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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Preventing And Treating Dry Skin
Dry skin often means that the nails are also dry. Very dry skin can even crack open and bleed, exposing the nails to fungal and bacterial infections.
When the skin surrounding the nail bed or nail matrix is dry, it could damage the nails as they grow.
To prevent dry skin, moisturize hands and nails during the winter months and apply lotion after washing hands. People who have eczema should choose eczema-friendly creams that are highly moisturizing.
Take Biotin Or Collagen Supplements
So much about nail health and growth comes down to diet. In fact, your nails can act as something of a canary test to your overall health, with breakage or slow growth signaling dietary, mineral, and vitamin deficiency. “Pay attention to your diet,” explains Amy Lin, the founder of sundaysa nail care brand focused on wellnessabout strong nails. “Your nails are made of proteins and naturally need a lot of vitamins.”
Well specifically, your nails consist of the protein keratin , so it’s important to make sure you’re getting your fill of keratin-building amino acids. Two of the most popular ways to do so are biotin and collagen supplements, as they tend to be the most effective in supporting nail health.*
First up: Biotin has been shown to support thickness and firmness of nails in several human studies.* One study, in particular, found that those who took biotin supplements had 25% thicker nailbeds than the placebo group.* In terms of collagen, another study showed that when patients took collagen daily for 24 weeks, their nail health was better maintained, including faster growth rates, reduced breakage, and improved appearance.*
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The Effect Of Nail Polish On Your Nails
Always putting on nail polish will lead to weak nails, peeling, thinning, cracking of your nails and at worse bruise on the skin around your nails. This is because the chemicals used in producing the nail polish damages the protective protein that makes up the nails which is Keratin. Wearing nail polish for a long time gives room for the chemicals used in producing the polish seep into the nail bed, causing it to discolor, split and peel.
Keratin a non-living protein is what basically make up your nails. It has the ability to make your nails flexible and strong. It also keep your nails from cracking when they go through tough conditions and many other properties that keep your nails very healthy.
Hence the frequent use of nail polish on your nails without breaks will cause Keratin Granulation which is characterized by white irregular shaped spot or stain on the fingernails or toenails. It is the clumping together of Keratin forming white spots or chalk-like stains appearing on your nails. This happens when the nail polish dry out your nail beds causing an extreme dehydration of your nails.
Keratin granulation is majorly and generally caused by using dehydrating nail polish remover too often and wearing nail polish for way too long.
Prioritise Health Over Length
If your nails are weak and damaged, its best to keep them short for now. Weak nails struggle to maintain length, so keep them short until they strengthen. File them smoothly to prevent breakages and snags and your nails will strengthen in no time.
How to file your nails properly:
File them in one direction
Filing your nails back and forth can weaken your nails even more. Its also important to go easy on the sides of your nails to prevent further breakage.
Invest in a soft nail file
Glass files are pretty, easier to clean and last longer. However, a soft file is gentler on your nails and prevents nail weakening and breakage.
Start from the outer edge and work your way inwards
Youll get smooth edges and you can control the shape youd like!
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Vitamins For Nails Do They Make Nails Stronger
Do they help or is it all just a scam?
Advice about vitamins for nails across the internet is all over the place. Why?
Because anyone can write a blog postwhether they know what theyre talking about or not.
Who are you supposed to believe? You need to seek out experts.
Researching this article revealed that there is too much to talk about to fit it into one little article. I plan to write several more articles on this topic.
So today, Ill get into the ultimate debate: Vitamins for nailsYes or No?
Myths About Nail Growth
Nail tissue is already dead by the time it is long enough to paint, so painting will not affect growth.
It is also a myth that applying vitamins directly to the nails can help them grow. These remedies are unlikely to help. At best, they strengthen the nail and prevent it from breaking.
No specific nail polish, such as a gel or powder, can improve nail health. In fact, some products, particularly those that require harsh methods for removal, may have adverse effects on nail health. The acetone that people use to remove gel nails can weaken nails despite the gel polish making them appear strong and healthy.
Understanding how nails grow can support lifestyle changes that promote nail health.
