How To Strengthen Nails Fast
It is everybodys wish to have strong, thick and healthy nails. But from the various activities we are doing and different health conditions, we end up having weak, cracking, splitting, and brittle, ragged and even painful nail cuticles. This condition can be very stressful especially when trying to have healthy nail.There are various products that can make your nails harder, stronger, thicker, and even facilitate the growth. However, you need to be very careful when using such products. Some may contain chemicals that can be harmful to your nails. Here are some simple steps you can employ in strengthening your nails:
The daily chores such as frequent washing and over-use of air conditioners may dry out your nail cuticle and also your skin. You should always keep a moisturizer in the desk of your work. Applying a moisturizer helps to strengthen your nails as well as keeping your skin cool.
If you are having weak nails, consider trimming them off as you try the other practices of making them harder or stronger. It is not easy for a shorter nail to break since there are fewer edges are exposed. You should also be very careful when trimming the nails, small cuts on the soft tissues may lead to nail bed infection.
What Affects Nail Growth And Strength
Nails are actually an excellent indicator of health and can be a very useful tool to help diagnose certain underlying health conditions.
Their growth and appearance is strongly influenced by nutrition and health levels, sometimes drugs and medication, as well as actual nail care, of course.
Regardless of the nutrients more directly involved in producing the nail plate, almost any nutrient deficiency will have some kind of effect on nail growth and appearance.
Related content:How To Boost Your Immune System Naturally & Holistically
Do You Skip The Base Coat
As for makeup, priming your face is of utmost importance for the makeup to stay longer, likewise, trust base coat to let your nail paint stay for a long time. Be it a neutral shade or a bright one, before putting on any nail color, applying a base coat is a must. This will provide a protective layer to your nails and will help your nails stronger and healthier.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Nail Fungus Naturally
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.
Apply Cuticle Oil Daily
Cuticle care is always a good idea, problem nails or not. That’s because dehydrated, frayed cuticles can lead to damaged nailbeds and infection if they’re left untreated ; rehydrating and moisturizing that surrounding skin is key for top-notch nail care. Add a cuticle oil to your daily routine: Many options include fatty acids and vitamins that nourish the nails and fill in any micro-cracks in the skin.;
While using the dropper daily is enough to keep nails healthy, chief educator of Paintbox Evelyn;Lim says you can use a cuticle oil up to three times a day if your tips are feeling especially dehydrated . “Apply cuticle oil at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Why not?”;
Read Also: Will Toenail Removal Cure Nail Fungus
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.
VIDEO: It’s Going To Be All About the Almond Nails This Summer
Protect Your Nails From Chemical And Uv Exposure
In case you didn’t know: Your nails can experience sun damage, too, turning them yellow, brittle, or dimpled. To protect your tips, experts recommend a UV filter polish that’s able to absorb the rays .;
On the chemical front, it’s important to be mindful of any harsh ingredients seeping into your nails. You might have swapped your acetone polish remover, sure, but think about other ways your nails are exposed to chemicals on the daily. For example, if you have traditional dish soap in your kitchen, perhaps wear gloves while cleaning to avoid drying out the nails. “It might be a small step, but over time you’ll notice the difference in your health and the appearance of your nails,” says Lin.
You May Like: How To Remove Nail Polish
Don’t Cut Or Manipulate Cuticles
Whether you have your nails professionally groomed or do them yourself, the No. 1 recommendation is leave your cuticles alone, says Dana Stern, MD, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
“The cuticle is the natural barrier to fungus and bacteria — and once you breach that, protection is lost,” she says. This will not only make cuticles look worse — red, swollen, and ragged — but may also land you a nasty infection that harms the nail bed and leads to permanent nail damage. And while cutting cuticles holds the most potential for harm, pushing them back can cause problems as well.
A Dozen Tips For More Beautiful Nails
Long, strong, healthy nails are possible — if you don’t fall prey to myths and old wives tales! Three experts tell you what you need to know.
Like a great new haircut or a terrific skin care regimen, healthy, well-manicured nails are an integral part of a neat, pulled-together appearance – one that can work as an asset in both the social and the business world.
