Over the year, having a long well kept nails has become a fashion statement. Long nails shows one's personal style and allows them to experiment with their creativity.
With the help of bold colors, patters and techniques, nails, these days have become more like a blank canvas reflecting style and artistic trends in the fashion arena.
The scenario, however was totally different a few decades ago. What started as a form of self expression and rebellion in the 70s and 80's has become a staple. No wonder people try to grow out their nails longer and stronger.
As longer nails is all about popularity, we have created a guide to help you understand the basics of nail growth. This blog also sheds light on common mistake so that you can avoid them to grow the nail of your dreams easily at home. Let's begin!
How to Make Your Nails Grow Longer?
1. Maintain a Healthy Diet
For longer stronger hair and nails, always treat your body with the correct food. Experts always recommend a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins because it can contribute to healthier nail growth.
Foods like eggs, lean meats, fish, beans, nuts, and leafy greens can provide essential nutrients for over all well being as well as nail health.
2. Nourish Your Nail Beds
Is your ridged nail bed completely ruining your manicure or giving you hangnails? In that case, you might need to increase your vitamin B9 intake. Otherwise known as folic acid, this vitamin multiplies the nail making cells and repairs them rapidly.
People might think, it is not necessary to grow nails, but the truth is far from it. If you have a deficiency in folic acid, it may cause discoloration and contribute to brittle and weak nails.
So, if you are matching the symptoms and want to start consuming; they are found in dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, romaine lettuce, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli), beans and peanuts. But if you don't like veggies, you always have the option of supplements.
3. Never Use Your Nails as a Tool
Using your nails as a tool can cause stress on the nails and skin. Thus, stop using them to open packages, scrape surfaces, or perform similar tasks.
4. Invest in a Soft Nail File
For someone who is totally a noob when it comes to self grooming, it is wise to choose a softer file to prevent tearing or splitting your nails. Also, you have to learn new techniques and educate yourself to do the job better.
Tip: Use long, swift and gentle strokes starting from the outside edge and moving into the center. Make sure to file in one direction for a smooth finish.
5. Practice Good Grooming
Grooming is not just about trimming your facial hair and getting a nice haircut. It also means wearing proper clothes and keeping your nails healthy.
Remove dead skin around your nails and clip them once in a while to help stimulate circulation in the nail bed which helps nails grow healthily.
Avoid excessive buffing or filing, as it can thin out your nails. Rather than seeking answers for how to grow your nails out, start your own ritual.
6. Avoid Press on Nails
Per some research papers, frequent manicures be it press ons, acrylic, or gel polish, they impact your nail's health. But the situation gets worse if you have no idea about its proper removal technique.
Improper removal methods can damage your nails, making them weak and prone to breakage.
7. Stop Biting Your Nails
Nail biting tendency is widely associated with managing nervousness, anxiety, or stress. Although it gives your mind some fake relaxation, the constant pressure from biting weakens the nail structure, leading to uneven growth and deformities.
In extreme cases, nails become brittle, crack, or split, making proper regrowth difficult.
8. Say No to Toxic Nail Polishes
Cheap nail polishes are toxic. They contain Big Five chemicals such as formaldehyde, camphor, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene which should never come in contact to human skin.
But the irony is that these polish are sold in very little price to attract people.
Thus, stay miles away from these toxins. Instead, choose water-based formulations of nail polish from popular brands like Acquarella and Suncoat.
How to Make Your Nails Grow Faster?
9. Consider Collagen
Be it for glowing skin, healthy hair or nail growth, collagen has the potential to support your requirements. Incorporating this structural protein in your regular diet is like hitting multiple birds with a single arrow.
With the abundance of collagen in the skin, bones, tissues, and tendons, you can get proper strength and structure. So, stop debating if to invest in the supplement and start it today to have perfect nails, healthy hair and mirror skin.
10. Use Cuticle Oil Daily
Staying hydrated for sure is an important step of any self care routine. But it is not enough! If you are wondering how to grow your nails overnight, start hydrating your nails with a cuticle oil.
Because to grow a healthy nail, you have to do not only look for ways to grow them fast but also avoid certain things that might come in your way.
While cuticle oil helps avoid breakage, it also helps to make your nails stronger.
11. Avoid Removers Containing Acetone
Acetone is a harsh chemical commonly found in nail polish removers. It dries out the surrounding of your fingers and also makes your nail brittle over time.
And no body wants that! Instead of removers with such chemicals, try a natural nail polish remover and you won't regret it.
12. Try Biotin Supplement
Biotin plays a key role in body functions that directly impact hair skin and nails. This kind of Vitamin B7 are found in our daily diets such as eggs, milk, and bananas.
13. Consume a Nail Friendly Diet
Not just for your overall vitality, you have to incorporate some nutritious food into your diet to support nail growth. Try fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, salmon, nuts, seeds, avocado, eggs, lean meat, sweet potatoes and a little whole grain to create some balance.
Don't forget beneficial bacteria such as kefir, miso, live yogurt, or kimchi.
15. Give Nail Strengthener a Try
Nail strengtheners or hardeners are recommended by dermatologists. This magical innovation is clinically proven to harden the nails while also increasing its thickness, density as well as durability.
As they say prevention is better than cure, this nail strengthener is both the prevention and solution for growing out nails.
16. Treat Your Nails with Growth Treatment
If you keep on dwelling on how long does it take for nails to grow and do not find solutions, your nails will not turn out to be like you wanted. Like we take supplements to grow our hair, you also have to give your nails proper nutrition.
Give growth treatments like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or coconut oil a try and see for yourself. Use these items regularly and watch your nails grow longer and stronger than you anticipated.
17. Minimize Water Exposure
Most of the time we get so lost in chores that we forget how much water our nail and skin absorbs in the process. While hydration is nice but over exposure of water and exposed chemicals present in soaps and detergents can lead to breakage and cracks that stunt growth.
The best thing you can do is wearing gloves. Gloves act as a barrier and keep you away from overexposure.
18. Moisturize Your Hands with Petroleum Jelly
Make Petroleum jelly based ointment your night time hand cream because it can help to strengthen the nail. It also keeps the nail bed and surrounding skin smooth, minimizing the risk of inflammation and dryness.
19. Consistency is the Key
Last thing you want to hear from anyone is to be patient and be consistent. We understand the frustration but hey, only hard work and diligent consistency can give you your nail of dreams. So, follow the steps carefully and be patient.
Once you have long nails, you can try various nail polish design and give different shapes as well.