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Be Mindful Of Your Polish Choices
Make sure the polishes you use contain nourishing, conditioning ingredients rather than drying additives like formaldehyde, camphor, and toluene. Since the polishes are sitting on your nail for a week at a time, it’s vital that they’re not actively weakening the proteins while doing so. And if you have a favorite shade that isn’t 7-free or higher? Well, at the very least make sure you are using a clean base coat as that’s what’s touching the nail. Try sundays’ B.01 Hydrating Base Coat.
Coconut Oil Works Fine
If you ran out of olive oil, or if you are worried about it not being too efficient try the coconut one. Massage your nails with it for five minutes or either prepare yourself a proper soak. You will be needing some organic coconut oil and a cup of honey. Warm them up in a microwave after placing them in a bowl and creating a mixture. Let it heat up for 20 seconds. Your nails should be dipped in that mixture for 10 minutes, and you can repeat this process two times a week.
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Biotin Supplements Are Linked To Long Stronger Nails: True
You won’t make your nails grow more quickly if you take this dietary supplement. But several studies show that biotin can strengthen brittle nails, making them less likely to split or break, so you may be able to grow your nails longer after taking the supplement regularly.
Biotin is often sold by itself as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient in vitamins sold to improve the look of the skin, hair, and/or nails.
“They all have significant amounts of biotin in them, plus calcium and silicon in some form,” says dermatologist Amy Newburger, MD, of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Medical Center in New York.
The Institute of Medicine has not determined a safe upper limit for this dietary supplement due to lack of information about its possible side effects. Although it seems unlikely that someone could get too much biotin, don’t take large doses unless you’re under the close care of a dermatologist or other doctor.
“I take it myself and do feel it helps with nails, says D’Anne Kleinsmith, MD, a dermatologist in West Bloomfield, Mich.
How Long Can You Keep Nail Polish On
For the good of your nails you should be off nail polish for a week or more in a month.
Specifically, your nails needs its own space and deserves to be given that space. For instance, your face isnt always on make-up because you definitely know that it will irritate and affect your skin. That is why you would wash of the makeup before going to bed and stay without it when youre at home. In the same way, keeping your nails polished for a long period of time without breaks irritate your nails. This will make it weak or even thinner.
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Consider Upping Your Biotin Intake
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin B coenzyme that you can find in supplement form at health food stores. Dermatologist and NYC-based nail health specialist Dr. Dana Stern told INSIDER that an amount between 2000 mcg and 3000 mcg is the recommended daily dosage for biotin in supplement form. She also advises that since nails grow slowly, you should expect to see biotin benefits in 4 months for fingernails and 9 months for toenails.
What about other dietary sources? Dr. Stern says that its an extreme rarity to see biotin deficiency in this country, but trends like juicing can sometimes lead down that path. Naturally, biotin-rich foods include cold-water fish such as salmon, almonds, peanuts, Swiss chard, and eggs. Its definitely a plus when foods are good for us AND good for our nails.
It’s worth noting that not all experts are unanimous about whether biotin can actually improve your nail strength, so proceed with caution.
Virtually everyone has heard that acetone-based nail polish removers are bad for your nails. But Dr. Stern said that even ethyl acetate ones are still solvents. Its true that non-acetone removers are less drying, but all nail polish removers still dry out your nails to some degree.
If you must use them, Dr. Stern advises not using them more than once a week. If possible, take a 2-4 week break in between polish removals, because that step is far more damaging to your nail than the actual polish.
Moisturise Your Hands And Nails Regularly
So youre handbag/backpack/desk drawer now includes a water bottle. We also need to add some hand cream or moisturising lotion in there . Moisturiser not only keeps your skin healthy but also can keep your nails hydrated.
Moisturise your hands after washing your hands to restore the moisture back in after washing.
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Foods To Strengthen Nails Naturally
Many foods can help strengthen nails naturally, making them stronger and less brittle. Vitamins and minerals found in foods provide the necessary nutrients for our bodies to grow and remain healthy and strong. Lets look at several of these powerful foods and how they can help you maintain healthy, strong nails.
Give The Polish A Rest
Many of us are guilty of trying to making our nail polish last as long as possible, says Choi. We hope to extend the life of our color with constant touch-ups, then when the chips become too noticeable to bear, we head straight to a salon for a fresh coat. This all makes sense for cosmetic purposes, but having nail polish on your nails for too long greatly damages their strength and overall health, warns Dr. Jaber. Even the safest nail polishes can leave your nails brittle, thin, and dry if left on for too long. Instead, fully remove your nail polish after five days and allow them the same amount of time to recover before getting them re-painted. Leaving polish on too long is just one of the surprising ways you could be ruining your nails.