Unfortunately, experts say both men and women fall prey to myths and old wives’ tales about how to care for nails. Another pitfall: many of us rely on the guidance of salons, some of which may not be doling out the best advice — or treatments.
To help set the record straight — and get you on the road to beautiful nails — three top dermatologists offer these 12 tips for achieving healthy, well groomed, elegant nails.
You May Like: How Much Do Nails Cost
Home Remedy Nr 1 Coconut Oil & Honey
Warm three teaspoons of coconut oil andone teaspoon of honey in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Soak your nails inthe mixture for about 10 minutes. Do this every day for about a month to seethe full result. You can also wear cotton gloves and let the mixture soakovernight and have natural overnight nails treatment.
Check In With Your Doctor
“Vitamins and minerals are super critical to developing healthy nails,” says Dr. Kim. “In this busy world, it can be challenging to eat the right combination of foods each day. Thus, I highly recommend finding the right oral supplements to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need each day.” Your doctor can help you pinpoint if you have any deficiencies by discussing your diet and running blood tests.
While not every health expert sees eye to eye on the potential of collagen supplements for nail growth, Dr. Kim sees promise. Her reasoning: “To have healthy nails, you need to ensure that you have the building blocks necessary to develop healthy nails,” she says. “Numerous scientific studies recommend oral ingestion of bioactive collagen peptides.” Here’s an example of one small study where oral collagen peptide supplements such as the ones below seemed to affect nail growth rate and brittleness.
A doctor can also help rule out other potential issues that can cause brittle nails such as a thyroid issue, says Dr. Kim. Depending on your situation, they might suggest trying an Rx treatment. “There are several prescription interventions that have scientific studies demonstrating efficacy for nails such as topical application of Tazorac or Genadur,” says Dr. Kim.
Read Also: Is It Hard To Do Dip Nails At Home
Watch Your Nails For Signs Of Health Problems
Most of the time, nail problems can be traced to environmental assaults — exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, use of drying nail products, or just general physical abuse, such as typing or excessive use of fingertips.
That said, the American Academy of Dermatology advises that the condition of your nails can sometimes reflect a problem in your overall health. Here’s what they say to look out for:
- White nails — liver condition
Consider Popping Biotin Supplements
Its yet to be proven without a doubt, but biotin may help to strengthen hair and nails. Because its water-soluble, it isnt stored by the body, so you have to ensure that you consume it daily, says Dr. Solomon.
Generally, most adults should be getting 30 micrograms of biotin daily, according to the National Institutes of Health. The typical recommended supplemental dose is roughly up to 3,000 mcg daily for six months, according to the Cleveland Clinic, but your doctor may recommend less or more, depending on your personal health.
If theres no improvement in nail strength by that time, odds are biotin is unlikely to be helpful. But if your nails do become stronger and you decide to make biotin supplementation a regular thing, make sure you stop taking them a few days before getting any lab tests done, as large amounts of biotin in your system can skew test results.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Nail Polish Remover At Home
Let The Cuticles Protect Your Nail Bed
Cuticles may look like they are stealing away the looks of your nails but they are very very important parts of your nails. They seal and protect your nail bed. Therefore you should not attempt to cut your cuticles yourself unless you have qualified experience on how to do it. This is because removing the cuticles causes unwanted trauma and damage on your nails. If you really think your cuticles are extremely terrible try these tips
- Moisturize them instead of cutting them off. You promote healthy and beautiful nail growth by softening the cuticle with an essential oil or hand cream.
- Use a cuticle removal cream. The cuticle removal cream is massaged into your cuticles followed by using a soft-tipped cuticle stick to gently push the cuticle back towards the nail bed. This helps to keep uncontrolled cuticles look more trimmed and clean.
Add A Nail Strengthener To Your Routine
Prescription topical agents, such as Nuvail and Genadur, can help to strengthen weakened nails. While OTC nail hardeners can do the trick in the short-term, prescription strengtheners are the best choice for long-term use, since they contain chemicals that both increase the strength of the nail and trap moisture in to prevent future brittleness. Consistent and dedicated use of the nail hardeners is key for successful results, says Dr. Allawh.
