Hydration Will Strengthen Your Nails
Now that the gel-dip-acrylic is off, the key is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. “Prolonged use of gel manis and acrylics dehydrates your nails, making them dry, brittle, and fragile,” says manicurist Jin Soon Choi, founder of JINSoon nail polish and salons.
A cuticle oil is your BFF for imparting deep hydration. Focus on slathering it not only on the nail itself, but also massaging it well into the cuticle the cuticle is where new, healthy nail growth will start so it’s important to nourish and hydrate this area, says Choi.
One best-seller to try: CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner. Holford also likes using straight up jojoba oil, which can strengthen nail beds and boost healthy nail growth. She recommends applying it three times per day for five days for the best results.
Remove Gel Polish And Acrylics Correctly
Okay, so technically this isn’t a repair tip, but do this first and it can save you from having to deal with a lot of potential problems. First and foremost, repeat after us: I will not pick off a gel manicure.
“Picking off gel is probably the worst thing you can do to your nails,” says celebrity manicurist Geraldine Holford. “The immediate effects are harming the nail plate because you’re removing the top layers of the actual nail along with your polish,” she explains.
“The long-term effects are thinning of the nails, harm to the nail bed, and irregularities on the nail plate and in growth patterns.” No thank you.
ORLY’s Senior Product Testing Manager, Kelly Bannon agrees, adding that even if you soak your nails to remove the polish, you can still damage your nails if not soaked long enough or if the topcoat barrier is not broken, prohibiting the remove to reach all the gel layers. She strongly recommends having your gels removed by a professional top prevent any damage.
Pro tip: Whether you’re having gel or dip removed, ask your tech to cover your hands in hot towels while your nails are wrapped up in the acetone-soaked cotton pads the heat will help speed up the process, explains Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of Olive & June.
How Can I Make My Nail Wraps Stick Better
If youve been using nail wraps to strengthen your nails, then you know that they need to be applied correctly. A little too much or too little glue can damage the skin surrounding the nail, which makes them weaker and more likely to break.
While it is true that you can apply your wraps quickly and easily, its also true that you can cause damage to your nails if you dont apply enough glue. You should always aim for about two coats but doing even less may weaken the nails.
One of the main reasons that you want to use the glue that you buy on your nails is so that they stick better. It is very possible to apply the glue properly, but if you mess up applying it, the glue may not stick as well, or it might not stick at all.
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Cut Back On Gel And Acrylic Manicures
They may be touted as an easy alternative for people who have trouble growing their nails, but frequent gel or acrylic manicures can cause your nails to peel, weakening them in the process. These manicures also expose your digits to excessive amounts of acetone in the soak required to remove them, which is very drying to the nail, says Dr. Klein. If you prefer to keep these types of manicures on rotation, make sure to either give your nails time to breathe between applications or save them for special occasions.
How To Use Essential Oils To Strengthen Nails
Using these oils properly for nail care is key to enjoying the right results. First, you must use high quality essential oils. Secondly, you must use a carrier oil to dilute essential oil before application. The best carrier oils include jojoba, almond, avocado, grapeseed, evening primrose among many others. One part essential oil should be diluted with two parts carrier oil. You can also choose to use essential oil blends to make your nail serum even more powerful.
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How Do Essential Oils Strengthen Your Nails
Nails are prone to daily abuse which results in a weak nail structure. If you have brittle nails that are not vibrant, you can benefit from essential oil application. Keep in mind that frequent nail treatments, poor care practices and weather conditions can all cause weak nails. So, how do essential oils work to strengthen your nails? The following insight sheds more light.
Moisturize Your Hands And Nails Regularly
L’Occitane Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Oil
Frequently moisturizing your nails and the surrounding skin with a hand cream can prevent further impairment of the integrity of the nails, says Philadelphia-based dermatologist Rina Allawh, MD. Ointments, such as Aquaphor Healing Ointment and Vaniply Skin Protectant, pull a double-duty by nourishing your nails and protecting them from future damage by locking in moisture.
Cuticle oil helps to repair, nourish, and moisturize weak nails as well, says North Carolina-based board-certified dermatologist Sheel Desai Solomon, MD. I recommend LOccitane Shea Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Oil, she says. Its formulated with a high concentration of shea oil to help soften cuticles and nourish nails.
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The Best Nail Growth Treatments And Strengtheners
The world might be starting to reopen, but our nails on the other hand, are still in hibernation mode. To get them nail-art-ready, invest in a nail treatment that’s designed to promote growth and strengthen, so you’re ready for your full diary of social obligations.
We tested some of the best available, to see which ones really deliver results. Below are the ones we rate.
