingernail, it may take up to six months for it to fully grow back.
The nails on your dominant hand tend to grow faster, as do the nails on your longer fingers. This is because you use your dominant hand more, increasing the risk of trauma, which stimulates nail growth.
Nail growth is said to peak during puberty and decline as hormone levels stabilise with age. Pregnancy can also affect nail growth.
To increase nail growth, you can take biotin supplements, use nail hardeners sparingly, and keep your nails clean and groomed.
