Learn How to Grow Nails Faster and Stronger because great nails are not only a vital part of your overall appearance–They indicate YOUR health too!
What Are Fingernails Made Of?
Multiple layers of Keratin make up your fingernails. Keratin is a hard protein shell that also serves as an important indicator of your health.
Healthy nails have a smooth appearance and are free of dents or grooves. They’re also consistent in color. To have a youthful fingernail appearance, here are a few things you can do to help:
How do Nails Grow?
The part of the nails visible to the human eye is just dead cells. The section below the nails–The Nail Matrix, as it is called, is the only part with living cells. Once these cells lose contact with the root, they die. This is the reason we don’t feel pain when cutting or trimming nails. You can benefit from increasing vitamin intake (Biotin, in particular) and avoiding some habits as suggested in this article to grow nails faster and stronger.
How to Grow Nails Faster and Stronger
1. Increase Your Biotin Intake
Biotin, Vitamin B7, or Vitamin-H, it is one of the essential B complex Vitamins that help in keeping your hair, skin, and nails healthy. That’s why increasing your biotin intake is the number one thing you can do to help boost your hair strength and nail strength. About 2.5 milligrams of Biotin a day can improve nail strength in a few weeks. There are multiple sources of biotin.
You can find Biotin in:
- Eggs
- Sardines
- Nuts and nut butter
- Cauliflowers
- Bananas
- Mushrooms
- Whole grains
Along with Biotin, you should aim for a diet that is high in Protein, Magnesium, Calcium, and Zinc. Pumpkin seeds and Dark Chocolate prevent things like ridges from appearing on your nail plate, so add them too. Also, seafood and other shellfish have a high amount of protein which helps in the formation and maintenance of your nails.
2. Prevent Dry Skin
Keeping your skin dry means the nails are more prone to breaking out and exposing the nail bed to fungal and bacterial infections. When the skin around the nail is dry, the fingernails might get damaged as they grow out. Keep the nail cuticles moisturized to prevent this from happening.
People with eczema should use an eczema friendly cream to ensure that the skin around the nails stays highly moisturized.
3. Use Nail Hardeners
If your nails keep breaking, it’s a good idea to use nail hardeners. These are applied similarly to nail polishes and can be removed by nail polish removers. Some experts recommend nail hardeners to prevent them from breaking.
However, experts also say that you shouldn’t rely solely on hardeners as, over time, hardeners wear off the natural resilience of your nails and make them more prone to breakage.
4. Limit Your Exposure to Water
Your nails should have minimal exposure to water as water can soften the nails and make them brittle and prone to breakage. Only expose your nails to water when absolutely necessary, such as when showering or washing your hands.
Extended periods of swimming, too, can lead to weaker nails.
5. How to Groom Your Nails
You can regularly groom your nails to encourage growth and reduce breakage. This helps you in keeping them naturally healthy. Some ways to groom them are:
- Keeping your nails dry and clean, because this avoids bacteria growth underneath.
- Use manicure scissors or clippers to trim your nails. A good idea would be cutting them straight, then rounding up the tips into a gentle curve.
- Moisturizing lotions should be rubbed into fingernails, especially in the cuticles where they begin forming.
- Avoid biting and cutting your nails too short.
- When washing dishes, clothes or anything else, you should wear gloves as this prevents water from making them soft and brittle.
- Use the nail filer in only one direction, not back and forth – and use a minimal amount of pressure to ensure even and gentle filing.
6. Recognizing Unhealthy Nails
Unhealthy nails can thwart your attempts of growing beautiful natural nails. This can be due to any underlying condition as well. In case you find any of the signs given below, consult a doctor:
- Color changes
- Changes in shape or thickness
- Skin peeling off around the nails
- Bleeding in or around the nails
- Soft Nails
- Swelling and pain
- Abnormally slow growth
Hormones also play a role in nail growth. Nails in younger people grow faster than nails in older people. In men, fingernail growth is slower as compared to women. Even in women, pregnant women experience faster nail growth than those who aren’t pregnant.