How we test
We asked over 1,000 women to trial over 42 brands of nail growth treatments and strengtheners for a one-month period the products ranged from oils to polishes to creams.
For nail growth products, testers assessed whether they prevented breakages and peeling, if they helped with growth, and if nails were left looking healthier and stronger.
For strengthening treatments, testers noted whether the products helped with any flakiness, as well as if they had an impact on smoothness and strength.
Both types of product were also judged on how easy they were to apply, their drying time and how often they needed to reapply.
Other Remedies For Brittle Nails:
Other readers have found that it can help to avoid nail polish, so that no nail polish remover is needed. This strong solvent can weaken the nails if they are fragile to start with . Frequent exposure to water, detergent and cleaning compounds can weaken nails, so protecting the hands with waterproof gloves worn with cotton glove liners makes sense if you are trying to strengthen your nails . Moisturizing with almond or coconut oil may be helpful.
Hormones can also affect nail strength. Pregnant women may develop brittle nails . In addition, nails that break or split may be a symptom of inadequate thyroid hormone. If fingernails dont respond to common-sense care, it would be sensible to ask to have your thyroid function treated.
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Avoid Nail Polish Remover Containing Acetone
VladimirFLoyd / Getty Images
Nail polish removers that contain acetone can dehydrate your nails and decrease nail strength after long-term use. Avoid acetone-based removers and instead choose an acetone-free version. While these aren’t quite as effective, they’re gentler and won’t dry your nails out as much.
Unfortunately, there are no truly non-toxic nail polish removers, as they all need to use solvents to break down the polish. If you can, give your nails a break between applications of polish and apply plenty of hydrating oil or lotion before your next manicure or pedicure.
How To Grow And Strengthen Your Nails
1. Invest in a soft nail file, you may have heard glass files are the way forward but while theyre pretty, longer-wearing and easy to clean, it pays to invest in a soft file. We recommend the Crystal File for a smooth finish and to prevent tearing or splitting your nails.
2. Try a Biotin supplement. Studies show that brittle nails that are prone to peeling and breakage could be a sign of Biotin deficiency. Supplement your diet with an extra dose of the essential B vitamin.
3. Say hello to your nail growing and strengthening hero, Nail Envy! Our special formula contains hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium to encourage growth. We recommend applying two coats to your bare nail, then applying another coat every other day for the best results. After a week, remove it, and start again. These extra layers of protection will also add some bulk to nails that feel thin.
4. Invest in a four way buffer. This genius tool smooths the nail plate out to make it more compact, bringing the surface nail layers together to add strength.
5. Nail your filing technique. Back and forth see-saw motions will only cause the nail to splinter, so always file in one direction, using long, swift but gentle strokes, we recommend starting from the outside edge and moving to the center.
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Change Your Nail Care Products
We think we are taking good care of our nails when we perform a little manicure at home, but sometimes, doing this wrong can do more harm than good.
Removing your nail polish with an acetone-free nail polish remover will also help to protect your nails.
This is because high levels of acetone can dry out the nail, making it become weaker.
Foods That Make Your Nails Stronger
It is more than a known truth that to have a healthy body, skin, hair and even nails, one must be mindful of their diets and foods they consume. Our food intake has a direct effect on the way our body functions. If you want to know how to make your nails grow faster, you should make sure you’re consuming growth-inducing nutrients. Read on more about the food that helps in making your nails grow faster.
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Home Remedy Nr 3 Horsetail
Add one teaspoon of dried horsetail stemsin two cups of boiling water. Steep it for about 10 minutes and finally drinkit as a herbal tea to cure brittle nails and enhance nail growth. If you dontlike the taste, add some honey. Soaking your nails in this mixture can alsohelp you to grow long and strong nails.
Home Remedy Nr 4 Moisturize
Nails that are dry and brittle easily break and split. To make your nails stronger and prevent them from breaking, massage your nails with tea tree oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, flaxseed oil, pumpkin seed oil, or vitamin E oil. Do this every day for about 10 minutes.
Pro Tipp: Womens Best True Beauty Collagen Drink is perfect to further support your hair and nails. It is rich in collagen and high-quality hyaluronic acid and strengthens your nails from the inside.
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Do You Bite Your Nails
Are you the one who starts biting fingernails at the hint of any anxiety? Here is the time to tell you to absolutely stop this practice. If you want your nails to grow faster, you need to stop biting them. Not only biting nails is unhealthy for your body and stomach, but it may also lead to bacterial infections. Biting nails can also lead to chipped nail paints. Now, who wants that? No one, right!
