People see your face first, but that doesn’t mean your nails aren’t an important to first impressions. Beautiful nails should be healthy and polished.
One of the best ways to make your nails look cleaner and prettier is to grow them long. They shouldn’t be so long that they get in the way of your lifestyle, but growing them long enough for a pretty French tip will keep your fingernails and hands looking beautiful.
1. Take Care of Them
Take good care of your nails. Don’t bite them and be careful not to break them while they grow. Don’t push the cuticle back because this can promote infections in the nail bed. Keep your fingernails clean.
Wash them with a soft brush underneath to remove all dirt. Do not trim them with clippers or scissors.
Use a nail file and pull it always in one direction instead of back and forth. This will keep your nails neat and prevent splitting or jagged edges.
2. Treat Them Gently
If you have a job where you are outside working with your hands, you may be damaging your fingernails. Instead of quitting your job or giving up gardening, always wear gloves whenever you can.
If you don’t have a job that directly affects your hands on a regular basis, that’s no reason to slack off. Always treat your nails gently. Don’t use them to open up cans or scrape dirt and debris from surfaces.
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3. Don’t Bite Your Nails
Do you have a habit of biting your nails? Not only are you biting away any progress you make, but your nails will look jagged and unhealthy.
If you’re a regular nail-biter, it can be hard to break the habit. Try covering your fingertips with band aids. If it takes 21 days to form a habit, it should take about 21 days to break it.
4. Wear Strengthening Nail Polish
Protecting your nails as they grow is important, especially if your nails tend to be weak. Use a nail strengthening nail polish to keep them strong and prevent breakage.
Reapply the nail polish as they grow to protect the new growth. Ordinary nail polish is okay to use as a substitute, but strengthening polish is better if you can get it.
5. Take Biotin
If you have brittle nails, it doesn’t matter how fast they grow. They will break anyway. Biotin is a B vitamin that is proven to help strengthen brittle nails.
If you don’t already take a multivitamin, add one to your morning routine. Make sure it has a large amount of biotin. Another option is to add biotin separately as a supplement. Consider taking a B complex that includes all B vitamins.
If you are lacking biotin, you might be lacking other important B vitamins, too. Make sure you consult your doctor before taking any supplement.
6. Take Gelatin
Gelatin is another supplement that can help strengthen your nails and improve growth. It is a necessary building block to growing strong nails.
You can eat more Jello or make your own recipes made from powdered gelatin. Gelatin can also be taken in a capsule. Again, consult your doctor first.
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7. Increase Blood Circulation
Your fingernails will grow longer faster if there is enough blood flow to your hands. If you get cold hands often, you might have an issue with circulation. Exercise is a great way to increase blood circulation.
Take a 30 minute walk 5 times a week. Make sure your blood pressure is in a healthy range. Reduce your intake of salt, and drink plenty of water.
More: 5 Exercises for People who Hate Exercise
8. Moisturize Your Cuticles
Dry, cracked cuticles will not promote long, healthy nails. Moisturize your skin and cuticles regularly to make sure they are soft and healthy.
Avocado oil works great as a cuticle moisturizer. It is light and not overly greasy, but it will soften the cuticles in a short amount of time and keep them healthy.
9. Eat Enough Protein
Your nails are made from protein. If you don’t get enough protein and amino acids in your diet, you won’t have strong, long nails.
Get plenty of healthy protein from chicken, fish, nuts, and seeds. If possible, eat organic, free range chicken that will support healthy nail growth the most.
10. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
You could take all the biotin and gelatin you want, but if you don’t have a healthy, well-balanced diet, your nails won’t grow into the strongest, longest nails possible. Vegetables should make up the majority of your diet.
Eat plenty of raw vegetables and salad to promote healthy digestion to ensure your body is absorbing plenty of the right nutrients. Eat fruits that are high in antioxidants, and eat lots of healthy fats with omega-3 s such as coconut oil, grass fed butter, and olive oil.
Growing long nails fast requires a healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, and special care to your nails. Use these 10 tips everyday to grow beautiful nails. Hopefully, they will help you.1