It’s crucial that you know how to strengthen nails to have long, healthy nails. When you have long, strong nails, they look better. They’re more affordable than fake nails, and you don’t have to worry about damaging your nail beds by resorting to fake nails. Not all of us are blessed with long nails, though. None of us are.
I had long nails for quite a while. Then, thanks to a vitamin deficiency, they started peeling. There are still portions that are barely there, but they’ve grown out for the most part now. If you want naturally long nails, these 17 tips will help you get there.
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How To Strengthen Nails
Not only do you want to be able to grow your nails out, but you also don’t want them to break as soon as they get to a certain length. When your nails are more robust, they won’t crack either. Instead, they will look amazing. A quick coat of shellac polish is all it will take for a manicure that lasts a week.
Avoid acrylic nails if possible
Over time, fake nails can weaken otherwise healthy nails. It can take months to restore your nails to their original state. If your nails are already brittle, the situation will worsen.
Say no to glue on nails
It can weaken your natural nails when you must soak them to remove the glue. If you had healthy nails before using glue-on nails, you might discover they are weak and brittle afterward.
Use cuticle oil every day for healthy nails
Cuticle oil is formulated to provide all the nutrients your nail beds need to grow naturally long nails. However, you’ll also need to rub it along your nails. Dehydrated nails chip and break easily, and cuticle oil will prevent that.
If you are in contact with anything that can weaken your nails, such as hand sanitizer or water from washing your hands frequently, consider using it 2-3 times a day to strengthen your nails.
Our Picks
Butter London Quick Fix Moisturizing Cuticle Balm
Butter London Quick Fix Moisturizing Cuticle Balm is a great idea if you want to learn how to make your nails healthier. The non-greasy formula helps keep cuticles hydrated, making it a great choice for dry, cracked cuticles. It helps lay the foundation you need for healthy nails.
Why We Love It
- Zero formaldehyde, gluten, or parabens
- Coconut oil helps provide instant hydration
- Cruelty-free
- Prevents aging with Vitamin E
Ancient Greek Remedy Nature’s Moisturizer
This all-natural moisturizer is the ultimate multi-tasker. Use it to instantly moisturize your nails and cuticles to promote growth and prevent dryness. Give your hair a natural shine, moisturize your entire body, or use it on your face. This natural moisturizer is packed with beautiful ingredients like almond, olive, lavender, and grapeseed oil to ensure you have all the necessary nutrients.
Why We Love It
- Zero gluten, parabens, preservatives, and GMOs
- Anti-aging oils used
- Organic and vegan
- A full refund is offered if you’re not satisfied
Wear gloves when you do the dishes
Water can make nails thinner and more likely to break. This is because the minerals found in water can slowly break down your nails over time. To avoid this, invest in a pair of rubber gloves for when you do the dishes.
Strengthen nails with biotin
Biotin is frequently praised for helping people have naturally long nails and hair. It’s one of the most popular hair and nail vitamins. That’s because biotin helps stimulate the production of keratin, which is necessary for healthy nails.
You can get your daily dose of biotin by taking hair and nail vitamins. Remember that hair and nail vitamins are considered supplements and often are not regulated by the FDA.
Another great way to increase your biotin intake is to get it through your diet. Foods like eggs, organ meat, fish, seeds, avocados, and sweet potatoes.
Keep them short
Naturally, long nails are beautiful, but achieving that can take time. If you have brittle or weak nails, keep them short until they are more robust. Instead of focusing on length, you want to focus on strength to ensure they don’t break as easily. For the time being, keep them trimmed short.
Stay hydrated for naturally long nails
Your nails grow from the vitamins, minerals, and water you put into your body. It’s safe to say that your nails are dehydrated if you are dehydrated. This can make your nails brittle or lead to your nails curling as they grow longer.
Use a nail strengthener to strengthen nails
Natural methods are always a better idea, but there’s nothing wrong with needing extra help. When you pick a nail strengthener, make sure that you double-check the ingredient list. Avoid products that have formaldehyde in them.
Our Picks
Butter London Nail Strengthening Jelly Treatment
This award-winning jelly treatment from Butter London is a great way to strengthen your nails. It helps nourish and strengthen brittle nails for a rejuvenated appearance. Vitamin E protects your nails, while tea tree oil helps lock in moisture to help your nails stay hydrated. Diamond powder brightens nails, bamboo extract strengthens nails and prevents breakage, and arginine further prevents breakage. They’ve packed one excellent ingredient after another into this nail treatment to help you have healthy, strong nails.