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Be Cautious About Manicures
Some nail salons can contribute to nail infections. Aggressive manicure techniques, such as cutting the cuticles very short, may allow bacteria to enter the nail bed and weaken the nails.
Take personal tools to the nail salon or make sure the salon uses properly sanitized equipment to minimize the risk of infection. It is also best to check a salonâs reputation by reading reviews before booking an appointment. If a manicure starts to hurt, ask the technician to stop, as manicures should not be painful.
Dont Use Your Nails As A Tool
From cracking open a can of soda to tearing into a package, nails seem to be the perfect handy tool. Despite our nature to use our nails whenever possible, this behavior can create weaker and more flimsy nails. It also is typically the cause of breakage in the first place.
The health of your nails often reflects the health of your body as a whole. It can be a great indicator for nutrients you might be missing, dehydration, or an underlying medical condition. If you find yourself trying everything to no avail, it may be best to consult with your doctor or dermatologist for the best treatments. Typically, nail issues can be solved by a change in diet, some added supplements, daily hydration, or by just giving them a break from harsh nail polish. No matter how you strengthen your nails, youll love having healthier, sturdier, and prettier nails to show off.
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A Scientist Specializing In Nails
According to Doug Schoon, author of Nail Structure and Product Chemistry, Nothing you eat will make healthy nail plates become stronger than normal, but poor nutrition can certainly make them weaker To date, no conclusive scientific studies have linked vitamin supplements, gelatin, drinks , or special foods to faster growth of healthy nails.
Take A Nail Supplement
You can level-up your nail nutrition game with a nail supplement. “Taking 5000 UCG per day of biotin helps strengthen nails as well as promote nail growth,” says Dr. Graf. Boyce has seen this in action at her nail salon. “Clients who take any type of biotin supplements tend to have nails that grow really fast,” she says.
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How To Grow Nails Faster
There are only three scientifically proven ways to grow nails faster.
I write about this and much more detail in my how to grow nails faster article.
To make your nails stronger, the best way to do that is to increase the amount of oil in your nail plate.
Since we wash our hands on average 20 times per day, the water and soap strip out the oils, and then we get dry skin and dry nails.
The good thing to know is that good nail professionals would never give this advice, because they are more educated about the natural nail.
So, to wrap this up
If you want your nails to grow faster, try to follow the scientifically proven methods, Although I dont recommend damaging your nail because thats really not a very good way to make them grow longer. Many people who bite their nails will confirm this.
If you want your nails to be stronger, then you will want to hydrate them with a high quality jojoba wax ester based nail oil. You may want to try my 3 Day Hydration Treatment.
Remember, no matter how longor shortyour nails are, as long as they are well shaped and manicured, they will be beautiful.
Monitor The Nail Products You Use
While most nail products are designed with your nails health in mind, some may contain harmful or harsh ingredients that are not playing well with your nails. Nail polish and nail polish remover are usually the most common culprits, drying your nails out in silence until the fatal break. To avoid or reduce this, you can try getting your nails done less often or look for products with more gentle ingredients.
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How To Strengthen Nails: 9 Expert
Even if you have immaculate, smooth-to-the-touch nailsnary a fray in sightkeeping them strong is an entirely different story. Sure, your nails might not feel dry, or brittle, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely off the hook. You wouldn’t shrug off your daily skin care routine just because you don’t see any blemishes or areas of concern, would you? Same goes for nail care: The best offense, after all, is a good defense.
Experts would agreethey’ve weighed in on nine ways to strengthen your nails, so you can keep those tips in tiptop shape:
How To Grow Your Nails Faster And Make Them Stronger
Women’s Best Beauty TeamAugust 29, 2019Reading time: 2min
Do you experience slow nail growth, brittle nails, nail breakage, nail splitting, and other nail problems?
Then we have good news! The times, where you needed to spend a lot of money on acrylic nails or manicure to have long, strong, and healthy-looking nails are finally over.
We show you the best natural home remedies for nail growth that really work!
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