How To Make Your Nails Grow Faster

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You might dream of a beautiful set of healthy, natural fingernails, but you may not be sure how to get your nails to grow fast enough to fulfill your every wish. While you can’t make your nails grow inhumanly fast, there are things you can do to boost nail health and make them grow as fast as possible!

Tips to Make Your Nails Grow Faster

  1. Take a biotin supplement.
  2. Eat foods that are high in vitamin B7.
  3. Avoid getting harsh household cleaners on your nails.
  4. Moisturize your cuticles with cuticle oil.
  5. Try not to bite your nails.
  6. Wear a protective layer of nail polish.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Strengthening Nails through Lifestyle

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  1. Take a daily biotin supplement, which you can find at larger retailers, pharmacies, and health food stores. Regular use of biotin can strengthen your nails and make them less likely to split or break. [1]
    • There is no current safe daily limit for how much biotin you can take. You should still avoid taking large doses unless you’re under the supervision of a doctor.
    • You can also take a collagen supplement to help strengthen your nails. [2]
  2. Biotin is another name for vitamin B7. Incorporate foods into your diet that are high in this vitamin, which may boost the effect of your biotin supplements and make your nails stronger. Include any of the following choices: [3]
    • Barley
    • Corn
    • Egg yolks
    • Milk
    • Soy
    • Avocado
    • Broccoli
    • Cheese
    • Fish, chicken, or pork
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  3. Expose your nails to water only when absolutely necessary, such as when you are showering or washing your hands. Wear gloves when you’re washing dishes, doing chores, or exposing your hands to other liquids. Limiting your nails’ exposure to water can keep them moisturized and minimize the risk that they break. [4]
  4. Limit how much you expose your nails to household cleaners and detergents. Harsh cleansers and chemicals can dry out your nails and protect your hands from strong detergents and other chemicals as you go about your day. [5] Use a non-acetone nail polish remover to get rid of old polish. [6] Acetone can irritate your skin and can destroy your nails. Furthermore, acetone is highly flammable and toxic.
    • Wear rubber gloves when you’re washing the dishes or cleaning.
  5. People who live in areas with mild winters and hot summers have fast-growing nails. Take more vacations in warmer locales such as Florida, the Caribbean, Greece, or Bali if you’re not ready to give up your life in the northern hemisphere for the sake of nail growth.
    • Protect your hands when it's cold outside to keep your nails from getting brittle and give them the chance to grow long.
    • Get plenty of sun, even in the winter, since the sun helps your body create the vitamin D your nails need to grow faster.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Performing Regular Nail Maintenance

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  1. Shape your nails with a nail file regularly. Use a fine-grit file and file each of your nails in one direction once per week. [7] You should also file your nails anytime they break peel or chip. Shape them into an oval, which helps them stay strong. [8]
    • Avoid shaping your nails into points, which makes them more likely to break.
  2. Rub a heavier, oil-based moisturizer onto your nails and cuticles every day. Moisturizing regularly can keep your nails from cracking, peeling, and becoming brittle, which may cause nails to break and appear like they’re not growing. [9]
    • Try a rich moisturizer specifically formulated for hands, nails, and cuticles. You can also get a cuticle oil to moisturize your cuticles and the nail bed. [10]
    • Keep your nails healthy by using cuticle oil to moisturize your cuticles. [11]
  3. Stop biting your nails . Resist the temptation to nibble on your fingernails, even if they are brittle. Leaving your nails alone gives them a chance to grow and can make them appear to get longer faster. Some ways to stop biting your nails include: [12]
    • Clipping broken nails with nail scissors instead of biting them off.
    • Applying a bitter-tasting nail polish to your nails.
    • Replacing nail-biting with a good habit such as playing with a stress ball.
    • Avoiding things that trigger you to bite your nails such as boredom or stress.
  4. Get a simple clear or even colored nail polish. Paint one layer on your nails and reapply as necessary. Putting on a layer of nail polish can provide a protective shield for your nails that strengthens them and prevents breaks. [13]
    • If you wear gel polish, make sure to remove it by soaking your nails in acetone. Don't pick at your nails, as you can damage the surface of your nails. [14]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I get my nails to grow faster and stronger?
    Mia Rubie
    Nail Artist
    Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
    Mia Rubie
    Nail Artist
    Expert Answer
    If you can, get a biweekly manicure done by a professional, or give yourself a manicure at home if you can't. Also, it's really important to moisturize and take care of the overall health of your nails by using cuticle oil. As far as growth, people have found really great results from taking supplements like biotin and collagen.
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      Tips

      • To keep your nails healthy and beautiful, have a manicure done twice a week, either by a professional or at home. [15]
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      • Wearing nail polish to help strengthen your nails, as well as to help you to avoid biting them. Be careful not to bite the polished nail, as it could make you sick.
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        Helpful 54 Not Helpful 9
      • See a dermatologist or your doctor if your nails are consistently thin, weak, and brittle. They may suggest a treatment to strengthen your nails over time.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Get a bowl and put olive oil, salt, and ice cubes in it. Put on a movie and soak your nails in the mixture. Once your movie has ended, take your nails out and dry them. Now make a hand scrub (just add sugar to the mixture) and now you now have beautiful nails. Trust me I've used this method for 10 years!
      • If you are trying to avoid biting your nails, wear nail polish or try nail art. This way, your nails will look beautiful and you'll be less tempted to bite them off. Also, you might be grossed out by the idea of chewing nail polish so that might also contribute.
      • If you lose a corner of your nail, use nail trimmers to cut it off or your nail will grow unevenly. Try repainting your base coat every 2-6 days so they're protected all the time.
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      Warnings

      • Recognize that diet, painting garlic on your nails, and selenium supplements won’t help your nails grow faster. [16]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/can-you-make-fingernails-grow-faster#1
      2. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/vitamins/vitamin-b7/
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      5. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      6. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      7. ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/best-nail-tips-how-to-grow-out-your-nails
      8. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      9. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      1. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      2. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/nail-care/nail-biting
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/tips/a12807/strong-healthy-nails-aug05/
      5. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      6. ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
      7. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/can-you-make-fingernails-grow-faster#1

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      The quickest way to boost nail growth is to take a biotin supplement. Prevent nail breakage by shaping them into ovals with a nail file. If your nails feel brittle, try moisturizing your nails and cuticles with an oil-based moisturizer daily, or apply 1 clear coat of nail polish in order to protect them. For more tips, including how to keep your nails healthy while you wash dishes or do household chores, read on!

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