Why You’ll Love It
- Wear one layer for a clear finish or three layers for serious pigment
- Available in four gorgeous colors
- Experience a dramatic improvement in both shape and strength
Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream
If you want to learn how to have stronger nails, strengthening products like this one is a must-have. It has a delicious coconut scent you’re bound to love. This cream helps repair brittle nails, strengthen nails, and provides lovely nourishment to your cuticles simultaneously. It’s packed with ingredients like coconut oil, safflower oil, calcium, beeswax, and more ingredients that are great for your nails.
Why We Love It
- All in one nail and cuticle cream
- Makes nails thicker and harder
- Conditions cuticles
Help nails become healthy by protecting them from UV rays
The sun can cause a drastic amount of damage to your nails. Harmful UV rays can make nails brittle and yellow, breaking them easily. When choosing nail polish, select one that can absorb the UV rays or is dark enough that they won’t make it through the polish to your nails.
It should be noted that there are warnings regarding the UV lamps used to dry gel polish, too. The risk is minimal, but you need to watch out for it if you want to get stronger nails.
Up your folic acid intake
When it comes to hair and nail vitamins, they all usually include folic acid. This is because it helps promote healthy tissue growth, including hair and nails. Weak, brittle nails can be a sign of a deficiency. It makes sense that you need to be healthy to have healthy nails.
Don’t use 100% acetone
I was guilty of this being my go-to nail polish remover for quite a while. It simply dissolves nail polish so easily! That’s because it’s a strong chemical, though. It can also cause a significant amount of damage to your nails, making them brittle.
To strengthen nails, use a nail polish remover that is less harsh and has vitamins that are good for your nails, like vitamin E.
Our Picks
Mineral Fusion Nail Polish Remover
Mineral Fusion Nail Polish Remover is an acetone-free formula that helps gently remove nail polish without causing significant damage to your nails. It’s made with zero parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, or silicone. Easily wipe away glitter or dark colored polish with this gentle yet effective formula.
Why We Love It
- Doesn’t smell like rubbing alcohol
- Gentle yet effective
- Leaves your nails healthier than acetone formulas
Ella+mila Soy Nail Polish Remover
As more people are straying away from products that can do damage, like acetone nail polish remover, they are turning to soy nail polish removers. These nail polish removers take a few seconds longer to remove polish, but they are healthier for your nails. Soy polish removers help gently remove polish while nourishing the nails.
Why You’ll Love It
- Unscented and lavender scent available
- Alcohol-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Get healthy nails with a diverse diet
While there are specific vitamins that will help you have healthy nails, your best bet is to eat a diverse diet. Ensure you include plenty of colors in your diet, from dark green spinach salads to yellow pineapple to orange sweet potatoes. A diverse diet is key in keeping your body, including your nails, healthy.
Take a multivitamin to strengthen nails
Sometimes, it’s not possible to get all of your nutrition from your diet. I was sick before finding out I had a gluten intolerance, and my nails started to peel. This has never happened before. I started taking a multivitamin while I got my diet back in shape, and it’s worked wonders. There is no more peeling.
Don’t use your nails to do things
My thumbnails are unbelievably strong. I have a horrible habit of using them to open things, such as a bottle of salad dressing. I run my thumbnail around the little ring, which cuts through the paper like a knife. When my nails were at their worst, doing this instantly made them break. You want to avoid things that will break your nails if you want to grow naturally long, healthy nails.
Your nails need lotion too
When you put on hand cream, don’t forget to rub some on your nails, too. They need extra moisture. If your hands are dry, your nails may be drying out, too.
Give your nails a break
A manicure instantly gives you a polished look you don’t get with nude nails. However, you need to let your nails breathe. Constant use of polish is very bad for them. Instead, get a new coat of polish every other week versus every week.
Develop a nail care routine
The best way to keep nails healthy nails is to maintain consistency. Putting on cuticle oil one day will only help your nails that one day. However, if you do this consistently, your nails are healthier. Develop a nail care routine that works for you, like a skincare routine.
In Conclusion
Having naturally long nails is something that many people envy, but it’s not a natural gift from the heavens. There have been times that I’ve had to strengthen my nails. Other times, they’ve peeled or curled. It’s taken a lot of effort and being healthy to grow nails that are both long and strong. Check out this article for more info on how to have healthy, strong nails!
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