Try these products and tips to promote nail length, strength, and health.

Hate your short, brittle nails? Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your nails grow faster—but you also want to make sure they are strong and healthy. The process requires time, patience, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, a few key products.

You could be genetically prone to short and brittle nails, trying to recover them from acrylics or dip, or just want to change up your nail shape and need some length. To help out, we asked two experts for their advice on how to grow strong, long nails. Keep reading for their top recommendations.

01. Moisturize Your Nails
You already know that your skin benefits from routine hydration, but nails require moisture, too. “Nails become dry and brittle when they lack moisture,” says dermatologist Dr. Jeannette Graf. Without proper moisture from lotion or an oil, they’re more prone to breaking.

“Many things can strip the moisture in fingernails, but the common culprit is washing and drying the hands multiple times a day and frequently using detergents, household cleaners, and nail polish remover,” says Graf.

Keep a hand lotion or cuticle oil in your car, purse, or at your desk.

02. Avoid Using Your Nails as Tools
Many of us are guilty of using our nails as makeshift tools, but if your endgame is to grow your nails, then this is a no-no. “If you’re really rough on your nails—like you use them to open boxes—they’ll likely break,” says celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce. Use scissors or box cutters instead (or keep one nearby) when you open packages. Try to be conscious of what you’re doing when opening items by hand.

03.Examine Your Nutrition
Though we might not consider the link between our diet and nail health, what we eat is a potential contributing factor to whether our nails grow faster and stronger.

“A poor diet definitely contributes to unhealthy nails,” says Graf. Focus on whole fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, leafy greens, and healthy fats via eggs, lean meats, nuts, and salmon. Nutrients such as biotin, omega-3s, protein, and iron found in these foods contribute to strong nails.

You can level up your nail nutrition game with the following nail supplements:

Biotin helps strengthen nails and promote nail growth, explains 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.
Keratin is another supplement to take for nail growth, as it is the protein that makes up nails.
Collagen also does wonders for your skin, hair, and nail health. Collagen powder (like Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides) has been known to hydrate and strengthen nails.

04. Protect Your Nails During Dishes
Washing the dishes by hand can not only dry out your skin, but it can also weaken nails if they are submerged for long periods of time. “When you’re cleaning and doing house chores, consider wearing gloves,” says Boyce. “Wearing gloves when you wash dishes can actually help prolong your manicure, too.”

Not only do rubber gloves act as a barrier between cleaning chemicals, (the solvents in dish detergent causes nails to become brittle and tear easily), they also protect against any bumps or chips that can occur when scrubbing.

05. Try a Topical Strengthener
Both Graf and Boyce recommend using Orly’s Breathable Calcium Boost, a topical strengthener that you apply the same way you do nail polish. “It has vegan calcium, vitamin B5, vitamin C, and argan oil, which help nourish dry, damaged, and thin nails,” says Boyce. It also has antioxidants to nourish the nail.

Here’s how to use a nail strengthener:

Apply a nail strengthener to clean bare nails every other day.
Remove and start fresh after one week.
Continue this application and removal process until you see results (about one to two weeks).
You can also try nail strengtheners as a base coat under polish or as a top coat over polish to prolong your manicure.

06. Keep Your Nails Neatly Filed
“Improperly filed nails can also cause nails to break easily,” notes Boyce. “They can either be jagged and snag things easily, or they’re filed at an angle that causes them to be too thin.” She recommends using a glass file, if possible, for a very smooth file.

Tip
To file your nails correctly, move the nail file in one direction as you smooth the nail to the desired shape (oval, almond, squoval, square). Begin at the edges and file towards the center. “Sawing” in a back and forth motion will cause snags and tears. When you have finished filing, buff your nails with a buffer to smooth out the edges.

07. Aim for a Happy Length
If growing super-long nails without them easily chipping or breaking is in your genes, consider yourself lucky. “Everyone has a different happy length, which is the longest the nails grow before they start affecting your way of life,” says Boyce.

To find your happy length, consider your lifestyle: Do you type on the computer? Work with your hands a lot? If your nails get in the way of basic activities, it may be best to keep them trimmed. A good rule of thumb is to be short enough so they don’t snag but long enough to see the white of your nail.

08. Consider a Gel Manicure
There’s an ongoing debate over whether gel manicures are good or bad for your nails, but prioritizing a nourishing gel polish seems to help nails stay long. “I personally think a layer of quality gel properly applied can create a protective coat over your natural nails,” says Boyce. “It also gives a dull edge, so you’re less likely to scratch things.”

However, removal needs to be done properly and, ideally, by a pro. Peeling them off at home can be extremely damaging. Boyce adds, “When they start to lift, either go to the nail salon to get them re-filled or completely removed or get a removal kit with acetone, cotton, and foil to remove them properly.”

09. Don’t Wear Fake Nails
While fake nails do protect the nail base as it grows out, they can weaken your nails over time due to the glue and adhesive used to apply the nails. This can lead to peeling, cracking, and breaking. Gel nails are better for your nails as they are not as durable as acrylics and are less prone to breaking.

Tip:
Press on nails can also contribute to slow nail growth, so avoid wearing them if you want to grow your nails quickly. Press-ons don’t allow nails to breathe and can weaken them, making them more prone to splitting.

From realsimple.com