How to Grow Really Long Fingernails

Long fingernails are a sexy and a symbol of class, but artificial nails wouldn't be so popular if growing long fingernails naturally was easy. While growing your nails will take time, care and patience, it is possible to grow a beautiful set of natural nails, saving yourself a bundle at the salon.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Gloves
• Cuticle cream
• Soft bristled brush
• Small scissors
• Moisturizer

1. Protect your nails by not using them as tools. When opening soda cans, dialing a phone or performing other activities where you might normally use your nails, get creative and use other objects, such as a pen or butter knife, or even turn your fingers and use the pad instead of the nail.
2. Use gloves whenever you are working with water or detergents to keep your nails dry and prevent damage from chemicals.
3. Watch your habits closely and avoid biting your nails or cuticles, tapping your nails on surfaces or using your fingernails to remove food from your teeth. This may all seem obvious, but some actions are so habitual you may not even realize you do them. To grow really long fingernails, you will have to become aware of these little actions.
4. Keep your cuticles healthy as they create a bacterial barrier essential for nail health. Don't cut your cuticles, instead, use cuticle cream regularly. When cuticles seem overgrown, soak your hands for 5 minutes in warm water and then use a soft bristled brush to gently remove dead cells.
5. Clean underneath your nails regularly and never bite off hangnails, instead, clip them with a small pair of scissors. When filing your nails, move the emery board in the same direction across the nail to prevent splitting.
6. Take extra care with brittle nails, trimming them after you have soaked your hands in warm water for 5 minutes or after bathing. While particularly important with brittle nails, anyone trying to grow really long fingernails should use hand moisturizer regularly to help prevent chipping.
7. Color your nails at your own risk. While some people believe that painting your nails helps you to increase your awareness of then, and therefore take more care in your daily activities, polish starves the nails of the oxygen they need to grow strong and long.