For many women, fingernails are more than a way to scratch an itch--they are a symbol of good health and beauty. If your nails are short, brittle or unattractive, you may feel like hiding your hands. While you may never have the perfect manicure of a hand model, you can still have a great set of nails.
Step 1
Apply a moisturizer to your nails. According to dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Benabio, choosing a moisturizer that contains urea will help trap moisture and prevent brittle nails.
Step 2
Increase your biotin intake. The Mayo Clinic says that taking 2.5mg of biotin per day may make your nails thicker. You can also increase your consumption of biotin-rich foods. Egg yolks, milk, fish, peanut butter and soybeans all contain biotin.
Step 3
Supplement with calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamins A and B, and protein, according to Columbia University Health Services. Deficiencies in diet can cause nails to chip and appear dry and brittle.
Step 4
Restrict your use of nail polish remover. Nail polish remover can dry out the nail.
Step 5
Apply nail polish to your nail. Nail polish traps moisture in the nail.
Step 6
Wear gloves to clean your house. Detergents can wreak havoc on the nail, causing nails to split and crack.
Step 7
Wash your hands only when necessary. Frequent hand washing causes nails to dry out. Dry nails are inflexible and split at the tip.
Step 8
Treat your nails with care. Don't use fingernails as tools to open soda cans or pick at things.
Step 9
Keep your fingers out of your mouth. Biting your nails is not only a bad habit; it can injure the nail bed and spread disease between the fingers and the mouth.
Step 10
Use a nail hardener. Apply the hardener under and over your regular nail polish.
Tips and Warnings
- Trim nails straight across and then round the edges of the nail slightly. Maintaining this shape will help keep your nails strong.
- According to the American Academy of Dermatology, discolored fingernails may indicate diabetes, anemia, or heart, liver, lung or kidney disease. If your nails or nail beds appear yellow, pink, white, red or unnaturally pale, consult a physician.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology: Nail Fungus and Nail Health
- The Dermatology Blog: Weak, Split, Torn, Brittle, Frustrating Fingernails
- The Mayo Clinic: Adult Health: Nails: How to Keep Your Fingernails Healthy and Strong
- Go Ask Alice: Columbia University: Fingernails Fray and Chip All the Time
- Health Guidance: Tips on How to Grow Long, Healhy Nails
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