If your nails split, crack or break off before they get long, it may be the sign of a serious medical condition. Nails that are yellow, curled, pitted or opaque may signal a vitamin deficiency or an underlying disease, according MayoClinic.com in the article "Nails: How to Keep Your Fingernails Healthy and Strong." If you and your nails are basically healthy, you can strengthen your nails at home with over-the-counter and home remedies if your doctor approves.
Step 1
Trim your nails with a nail trimmer or nail scissors after taking a bath. Carefully trim nails so they are square, but slightly rounded on top. Trimming the fingernails too short on the edges may make them weak.
Step 2
Moisturize your nails regularly to prevent peeling, cracking and hangnails, says dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D. in "Want Strong, Healthy Nails?" an article in Good Housekeeping. For best results, use a thick, oil-based moisturizer.
Step 3
Paint your nails with an over-the-counter nail hardener, recommends MayoClinic.com. Do not use nail hardeners that contain toluene sulfonamide or formaldehyde, because these ingredients may cause skin irritation.
Step 4
Stop tapping your nails on your desk. Tapping your nails may cause them to grow faster, but it may also weaken the nails, says Richard K. Scher, M.D., head of the Nail Section at Columbia University-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies."
Step 5
Take 2.5mg of biotin once a day. Biotin, which is a vitamin found in cauliflower and other food sources, may help strengthen nails and help them grow more quickly. You can purchase biotin supplements at the drugstore or health food store.
Tips and Warnings
- Use nail polish remover no more than one time a week to keep nails strong.
- Consult a doctor before taking biotin supplements.
Things You'll Need
- Nail trimmer or nail scissors
- Moisturizer
- Nail hardener
- Biotin supplements
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