Leave Your Cuticles Alone
Its common practice to cut, push back, or try to get rid of cuticles altogether, but cuticles are not the enemy. In fact, the cuticle is the nails natural protective seal, according to Dana Stern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and nail expert. Messing with your cuticles can do far more harm than goodeven if a nail technician is the one doing the handiwork. Dr. Stern says a compromised cuticle can leave the nails vulnerable and at risk of infection.
Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist, agrees that poorly kept cuticles can have a domino effect. When your cuticles get dry or injured it can injure the nail bed and affect the way your nails grow out, Dr. Green says. She recommends moisturizing the cuticles with cream or cuticle oil to help protect and strengthen your nails.
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Always Wear Them Clean And Well
Cut them periodically as they grow to shape. This way, you avoid getting clothes caught in your nails. I also recommend that you get a good manicure with a professional regularly.
Cut your nails round and not square. Cut them in a round shape that helps reduce the risk of breaking. This way, they will grow much more and better.
When we have a hard blow and break our nails, it is pulled out from the matrix. We should avoid that.
Going Short Can Strengthen Nails
“Whether you realize it or not, when you have long nails you’re constantly hitting them on your keyboard, the door, you name it. People underestimate how much of an impact this has,” says Tuttle.
Keep your nails short and give them a chance to grow out stronger and healthier than before. The other upshot: Nails that aren’t in great shape look healthier when they’re shorter, adds Holford.
Bannon adds that giving yourself a mini “manicure” even if it’s just as simple as filing your nails every two to four days can prevent breakage and snags. If your nails are really in need of some T.L.C., repeat these manis for two to four weeks to see results and stronger nails.
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Acrylic Or Silk Wrapped Nails
What is better acrylic or silk wrap nails? This question has many people on the edge of a dilemma. Silk nails provide a high barrier of protection when applied to the hands, but this can make them brittle and prone to breakage.
On the other hand, acrylic nails provide the same look and feel but tend to be less rigid and provide more flexibility for wear. So what is better acrylic or wraps?
Silk wrap nails can be more expensive than acrylic, but they are less likely to break or peel. Acrylic nails require no special treatment to grow properly and will not peel when exposed to the elements. They are also easier to cut.
Both kinds of hands are able to grow nails that look healthier and stronger thanks to the new technology provided by wraps.
Moisturizers Help Maintain Nail Length: True
Keeping your nails moist won’t help them grow quicker, but it can keep them from breaking sooner.
“As we get into fall and winter when the air is much drier, nails crack and split more easily and therefore stay short,” Kleinsmith says. “Our nails need lubrication, just like our hands and skin, during the winter months. Every time you wash your hands, put a little hand cream on it’s much richer and thicker than just a body lotion.”
Wear gloves or mittens outdoors in cold weather, and use rubber gloves when you’re doing chores around the house.
“Once nails come out from under the cuticle, they’re dead tissue, so there’s no way to repair it,” Robinson says. “Detergents and dish soap can make the nails dry and split. Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves around any soaps or cleansers, even if you’re only washing one dish or one window.”
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Strengthen From The Inside Out
Along with addressing nails from the outside, all the experts we spoke with agreed that the right supplements can help strengthen your tips from the inside, out. One good option? Collagen. An essential protein for hair, skin, and nails, ingestible collagen peptides are easily incorporated into your daily routine and can help promote healthy nails.
“Collagen has really made a difference in the health of my nails. They feel resilient and stronger,” says Holford. Try: NeoCell Super Collagen Powder. Another good option? Biotin. The B vitamin is one of Tuttle’s top picks for strengthening nails. Choi adds that along with supplements, you can also get these internal benefits by focusing on incorporating biotin-rich and collagen-synthesizing foods in your diet, such as salmon, avocados, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and nuts and seeds.
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Want Harder Healthier Nails Look No Further Than These Best Ways To Strengthen Your Nails Plus The Pro
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Maybe you’ve thought, “Dang, why can’t my natural nails be this long?” after a recent nail tip application. Or maybe you need stronger nails for playing the guitar. Whatever your motivations, if you’re yearning to strengthen your nails, there are various tricks that can make a noticeable difference.
Problem is, it’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause of weak nails, let alone figure out the best way to address them. Artificial nail application, genetic disposition, malnutrition, illness, dehydration, medication side effects, and underlying nail infections are just some of the common causes of weak nails, according to Flora Kim, M.D., F.A.A.D., a Texas-based dermatologist. Whatever the reason, the result is still the same: fingernails that are best described as fragile, rigid, and prone to breakage. Sound familiar? Then you’re probably wondering how to strengthen your nails and you’ve come to the right place. Read on for experts’ perspectives on the best way to strengthen your nails. (
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