The best way to make your nails grow faster is to strengthen them, prevent them from breaking, and make them as healthy as possible. Weak nails are prone to damage and breaking, making them almost impossible to grow. The stronger your nails are, the more likely they’ll be to look and feel amazing. Focus on limiting damage rather than expecting faster nail growth, because when you have strong nails, the growth is bound to happen. If you’re wondering how to make your nails grow faster, take a look at our best tips and hacks!
4 Common Causes of Slow Nail Growth
1. Dry Skin and Nails
If you have dry skin, you likely have dry nails too. When the skin around the nail bed or nail matrix is dry, it can damage your nails as they grow, leading to slower growth. Make sure to moisturize your hands and nails after washing and especially in the winter months.
2. Water
Water can weaken your nails, making them soft and brittle and more prone to breakage. When you’re doing the dishes and cleaning surfaces make sure to wear rubber gloves so your hands and nails stay dry and aren’t exposed to cleaning products. Also be sure to dry your nails thoroughly after swimming and showering.
3. Poor Diet
For healthy nails, you need a healthy, well-rounded diet. It’s important to eat a balanced diet of protein, calcium, water, fruits, vegetables, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Iron is important to ensure you don’t get brittle or dented nails, and biotin, a b-complex vitamin helps strengthen brittle nails.
4. Harsh Nail Products
From nail polish remover to nail polish itself, beware of what you’re putting on your nails. Avoid using nail polish remover with acetone as it can weaken and dry the nails, and steer clear of nail polishes that require its use. Bad quality polish can also hinder the use of nail growth due to harmful substances.
5 Nail Growth Essentials to Invest In
1. Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle Serum
This is a concentrated peptide nail serum that’s enriched with biotin to enhance natural nail growth. Your nails will become resistant to damage as your cuticles grow softer and smoother. After a couple of weeks, you’ll notice stronger nails that are able to maintain length much better.
2. Maccibelle Milk and Honey Cuticle Oil
Dry, cracked cuticles can lead to dry nails that are susceptible to damage. This cuticle oil is formulated with honey to soothe and moisturize, and lactic acid from milk to refresh and stimulate the skin. It also contains vitamin E to nourish your cuticles and strengthen your nails, for better overall growth.
3. Nail Magic Nail Hardener and Conditioner
If stronger, harder nails are your goal, this is the product for you. It was specifically developed to condition and strengthen even the weakest, most damaged nails, and it helps get your nails healthy, strong and beautiful. It reduces nail breakage and peeling, while adding flexibility to ensure healthy nails all around.
4. Dermelect Nail Recovery System
This kit includes a fortifying nail and cuticle treatment, nail strengthener, ridge filler, and instant nail thickener. The four-step system employs a unique protein formula to tackle weakness, thinning, softness and peeling by sealing the individual layers of the nail back together. This bond discourages the splitting and breakage that inhibits growth.
5. HEIDI’S Nail Solution Nail Strengthener and Cuticle Repair Cream
This treatment cream combines nail strengthening and cuticle repair in one. The gentle, high protein, non-greasy cream absorbs instantly and provides results in just three to seven days. Rub a small amount on each nail and cuticle one to two times per day and watch your nails transform.
How to Make Your Nails Grow Faster
1. Boost Your Biotin Intake
Biotin is an essential b vitamin that allows the body to turn food into energy. In supplement form, it can help boost the strength of hair and nails. Biotin is naturally found in foods such as cooked eggs, nuts and nut butters, cauliflowers, bananas and mushrooms, and can be bought as a supplement to take on the daily.
2. Proper Grooming is Key
Make it a priority to regularly groom your nails. This will help fortify your nails, encouraging growth and reducing breakage. Focus on keeping your nails dry and clean to prevent bacteria growing beneath them; regularly trim them to an appropriate length; moisturize your hands and nails, rubbing it into your fingernails and cuticles; and avoid biting, picking or cutting your nails too short.
3. Dampen, Then File
Although you want your nails to grow, it’s still important to file them to keep them free of snags and splits. Dampen your nails before filing to soften and make the nails pliable. Always file in one direction with smooth strokes and use a softer file to ensure your filing isn’t too harsh.
4. Steer Clear of Fake Nails
Gels, dips and acrylics may give you the length you’re looking for, but you’re risking the chances of natural nail growth in the long run. For one, fake nails are full of nail-harming ingredients, plus the process and wear can be damaging to your nail beds. If you do get fake nails, it’s imperative that you don’t peel them off as this will cause even more damage as you can take off part of the nail plate with the polish.
5. Consider Folic Acid
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, repairs and multiplies the cells that make up your nails. It speeds up growth and promotes overall nail health. It has also been shown to boost strength and prevent peeling. A folic acid deficiency can cause discolouration and contribute to weak and brittle nails, so make sure to eat lots of foods with folic acid like beans and whole grains or start taking a folic acid supplement.
Trying to grow your nails can be a serious struggle, but if you focus on making them strong and preventing brittleness and breakage, you’re one step closer to the nails you’ve always wanted.