Keep Them On The Shorter Side
If youre having trouble with weak nails, consider cutting down the length while you build up their strength, suggests Dr. Solomon. Shorter nails are less prone to breaking because there are fewer exposed edges to tear, and less surface area where water and chemicals can be absorbed. Once trimmed, prevent snags by gently rounding the edges with a nail file.
Why I Wanted To Restore My Nails After Gel Manicures
I love the perfectly shaped nails that didnt chip, cuticles with no hangnails and long lasting color that I got from my artificial nails. Over the last 15 years, Ive tried them all acrylics, gel and powder.
At first, getting my nails done every two weeks was a luxury. When I started these regular appointments in my 40s, I had just been promoted to a management position at the nonprofit where I was working. I was making a little money. My boss got her nails done. After years as a stay at home mom with no extra money in the budget for such a luxury, I was ready to treat myself. And for a while, it was great. Until it wasnt.
At some point, I got tired of sitting in the manicurists chair for an hour every two weeks. And I had other things I wanted to spend my money on. So I decided to go back to my natural nails. Except they werent the nails that I used to have. They were thin, dry, splitting and brittle. And after a few weeks of looking like that, I just couldnt stand it anymore, so headed back to the salon to get the artificial ones again. I continued this cycle for 15 years.
A few months ago, I decided once again to try and go natural, but before doing so, I asked ladies in my who had done this HOW they achieved healthy natural nails again. They encouraged me that it could be done. I also did some research online and came up with this plan that restored my nails to their strong and healthy original state in 8 weeks.
Remember Toenails Count Too
Everything that applies to your fingernails applies to your toenails, which experts say may be even more prone to problems due to careless pedicures. “Because feet are more often inside shoes — a dark, moist environment — fungus can grow more easily,” says Ravits. If you get regular pedicures, experts say take your own instruments and never let the tech dig under the nail or around the cuticle. Moreover, Ravits says cutting toenails at an angle — instead of straight across — increases the risk of ingrown toenails, which can be painful and sometimes develop into an infection.
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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.
Why Are My Nails Soft And Bendy
Soft or weak Soft nails might be caused by overexposure to moisture or chemicals think detergent, cleaning fluids, nail treatments, and nail polish remover. The fix: Avoid having chemicals around your nails. Weak nails are most likely associated with a deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids.
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Does Toothpaste Strengthen Your Teeth
Can toothpaste alone help strengthen your nails? Researchers have found that toothpaste can help increase the strength of nails as well, by helping them grow properly and in a healthy manner. There are many products on the market today that claim to help build and strengthen your nails, but toothpaste may be one of the most effective ways to do this.
Research has shown that toothpaste has the ability to strengthen the capillary walls of the root canal, which help to prevent bacteria from growing in the affected area. Toothpaste can also help cuticles to keep them healthy and free from bacteria and fungal growth.
If you apply it directly to your nails and wait long enough to let it dry, then yes, toothpaste for nails can help build strong nails.
Apply toothpaste to your hands, wait 30 seconds to give it time to dry and then use a file or Emery board to file down the toothpaste. You will be surprised at how much toothpaste you can use if you want to strengthen your nails.
Why Put Toothpaste On Your Fingernails
Many of us know that toothpaste is not the best toothpaste to use on nails. When applying toothpaste on fingernails and toenails, many of us will brush our fingernails with regular toothpaste and then polish our fingernails with a good quality nail polish remover.
Although this may be effective in helping to grow nails, it isnt considered to be the best toothpaste to put on nails because of the acid in regular toothpaste that can actually weaken the nails.
It is also recommended that you do not apply toothpaste directly to your nails because it may cause some mild burning sensations.
If you need to clean and strengthen your nails, the best toothpaste for nails is one that contains natural ingredients like aloe, citrus extract and essential oils. Natural toothpastes for nails contain a variety of ingredients that can help to strengthen the bond between your nails and your real finger.
Toothpaste for nails that contains natural ingredients like aloe, citrus extract and essential oils is a much better choice to use than a regular toothpaste for nails because these types of toothpastes do not contain acid.
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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!
Stop Filing Back And Forth
Nail files that look like they’re sparkly are my fave.
One direction is the way to goand I’m not talking about the band! You may not know this, but filing your nails back and forth does more harm than good. When you file in all kinds of directions, you actually cause teeny tiny breaks in your nails, which may be why they cant grow past your fingertips without chipping or cracking.
To up your chances of growing nails that are long and strong, try your best to file your nails in one direction only. Its going to feel weird and take twice as long, but its the best thing you could do for your nails. Promise.
Now you just need a cute nail file:
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Maintaining Healthy Grooming Habits
Become A Nail Filing Master
Go with a soft nail file to keep the edges of your nails smooth, says Dr. Klein. With rougher grains, you run the risk of making tears in the nail, which can lead to peeling and hangnails.
