You may be dreaming of having beautiful natural, healthy nails, but you don't know for sure how to grow them fast enough to satisfy your desire. In all humans, nails grow on average about one millimeter per month, but don't worry! You can make this pace seem faster by regularly manicuring and adopting some lifestyle habits to strengthen your nails.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Perform the Manicure Regularly
Step 1. File your nails regularly to give them a nice shape
Use a fine-grained file and shape them once a week by moving the tool in one direction only. You should also file them whenever they break, flake or chip; give them an oval shape, because it helps them stay stronger.
Do not pin them, otherwise they can break more easily
Step 2. Hydrate them daily
Rub a very thick oil-based moisturizer into your nails and cuticles every day. moisturizing them regularly prevents them from splintering, breaking and becoming brittle, with the risk of them breaking and always appearing the same length.
Take a thick moisturizer specifically formulated for hands, nails and cuticles; you can also apply a cuticle oil to hydrate them along with the nail bed
Step 3. Stop biting your nails
Resist the temptation to gnaw on them, even if they are fragile. Leaving them alone gives them time to grow and they can appear longer more quickly. Here are some ways to break this habit:
- Cut off any that have broken with scissors instead of biting them;
- Apply a bitter-tasting nail polish;
- Replace the habit of eating them with a good habit, for example by playing with the anti-stress ball;
- Avoid factors that can cause you to gnaw at them, such as boredom or emotional anxiety.
Step 4. Use a clear polish
Apply a simple transparent or even colored nail polish; apply a coat of color and possibly also a second, if necessary, in order to create a protective layer that strengthens the nails, preventing possible breakage.
Method 2 of 2: Strengthen them through the Lifestyle
Step 1. Strengthen them with a biotin supplement
Take one of these supplements every day, which you can find at major retailers, pharmacies, and health food stores. Regular consumption of this vitamin helps strengthen nails, minimizing the risk of breakage and chipping.
There is currently no safe daily limit on the dose to be taken; However, avoid taking large quantities, unless you are under direct medical supervision
Step 2. Eat foods rich in vitamin B7
"Biotin" is basically another term to indicate vitamin B7 (also called vitamin H); By including foods that are rich in it in your diet, you can strengthen the effect of supplements and make nails stronger. Here are the best choices:
- Barley;
- Corn;
- Egg yolk;
- Milk;
- Soy;
- Avocado;
- Broccoli;
- Cheese;
- Fish, chicken and pork.
Step 3. Reduce your exposure to water
Only wet your nails when absolutely necessary, such as when you shower or wash your hands. Wear gloves when washing dishes, doing housework, or exposing your hands to other liquids. By limiting contact with water, you keep them well hydrated and reduce the risk of them breaking.
Step 4. Avoid harsh chemicals and detergents
Minimize nail contact with cleaning products and detergents; use an acetone-free solvent when removing old nail polish. Cleansers and other harsh chemicals can dry out your nails, so you should protect your hands from these products while doing certain activities throughout the day.
Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or doing housework
Step 5. Go to the warmer climate regions
People living in locations with mild winters and hot summers have experienced faster nail growth. If you're not quite ready to leave the Northern Hemisphere to accelerate nail growth, take more vacations to warm areas, such as the Caribbean, Greece, Thailand, or the Maldives.
- Protect your hands in cold weather so your nails don't get brittle and can grow longer.
- Get plenty of sunshine even in winter, as it helps your body synthesize vitamin D, which your nails need to grow faster.