Recommended Reading: Where Do You Nail Shingles
Drink Plenty Of Water
Being hydrated has a direct effect on the health of a persons nails.
When a person is not getting enough fluid, their nails can become brittle. When a persons nails are fragile, they break or peel more easily.
The state that most people can get enough fluids to remain hydrated by drinking water when thirsty and when eating a meal. However, if a person feels they are not getting enough fluid, they can increase their daily intake by:
- carrying a reusable water bottle
- choosing water over sugary drinks
- drinking water at meals instead of other beverages
Consume Calcium And Protein:
Nails undergo a complete formation process called keratinisation, where keratin one kind of protein are integrated into the structure of the nail. Eating enough protein and calcium may play an important role in strengthening the health of human nail.
Lacking calcium will also make the nails brittle while amino acids may help the nail hard. It is best for you to have a diet adequate in the levels calcium and protein. You should include milk, yogurt, cheese, and kale to your meal. If you do not eat meat, you can eat beans, soy, and eggs as they are also a good source of protein.
Recommended Reading: Where To Donate Nails And Screws
Take Breathers Between Manicures
Bottom line: Your nails need to breathe. Constant use of polish, even non-toxic polish, can weaken the nail, says Dr. Solomon. If you find that your nails have become especially fragile , give them a month off from nail polish to allow them to grow and strengthen. Applying a keratin treatment between manicures, such as CND RescueRXx, can help nourish your nails during the hiatus.
Take A Closer Look At Your Shampoo
If youre using a shampoo that is drying or aims to strip oils , it might be drying out your nails and causing weak or brittle nails. Try changing up your shampoo for a couple of weeks and see if you notice a difference.
If youve tried multiple things for several weeks and havent noticed any change in your nails, see a dermatologist. They can take a look at your nails and ask you questions about your routine and overall health.
If need be, they can prescribe a prescription-strength nail treatment that can help to strengthen your nails.
Read Also: What Is The Best Sally Hansen Nail Strengthener
How To Use Biotin To Strengthen Nails
Weak, thin and brittle nails are believed to be caused by dehydration and dryness of the protein keratin with is found in the nails. Biotin is proved to be effective on how to strengthen nails as well as for skin care and hair growth.Biotin is found in the natural foot that we take and can also be found in supplements that contains high levels. The following steps will guide you on the use of biotin to strengthen nails:
- Step 1. Include foods that are rich in biotin in your daily diet. Such food includes: liver, egg yolk, yeast, whole grains and cereals, milk, fish, peanut butter, lentils, bananas, cauliflower, mushrooms and soybeans.
- Step 2. Take biotin supplements if your nails fails to show improvements for 2 weeks after incorporating biotin rich food in your diet. The supplements are available different doses of 10, 50, 100, and even 1000mcg. Consult your doctor for correct biotin dosage.
Making Your Nails Stronger
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Fungus Under Your Nail
Rosemary And Aloe Vera
- Rosemary strengthening remedy: For this recipe youll need two tablespoons of rosemary and a cup of water. Boil the ingredients for five minutes and remove from heat, letting it cool for a few minutes. Finally, pour the mixture into a bowl and dip your nails for 20 minutes. Repeat twice per day.
- Aloe Vera revitalizing treatment: Aloe Vera has many uses, as you probably already know. In this case, aloe vera helps to improve the condition of the nails in no time. Youll need one tablespoon of aloe vera gel and three drops of olive oil. Mix until they are well blended. Soak a cotton ball with the mixture and smooth it onto the nails. Let it absorb, and repeat as often as you think is necessary.
Push Your Cuticles Back
As mentioned, cuticle care is crucial. But beyond oil, Lim mentions regularly pushing your cuticles back can keep them from overgrowing. “When becomes thick and overgrows onto the nail, it’s tough to push back. You don’t want to ever get to that point,” she says. “When that happens, your cuticles are prone to cracking and infection.” Ouch.
You don’t have to get too meticulous about it; a great tip is to gently push them back every couple of days after stepping out of the shower, as the nails will be softened from the spray. Not to mention, pushing your cuticles back helps your polish last longerjust in case you’ve decided to go for an at-home mani.;
You May Like: How Does Nail Fungus Affect The Body
