Many people struggle with nail weaknesses, which can be extremely frustrating and even painful when they break. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to naturally strengthen your nails to help them become stronger and longer. From coconut oil to wearing gloves, try to incorporate these things into your routine and you should begin to notice you have naturally stronger nails!
Reduce Water Exposure
Your nails become more brittle when they are exposed to water for a long period of time, so you should avoid it where possible. The minerals in water can actually cause the nails and nail beds to become much more brittle than usual and stunt the growth of the nails. When you’re in the bath, try to keep your hands out of the water and when you are washing up or cleaning, wear gloves.
After you have washed your hands, try to get into the habit of applying hand cream, as well as after having a bath or shower. This will help to keep your nails hydrated! Opt for natural hand creams that aren’t made with fragrances or perfumes to prevent any harm.
Eat A Nutrient Dense Diet
Eating a balanced diet is important for most bodily functions, however it can also encourage the growth of strong and healthy nails. Aim to eat a range of colourful fruit and vegetables, with a particular focus on foods containing vitamin D and biotin.
Vitamin D can be found in oily fish, red meats, egg yolks and some fortified foods, however for many people who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet, vitamin D tablets are a more convenient option. Biotin can be found in a wider range of foods, including meats, eggs, seafood, beans, nuts and seeds. You are likely to access enough biotin through a varied diet alone, whereas vitamin D supplementation is likely to be needed for many people.
Avoid Damaging Nail Treatments
Although acrylic and gel nails might look beautiful and last long, they can be very damaging. Both treatments can cause extreme nail bitterness and breakage, caused by the extensive filing, damaging toxic products and harsh removal techniques. Plus, the nails are constantly suffocated by products, which causes dehydration.
Instead, use ordinary nail varnish if you want to and more gentle nail varnish removers. Give your nails a good break every so often without any nail varnish and use nail strengthening varnishes. If you do want to have nail treatments, make sure it isn’t very often and give them lots of care in between them.
Keep Nails Relatively Short
It is advised that you keep your nails relatively short as that is the easiest way to keep them clean and to prevent the spread of infection. However, it is also a great way to keep nails naturally strong. Just like with your hair, regular trims of your nails will help to keep them healthy.
Longer nails are likely to get caught on things and bend, which makes them more prone to breakage over time. Keeping your nails at a relatively short length is a simple way to keep them as healthy and strong as possible!
Use Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has a range of different beauty benefits, such as helping your skin to glow, yet it also helps to keep the nails nice and strong! It can strengthen the nails, prevent ridges and help damaged cuticles. This is because coconut oil has strong moisturising effects.
Massage coconut oil onto your nails and cuticles and leave it overnight for the best results! Repeat this every night if possible and it is worth investing in moisture gloves. If you put these gloves on after you have applied the coconut oil, it will prevent it from being rubbed onto bed sheets so your nails will get maximum benefit! You could also apply hand cream before putting the gloves on to wake up with wonderfully soft hands.
Wear Gloves When Cleaning
The products we use to clean contain dangerous concoctions of chemicals that can be extremely damaging to our nails. Our nails and cuticles are very sensitive, so protecting them when cleaning is essential. Something as simple as wearing rubber gloves can make a huge difference to the strength of your nails over time.
Avoid Filing Surface of Nail
Filing your nails carefully can help to keep them healthy, however when done incorrectly, it can cause damage and weaken nails. It may be tempting to file the surface of the nail, but this specifically weakens the nails significantly.
Many people say that you need to file the surface of your nail in order for polish, particularly gel polish, to last for a long time. However, this isn’t always the case. Having clean and dry nails is all you need in order to achieve a beautiful manicure!
Use A Glass Nail File
Glass nail files are a healthy alternative to harsh and abrasive nail files. Not only do they last much longer and are more eco friendly, but they are much less rough, meaning you can file your nails safely without causing much damage. Emery boards actually tear the nail in order to file it, whereas the glass nail files simply glide over the tip of the nail and seals it.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! Plenty of different things you can try to naturally strengthen your nails. Most of these things will be easy to do with the things you already have in your home, and once you start to incorporate them into your routine, it will become second nature. People often neglect their nails, yet with a bit of care and attention, you will notice they can become much stronger and healthier over time.
The best place to start is avoiding damaging treatments. For 6 months, take a break from acrylics or gel nail treatments and you will notice a complete transformation in your nails! It takes 6 months for your nails to completely grow out, so any damage will be gone. Alongside a few of these other tips, you will have long, healthy and strong nails that look naturally beautiful.
