Long nails are the ultimate beauty goal, yet growing them naturally takes patience and care to avoid brittleness, breakage, and other factors that impede progress. 

Remember that certain health conditions can impede nail strength, such as protein deficiency (which can be corrected by eating foods rich in keratin, like eggs, salmon, avocados and nuts). Follow our expert tips for healthier nails. 

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is an easy and affordable way to brighten and whiten nails. The alpha-hydroxy acids in citrus fruits and vegetables are natural bleaches to lighten yellow stains caused by overly pigmented nail polishes or the build-up from past manicures and pedicures.

Lemon juice can help brighten and whiten nails by soaking fingertips in lemon juice for 10 minutes daily as a simple home treatment to brighten and whiten the surrounding skin. Incorporating this method with olive or coconut oil provides a sweet-scented and hydrating mixture perfect for nail health.

Protein can help your nails grow stronger and longer, as can eating foods like fish, eggs, beans, and nuts. If these types of food don’t appeal to you, try supplementing with amino acid keratin-containing proteins that will strengthen and grow faster.

Women with beautiful, long nails often use garlic cloves cut in half to rub on their fingertips and cuticles regularlyregularly to promote fast nail growth due to selenium’s power; this may be true as scientific evidence does not support such claims.

Olive Oil

Strengthening and hardening products that can be applied, like polish or base coat and cuticle oil treatments containing ingredients like lavender, lemon juice and Biotin, are also available to help create stronger nails.

TikTok users have taken to soaking their fingernails in olive oil to promote longer and stronger nail growth. @parabellbeauty’s video, which has over one million views, shows her pouring some tablespoons of olive oil mixed with fresh lemon juice into a glass bowl before soaking her nails for 10 minutes each week for two weeks in this solution.

She explains that vitamin C helps lighten and brighten nails. At the same time, the fatty acids keep them hydrated, so for maximum effect, “it is best to apply the oils before bed so they can penetrate both nails and skin fully,” according to the video.

Though research on this subject remains scarce, experts note that eating plenty of protein is essential to maintaining healthy nails, so this DIY treatment could work in conjunction with other strategies for strengthening them, such as eating more fish and leafy greens, using hand sanitiser sparingly (the alcohol content can dry out nails), and building an at-home manicure kit such as Lavender Rose Hand Salve for maximum hydration. You could even add natural biotin supplements into your routine, increasing your nail growth rate.

As a rule of thumb, olive oils that have undergone less processing are better for your nails as they will retain more beneficial properties. Our favourite choice is organic extra virgin olive oil, which boasts vitamins E and A, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants to promote nail strength and hydration.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can strengthen nails by encouraging collagen, an essential protein in our skin, hair and nails. Citrus fruits, bell peppers, kale and broccoli all contain this nutrient, which, without it in your diet, can lead to dry and brittle nails that are more prone to breakage.

Vitamin E is another essential nutrient that supports nail growth. It is found in nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables such as avocados. Vitamin E helps safeguard cuticle health while protecting it against damage to prevent nail breakage and ensure unimpeded growth.

Omega-3 fatty acids can also provide your nails with much-needed nutrition. Try including fish, flaxseeds or walnuts in your diet as sources of Omega-3s; otherwise, the best way to ensure nail health is eating a well-rounded diet filled with vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. Taking daily multivitamins may also prove useful.

Dehydration is one of the primary causes of weak, brittle nails. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and apply cuticle oil (we suggest the OPI Prospa Nail & Cuticle Oil) regularly to combat it. Also, massage your fingertips and nails with extra coconut oil every evening before bed.

If your nails have become weak and brittle, now is the time to take steps toward strengthening them! Follow these simple steps for healthier nails quickly!

Calcium

Nails can reveal much about your overall health, not only because they look nice; their condition can reveal various issues ranging from nutritional deficiencies to chronic illnesses. So, if your nails appear weak, brittle, or slow-growing, it may be worth adding key vitamins into your diet to support their well-being.

Calcium is an essential element for nail growth. Without enough of this mineral in your diet, nails may become weak and break easily, so be sure you are getting plenty of this nutrient from dairy products, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, or fish!

Vitamin E is another essential nutrient for nail growth, helping your nails resist damage and remain strong. You can get plenty of Vitamin E by eating avocados, sunflower seeds, spinach, and nuts or by taking supplements if your diet alone cannot meet your needs.

Iron is another essential nutrient for nail growth, as it’s needed to produce the protein keratin. If your nails have become dry and brittle, visiting a physician to see whether you have an iron deficiency might help determine their health and growth.

Massage your nails and cuticles regularly with nourishing oils such as coconut or olive oil to strengthen them. Also, remember to trim your nails using a gentle nail file rather than an emery board.

Biotin

Biotin (also referred to as Vitamin H or B7) is a water-soluble B vitamin and coenzyme that aids the body in processing glucose, fats and proteins, helping strengthen nails as it does so. Naturally found in eggs, nuts, leafy greens, whole grains, and beans, as well as supplements available, Biotin can supplement and support healthy nail growth.

Biotin is an integral component of keratin, the protein responsible for nail structure. When taken orally, Biotin helps increase the production of this crucial compound and leads to stronger, healthier nails that are less likely to break. Furthermore, Biotin may also help reduce the yellowing of nails and help those suffering from peeling or splitting nails to bolster them up more quickly.

Assuming you’re taking all the right vitamins and practicing sound nail care habits can help your nails grow stronger and longer, it is still wise to visit your physician to assess whether any health conditions are causing weak or damaged nails, such as anemia, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, or Raynaud’s syndrome (a circulatory disorder).

Your nails can benefit from several practices to make them stronger and healthier, including using antifungal nail polish to combat fungal infections and massaging them to increase blood flow in that area. Also important is avoiding harsh chemicals that could damage or slow their growth, and wearing rubber gloves while cleaning and doing dishes to ensure your nails don’t absorb excess liquid or detergents from cleaning agents or detergents.