How to Grow Long, Strong Nails

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 Approved

Growing long and strong nails is a multi-step process. As long as you take good care of your nails, you can grow them to the length you desire. You need to start by making sure you stop bad nail habits. After that, taking appropriate vitamins and manicuring properly will help you grow long, strong nails.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Stopping Bad Habits

1
Stop biting your nails. Biting your nails is detrimental to your health. Although a regular nervous habit for many, it can cause bacterial skin infections on your hands and in your mouth. If you have dry or loose skin around your nail beds, make sure to clip them away rather than biting them off.
- Try keeping your nails neatly polished or add nail art, so you’ll be less apt to biting.
- Chew gum when you’re bored. If you don't have access to gum, play with a small ball, coin, etc.
- Don't bite the skin around your nails. You may convince yourself that by only biting the skin around your nails, you're not actually harming the nail. This is false and will only cause your nails to weaken through the added moisture from saliva and make your nails prone to breaking.
- Choose one nail a week that you won’t bite. Gradually add more “no-bite” nails to wean yourself off of the habit.
- Consider talking to a therapist about anxiety, or something else that may be causing you to bite your nails, if your nail biting is severe.
2
Stop wearing acrylics and gels. Rushed removal of acrylic or gel nails leaves your nails dry, brittle, and unlikely to grow. Even proper removal can damage your nails because it occurs with soaked nail-beds. When your nail beds are wet, they are most sensitive.^{[1]
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- If you wish to get gel or acrylic manicures, try alternating. Get a traditional manicure between your gel or acrylic manicure.
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3
Stop picking at your chipped polish. Picking at your polish often removes the top layer of your nail bed. This forms a weak base for your nails.^{[2]
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4
Stop skipping base coats and top coats. It is easy to skip base coats or top coats when you’re in a hurry and want your polish to dry fast. However, when you skip these, you’re damaging your nail. They protect your nails from staining; plus, they help the polish adhere to your nails, so that it chips less. If it chips less, you’re less likely to pick at it and further damage your nails.
- Carry pre-moistened nail polish remover packets in your purse for quick removal when your nails start to chip. This way, you won’t have to worry about picking at your nails.
5
Stop using your nails as tools. Peeling labels, scrapping glue, or unfastening a key ring are all things that can easily damage or break your nails. You might not even realize you’re doing it, but if you want to grow strong nails, you need to start to notice. Also try to keep your nails out of water for too long. This can soften the nail and make it weak and flexible.
- The best way to stop this is to slow down. Have scissors available, or another tool, to help you open, scrape, or peel anything you need during the day. Avoid doing activities that will cause your nail to bend. Keep clear nail polish on nails to avoid biting your nails.
EXPERT TIP

Lindsay Yoshitomi
Nail Artist
Lindsay Yoshitomi is the nail artist behind the blog, Lacquered Lawyer. She was featured as one of Nail It! magazine’s “Bloggers You Should Know,” and has been on the cover of Nail Art Gallery Magazine. She has been practicing nail art for over 15 years.

Lindsay Yoshitomi
Nail Artist

Our Expert Agrees: Avoid putting stress on your nails that can lead to breakage. For instance, if you pick off gel nail polish instead of soaking your nails, you're also removing some of the top layers of the nail, which weakens it.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Getting Proper Vitamins

1
Get plenty of Vitamin H (biotin). Biotin promotes the growth and strength of nails, hair, and skin. Aim to consume between 30 and 40 micrograms per day either through food or supplements. Whole grains, mushrooms, bananas, salmon, and avocado are all great sources of biotin.^{[3]
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2
Eat foods with folic acid. Folic acid, or Vitamin B9, helps prevent damage to your nerve cells and keeps red blood cells healthy. It is the best vitamin for nail growth, and it is impossible to intake to much because your body naturally excretes the excess. Fish, red meat, cheese, and fortified soy products are high in folic acid.
3
Consume Vitamin A. Vitamin A is going to help the strengthening of your nails. The daily recommended dose is between 700 and 900 micrograms a day. Sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, and leafy greens are rich in Vitamin A.^{[4]
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Mayo Clinic
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4
Get plenty of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is most commonly known for aiding in immune health. This means that it helps recovery inside the body. This recovery helps promote nail growth and gives them strength. Oranges, kale, strawberries, and bell peppers are high in Vitamin C.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Manicuring Properly

1
Shape and care for your base. In order to grow you nails long and strong, you need to start with a proper base. This means you need clean and healthy nails to begin with. File them into shape and keep your cuticles trimmed.
- File them properly. Start from the outside edge and file toward the center. Going back and forth in a repetitive motion will weaken your nails.
- Choose the right nail shape to promote growth. A basic round shape is easier to grow out. If you shape a square nail, you’re more likely to use it as a tool.
2
Care properly for your cuticles. Soak your nails in warm water for 5 minutes to loosen your cuticles. Do this up to 4 times a week. In order to get rid off the dead cuticle skin, put a cuticle remover on your nails and use a cuticle stick to push the dead skin back. Rinse off the remover and debris (Recommended to do once a month).
- For added cuticle health, put hyaluronic acid on and around your cuticles after pushing them back.
- Keep them moisturized. Applying moisturizer around your cuticles will prevent hangnails and broken nails.
3
Apply strengthening treatments. Several strengthening treatments exist. Once you’ve shaped a proper base and correctly cared for your cuticles, apply the one that fits your budget and schedule.^{[5]
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- Serums are expensive but often produce the fastest and best results in strengthening nails.
- Creams are perfect for everyday use. You can buy intensive protein treatments in the form of a cream that you put on your nails in the morning and before falling asleep at night.
- Strengthening polish will help keep your nails from chipping. It is very affordable and easy to use.
- Use base or top coats, and nail hardeners to keep your nails protected.
- Keep in mind that with nail hardeners or anything similar, your nails have a better chance to snap or crack, which can be painful.
- Jojoba oil is an oil that you can also use on your nails to make them more flexible, so rather than your nails snapping, they will bend.

Expert Q&A

Question

What makes my fingernails weak?

Ritu Thakur, MA
Natural Health Care Professional
Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant in Delhi, India, with over 10 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.

Ritu Thakur, MA

Natural Health Care Professional

Expert Answer

Using gel or acrylic nail polish can make your nails feel more brittle. You can also weaken them by keeping them submerged in water or exposed to dish soap.
Question

Can a healthy diet and supplements help with dry and brittle nails?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Yes, taking biotin orally can be helpful. Taking an oral silicone supplement can also help strengthen your nails. Make sure you're eating enough protein as well. Nails are made out of a molecule called keratin, which is a protein, so it's important that you're getting enough protein in your diet.