File your nails in one direction, using long and swift strokes. Back and forth see-saw motions will cause the nail to splinter, says Dr. Solomon, who recommends using the Deborah Lippmann Smooth Operator 4-Way Nail Buffer.
The micro-fiber material its made from is very gentle on the nails, but still manages to achieve a clean shape, she says.
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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.
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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Moisturize The Nail Bed And The Cuticle
While there is little in the way of medical data showing that moisturizing the nail bed will help nails grow, it can make cuticles look better and help protect nails from breaking due to a lack of moisture. “If your nails are prone to breakage, it could mean they need moisture — and putting oil around the cuticle helps moisturize the entire nail, which will reduce the incidence of chipping, cracking, and splitting,” says Margaret Ravits, MD, a dermatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Continued
Ten Over Ten Celery Oil
Celery juice is trending as an overall health booster, and this capitalizes on some of the same benefits…for your nails. Celery seed extract improves thickness and minimizes the look of ridges, but this strengthening treatment also touts a long list of other beneficial ingredients, such as vitamin B3 and zinc to help harden nails and antioxidant-rich meadowfoam seed oil to protect them from environmental damage.
To buy: $26 tenoverten.com
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Try A More Natural Nail Polish
Quashie recommends giving ‘free from’ varnishes a go, which purposefully exclude any potentially toxic chemicals. ‘In terms of natural credentials, the scale runs from “three-free” all the way up to “13-free”, which means that brand does not have any of the most commonly used chemicals that have been identified as potentially harmful in their varnishes.’
So, which brands to go for? ‘Some great ‘free-from’ brands are Kure Bazaar, Nailberry and Butter London some of the larger brands such as Nails Inc and Orly are bringing out similar formulas too.’
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.
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It Is Possible With Extra Care To Grow Your Natural Nails As Long As Acrylics Or Tips Done In The Salon
Shirley Cheng, an NYC-based editorial manicurist and nail artist shared her solutions for nails that have seen better days.
My secret weapon for strong healthy nails is cuticle oil. Think of it as conditioner for your nails and skin. When you consider of often you wash your hands daily, imagine if you did that to your hair without conditioning. It would be a wreck, she said. Look for a cuticle oil that is jojoba oil or Vitamin E based. The molecules in these are small enough to penetrate through gel or polish and into your nail. Avoid coconut oil or mineral oil, as these just sit in top of your skin. Bonus: cuticle oil also helps your mani last longer. Frequent washing and everyday activities can make the product brittle causing it to chip. Oiling keeps the product flexible.
Shirley suggests a pro solution too, available at most salons:
“If your nails are already damaged, try asking your nail professional for IBX. It is a nail repair treatment that actually penetrates into the top layers of your nail, similar to what Olaplex does for your hair,” she said.
Eat More Foods That Promote Strong Nails
Avoid yo-yo dieting, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies that may put the strength of your nails in jeopardy. Make sure you eat enough protein and calcium too, which are thought to promote nail health, says Robin Evans, MD, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Loading up on biotin-rich foods, such as veggies, eggs, and nuts, may also help.
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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.
This Diy Trick To Making Your Nails Grow Faster Couldnt Be Easieror Cheaper
Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock
Long, gorgeous nails arent necessarily made in a nail salon. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to avoid the professional mani/pedi altogether. Acrylics are pricey and can damage your nails, and the toxins from nail polish can do some scary things to your body, too.
As for growing out your nails au natural? That often seems like a pipe dream, especially for habitual nail biters and those with brittle nails. Thankfully, you dont have to be blessed with flawless nails to have a manicure youre proud of.
Yes, really! All you need is this simple trick from YouTube beauty blogger Ela Gale. Using only three ingredients, you can make your nails grow faster and considerably stronger in just a few weeks. And not only will this all-natural idea save your wallet, but its also super easy.
Heres how it works: In two small bowls, mix together ½ cup of orange juice and one clove of crushed garlic. Then, soak your fingers in the mixture for 15 minutes. Pour out the bowls and fill them with ¼ cup of olive oil, soaking your fingers for another five to 10 minutes. Wash your hands to clear away the leftover residue. Once you get this simple, natural beauty trick down, heres how to file your nails so they never peel or break again.
Voila! After doing this twice a week, youll start to see longer, stronger nails in no time. Just dont forget the 14-step process to getting healthy and gorgeous nails while youre at it.
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Always Apply Base And Top Coats
Base and top coats are especially helpful when your nails are on the weaker side because they provide your nails with an additional protective barrier from things like dehydration and breakage, says Dr. Evans. Essies Grow Stronger Base Coat leaves nails nourished and protected, for example, while the brands Good to Go Top Coat protects your mani from chipping and peeling.
