How to Grow Strong Fingernails

About Brittle Nails

Women often come to see me for advice about their weak fingernails -- soft, brittle, thin nails that tear and split easily. Usually they are otherwise healthy, but they have nails like paper.

Brittle nails is a common condition that affects both men and women, though it is much more common in women. When you have thin, brittle nails, it is hard to grow them long because they often break, sometimes even exposing the painful nail beds. For people with this condition it is often impossible to even pop open a soda can without breaking a nail.

Unfortunately the strength and thickness of your nails is mostly hereditary, so don't blame yourself. Fortunately there are some things you can do to have stronger and more attractive nails.

Strengthening Your Nails

Take 2.5 mg (2,500 mcg) of biotin a day. Biotin (vitamin B7) can increase the thickness of your nails, making them more resistant to tearing. In addition to supplements, biotin is found in many foods including egg yolks, yeast and wheat bran. Interestingly, raw egg whites contain avidin, a protein that binds strongly to biotin and prevents its absorption; so eating raw eggs is not a good way to strengthen your nails (sorry, Rocky). Remember, it takes six months for your fingernails to grow out, so the results of taking the biotin today won't be apparent for months.

Cut your nails rather than file them. Filing always weakens the nails. If you must file them, then do so in one direction only and use a fine grit nail file, never coarse. The nail should be only slightly rounded, not filed to a point.

Apply a nail hardener. Although they won't actually change your nails, they can protect them from tearing.

Keep nail polish on for at least two weeks before removing. Using nail polish remover, especially those containing acetone, dry out your nails, making them more brittle and subject to breaking. Try touching up chips with more polish instead. When you do change your nail polish, remove it at night, wash your nails with warm water, then immediately apply a moisturizer to lock the moisture in the nail. Leave them overnight, then apply your new coat of polish the next morning.

Treat your nails well. Never bite them or use them as a tool. And please don't push back or cut the cuticles. They are there to protect the base of your nail; when it is removed, bacteria and other organisms can enter, leading to infection.