Growing long, beautiful fingernails can be somewhat of a challenge for women. Women are constantly using their hands to do dishes, fold laundry, clean house, garden and bathe. Your nails say a lot about your personal style and are often looked at when meeting or greeting other people. Of course you want to make a good impression and possibly even show off your pretty nails; after all, you worked hard to grow them and took the time to make sure they were well manicured. There are simple steps that you can take to make sure your nails are long, healthy and strong.
Step 1
Eat a healthy diet. According to InsidersHealth.com, vitamin A encourages nail growth and prevents dry, brittle fingernails. Good sources of vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, egg yolks and liver. Other vitamins such as B-complex, C, D, and E along with calcium and zinc will also help grow strong, healthy nails according to InsidersHealth.com. If it's not possible to eat a healthy diet, or get your daily dose of vitamins, opt for a multivitamin that includes all of your vitamins.
Step 2
Use other tools to do daily tasks such as dialing a phone or scrubbing dishes. You can use an ink pen to dial a phone or a foaming scrub brush to clean dishes. Avoid picking, scraping and scratching items with your fingernails. This can wear down your nail, causing them to break or become brittle.
Step 3
Soften your cuticles before pushing them back. According to HealthGuidance.org, cuticles should not be clipped or trimmed unless they are growing over your nail bed. Cuticles protect bacteria from entering your skin but if they become overgrown, they can impede nail growth.
Step 4
Clean under your fingernails regularly and trim them as needed. HealthGuidance.org recommends using manicure scissors along with a fingernail file to keep nails shaped and smooth.
Step 5
Apply a moisturizer to your nails. HealthGuidance.org states that fingernails need moisture just like the rest of your body. Applying a lotion to your fingernails keeps them from becoming dried and damaged.
Step 6
Polish your fingernails with nail polish. By adding a coat of nail polish to your nails, it helps protect the surface layer of your nail and keeps you more aware of what you do with your hands, according to HealthGuidance.org. Chips in your fingernails are also easier to spot when you notice part of the color missing.
Tips and Warnings
- Trim your cuticles after your bath to help soften them or after soaking them in bath oil for approximately 15 minutes. Use a growth formula or nail strengthener to help protect your nails and to promote healthier, stronger nail growth.
- Do not use acetone to remove nail polish. This causes your nails to dry out which can lead to brittle nails that break easily. Hang nails are living skin tissue, do not rip or pull them off. Instead, clip the hang nail with manicure scissors at an outward angle.
Things You'll Need
- Multivitamin
- Foaming scrub brush or ink pen
- Water
- Manicure scissors
- Nail file
- Lotion
- Nail polish
- Bath oil
- Growth formula
- Nail strengthener
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