How to Grow Nails Faster: 15 Effective Home Remedies

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Your cuticle, which is located at the base of each nail, is where your fingernails, which are made of laminated layers of the protein keratin, begin to grow. Healthy fingernails are flat and free of grooves or pits. They lack any stains or degradation and are uniform in colour and consistency.

Smooth and uniform nail colour are characteristics of healthy nails. Vertical ridges may appear as you become older, and your nails may become a little more brittle. This is risk-free. Injury-related spots should heal along with the nail.

Injuries to the fingers and hands, viral warts (periungual warts), infections (onychomycosis), and some drugs, such as those used for chemotherapy, can cause abnormalities such as spots, discolouration, and nail detachment. There are various at-home cures and grooming methods on how to grow your nails faster, which would be discussed in this article. [1, 2]

Nail Growth: Process and Affecting Factors [3]

Though fingernails typically grow at a pace of around a tenth of a millimeter each day, a variety of variables, including the hand they are on, your age, hormone levels, and general health, might influence this rate of growth.

The process of nail growth is a dynamic interplay influenced by various factors. The nail unit, consistently mitotically active, undergoes linear growth from the germinative nail matrix with contributions from the underlying nail bed. Fingernails exhibit an average daily growth rate of 0.1 mm, taking 4-6 months to complete the growth cycle. Conversely, toenails grow approximately 60% slower. Diseases play a pivotal role in altering growth rates. Conditions like yellow nail syndrome, brittle nail syndrome, onychomycosis, and lichen planus lead to slowed growth, while high-flow vascular states, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, and certain skin disorders accelerate it. Examining drug influence on nail growth reveals potential adjunctive therapies for nail diseases, offering insights into managing and understanding the complexities of nail growth dynamics.

How to Grow Nails Faster Naturally at Home

A person’s hands may look better if their fingernails are longer and healthier. They can, however, make a number of daily duties simpler and offer advantages beyond just appearance. They also serve as a handy tool for scratching itch, protecting the fingers, and adding grip when handling objects.

As your nails grow out, the following techniques will help strengthen them and keep them from breaking. So if you are wondering how to grow nails faster, keep on reading: 

1. Consume Dark Green Leafy Vegetables – By aiding in the production of new cells and red blood cells, folate, also known as vitamin B9, is crucial for healthy nail growth. Your nails may change in colour and become hard and brittle due to a folate shortage. Avocados, citrus fruits, beans, peas, lentils, dark green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and citrus fruits all contain folate. [9]

2. Consume Biotin – An essential B vitamin that enables the body to convert food into energy is biotin. Additionally, using it as a supplement to strengthen your hair and nails is strongly advised. Bananas, nuts and nut butter, whole grains, and sunflower seeds are all naturally high in biotin. [4, 5]

3. Take a Protein-Rich Diet – Since protein is a component of nails, some individuals believe that a diet low in protein is harmful to the health of their nails. Select lentils, peanuts, almonds, and dairy items like milk and cheese to add more protein to your diet. [2]

4. Use Tea Tree oil – Tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial qualities in addition to its therapeutic advantages, which may make it a successful therapy for nail fungus. [7]

5. Horsetail Extract – For the treatment of nail psoriasis, a skin ailment that results in deformed nails, horsetail extract may be used in nail polish. [8]

6. Prevent Skin from Getting Dry – Extremely dry skin has a tendency to bleed, split, and expose the nails to bacterial and fungal diseases. During the winter, moisturise hands and nails and use lotion after washing them to prevent dry skin. [1]

7. Cautiously Use Nail Hardeners – Soft nails are more likely to break, necessitating more frequent nail regrowth. Nail hardeners are typically recommended by specialists to those who want to know how to grow nails fast and to avoid nail breakage. [1]

8. Keep Your Nails Dry – The nails may become brittle and fragile as a result of water damage. After a swim or shower, always completely dry your nails. Wearing gloves while cleaning surfaces, clothes, and dishes is a smart idea. [1]

9. Adapt Proper Grooming Habits – To keep the nails from catching and breaking, file them into a somewhat squared or rounded form. Good nail care may deter biting and picking as well. [1]

10. Incorporate a Massaging Routine – Diabetes and other medical problems that restrict blood flow to the nails might weaken them. The toenails are more susceptible than the fingernails to this. However, a light massage can improve blood flow to the nails and counteract the effects of diabetes and other circulatory problems.

11. Avoid Toxic Nail Polishes and Glues – According to research, regular use of glue-on artificial nails might weaken natural nails and increase their susceptibility to breaking. The preferable choice is to use nail paints with minimal to no harmful ingredients. [1]

12. Protect Your Cuticles – The cuticles, which are very little bits of skin, guard the nail matrix. By drastically shortening them, you risk exposing the nail matrix or nail bed. Infection and nail damage could result from this. Instead of trimming the cuticles, people should moisturise them on a regular basis. [1]

13. Take Care When Getting Manicures – Aggressive cuticle-cutting practises, for example, can encourage bacteria to infiltrate the nail bed and damage the nails. To reduce the risk of infection, bring your own tools to the manicure salon or make sure the salon utilises fully sanitised equipment. Manicures should not be painful, so if they start to, ask the technician to stop. [1]

14. Avoid Using bPolish Removers – Acetone polish remover should not be used since it can dry out and damage the nails. Avoid nail polishes that demand the usage of it. [1]

15. Take Care of Medical Disorders – The skin and nails can be impacted by a number of illnesses, including diabetes and thyroid. Anyone suffering from these diseases ought to get medical attention. Following a doctor’s treatment advice could make your skin and nails look better. [6]

FAQs

Disclaimer: This article is written from a health and lifestyle perspective. It is for general information and not meant to substitute any medical advice. Please consult your doctor for appropriate medical consultation.

References:

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/nails/art-20044954
2. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/0315/p1417.html 
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962203032754 
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17763607/ 
5. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Biotin-HealthProfessional/ 
6. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1529-8019.2002.01523.x 
7. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11046-013-9622-7 
8. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adele-Sparavigna/publication/265550215_Effects_of_a_novel_nail_lacquer_based_on_hydroxypropyl_-_chitosan_HPCH_in_subjects_with_fingernail_onychoschizia/links/5411a7870cf264cee28b4b8d/Effects-of-a-novel-nail-lacquer-based-on-hydroxypropyl-chitosan-HPCH-in-subjects-with-fingernail-onychoschizia.pdf 
9. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929045449id_/https://www.qeios.com/read/HMT8LH/pdf