Our nails are how we can draw attention to our hands, and our hands are one of the most sensual parts of our bodies. Caring for your nails is important, as, without care, they can become brittle and discoloured. As the nail is made of layers of keratin, a hard protein, our fingernails are also a useful barometer of our health, clearly indicating our physical wellbeing. A healthy nail should be smooth and hard, free of dents or grooves, and have a consistent colour.
It might be that your nails grow slower than they should or grow uneven. If this is the case, several remedies can help.
You’ll also like this:
We Tested La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum For Glowing Skin
The Best Hair & Beauty Looks From Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2022
The Best 12 Clean Mascaras that Actually Work
Biotin
Taking biotin may help your nails to grow quicker and more evenly. Biotin is a type of B vitamin that aids your body in turning food into energy, and it is a supplement that helps the proteins in both your hair and nails. A dose of 2.5mg of biotin has been proven in scientific studies to positively impact nail growth.
Rather than take a supplement, you can source this biotin in your diet by eating cooked eggs, sardines, nuts and nut butter, whole grains, soy and other beans, cauliflower, and bananas.
Only use nail hardeners occasionally
Using a nail hardener is the easiest route to strengthening your nails, so they have a chance to grow. These hardeners are brushed onto the nail and stop splitting and brittle nails, and the hardener is later removed with nail polish.
While a useful short-term solution to splitting nails, studies suggest that overuse of nail hardeners can lead to nails becoming weaker and more prone to breakage over time.
Wisely buy polishes and don’t glue on nails
When we treat our nails badly, they respond quickly, showing signs of ill health. Therefore, gluing on artificial nails will weaken your nails and make them more prone to breaking. If you want your nails to look as beautiful as these artificial nails, you will need to show patience and care to the keratin layers and give them a chance to thrive.
Using nail polish is a better option, though you don’t want to use any with toxic chemicals. Avoid nail polishes with chemicals such as toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Instead, you should look for water-based formulations that are toxin-free. You may need to pay more for these formulations, but you will save money on nail treatments in the future.
Groom regularly
Practising good grooming is a great way to boost nail strength and encourage better growth. You can maintain your nails by keeping them dry and clean, which will prevent bacteria from growing. When cutting your nails, use sharp manicure scissors or clippers to trim them to keep them neat. Cut straight across the nails and use rounded manicure scissors to create the curve.
You will also want to moisturise your hands and nails with a lotion, making a special effort to rub these in your fingernails. You should look to massage the base of the cuticles, giving it special attention.
Avoid nail-biting or cutting nails too short
Nail-biting and nibbling at the side of your fingers are obviously key to helping your nails grow. It is a habit that is difficult to break but an essential one if you want strong and long nails. There are products you can paint on your nails to put you off from chewing on them. However, more likely, you will have to work out what triggers you towards nail-biting.
Also, it is important to not cut the nails too short. Obviously, cutting nails is counter to growth. However, some trimming is good, if it is nipping off the ends to help the edge of the nails to say healthy.
Be aware of your wider health
While there are beauty products to enhance your nails, remember your nail health reflects your general health. Therefore, paying attention to the changes in colour, thickness, dents, etc. It could be a lack of nutrients in your system or dehydration. Therefore, if there is some deficiency in your body, you will need to counter this with the right food and water drinking.
Summary
Nails are an important part of our hands and are visible to the world. Healthy nails look beautiful, and we all strive to groom these to show our care for our appearance. Therefore, using the right routines and products will help you promote nail growth. It also takes a little bit of patience too; your nails only grow 2.5 mm per month.
You’ll also like this:
Do You Really Need A Face Toner? Here’s What A Beauty Expert Say
Leave a Comment