Want To Grow Long, Natural Nails? Follow These 5 Tips
The ultimate guide to taking care of your nails at home.
Admit it: now that it’s fall, your nails are becoming dry and brittle. That cool, dry weather can be harsh, right? But no worries, sis! Here are some tips for getting your nails longer and healthier than ever before.
5 Tips For Growing Long Nails:
1. Ditch the acrylic, sis
Acrylic nails might look amazing, but they can be tough on your wallet—and your nails. Many risks are associated with acrylics, including contact dermatitis, weak nails, and onycholysis (that’s when your nail separates from the nail bed—gross, right?).
Plus, removing acrylics with acetone can dry out your nails, irritate your skin, and crack your cuticles. Instead, give your nails a break by skipping the salon for a while. During the colder months, try filing your nails into a round or square shape to help prevent breakage, and finish with a fresh coat of regular polish.
2. Watch What You Eat
How many times do we have to tell you, babe? You are what you eat! Your diet plays a huge role in the look and strength of your nails. Be sure you’re getting enough vitamins, minerals, and water each day to promote long, healthy nails.
3. Get Moist With Cuticle Oil
(Sorry if you hate the word moist). But just like any other body oil, cuticle oil helps keep your cuticles—the thin layer at the base of your nails—moisturized. During the colder months, our hands can become drier than ever, making cuticle oil essential for preventing chapped cuticles. I highly recommend Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil or the Le Mini Macaron Cuticle Oil because they’re lightweight, nourishing, and cost-efficient.
Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil
Le Mini Macaron Cuticle Oil
4. Wear gloves while you clean
Call me extra, but I’ve got to wear gloves while cleaning. I noticed that after doing household chores with my bare hands, my nails became dry and stripped. So, to protect my nails from irritation and potential infections while cleaning, I always wear thick rubber gloves.
5. Upgrade Your Nail Routine
Every fabulous set of nails deserves an equally fabulous treatment, and the perfect duo is a hand mask paired with a nail strengthener. The hand mask provides intense moisture to combat dryness, while the nail strengthener is infused with vitamins to help your nails grow stronger.
Just be sure to let the nail strengthener dry completely before applying the hand mask! I recommend the Aveeno Repairing Hand Mask and ella+mila First Aid Kiss Nail Strengthener. If you want to save money, try making a DIY hand mask.
Aveeno Skin Relief Repairing Hand Mask
ella+mila First Aid Kiss Nail Strengthener
With these five tips, you’ll confidently say, 'These are my real nails!' every time someone compliments you.