How to Get Your Nails To Grow Long and Strong

Summertime is the best time to show off long healthy nails. Natural seems to be the way to go with just a few coats of clear nail polish. But what do you do if your nails are dry and brittle or break easily and just won't grow? Here are some tips for getting beautiful nails that grow strong, healthy, and amazing.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Using non-acetone nail polish remover with vitamins, gently remove old nail polish from nails. Non-acetone remover is gentler on nails and skin, yet still removes nail polish well. Using a nail polish remover with vitamins will help to strengthen nails also. If nail polish is tough to get off or is very dark and has stained nails, pour a little bit of nail polish remover in a small cup and soak nails for about 5-10 minutes then wipe off. This should work to get nail polish off easily.

2. 
    

   Start by soaking nails in a bowl of lukewarm water and lemon juice. Fill a normal size cereal bowl 3/4 of the way full of water and add a tbsp of lemon juice. Soak hands for about 15-20 minutes. The lemon juice gets rid of stains and discoloration on nails, yet is gentle to your skin. When you are finished, wash hands under cool water with a mild soap and towel dry. Hint: the cool water works to harden nails again as warm water softens them. Using a cuticle stick, push back cuticles gently to expose more of the nail.

3. 
    

   File nails carefully with a two-sided nail file to round them off nicely. Be sure to only file nails with upward strokes and in one direction. Filing nails in different directions makes them weak and they could peel. By using the same upward direction on each side of the nail, you are filing with the growth of the nail and not against it. Finish by lightly rounding each nail off at the top. Rinse hands in cool water to cleanse off any nail dust from nails. Towel dry.

4. 
    

   Paint nails with a clear coat of Sally Hansen Hard As Nails nail polish. I live by Sally Hansen Hard As Nails. Whenever I put it on my nails, it lasts awhile and makes my nails grow long in about a week or two. It's a miracle nail polish, really. Let the first coat dry completely, which happens pretty quickly with this nail polish and finish off nails with a second coat of the clear polish. When the second coat is dry, rub hands gently with a hand moisturizer to further protect nails.

[Mitestarossa]

on 7/29/2009 Great advice for longer nails.

[chrisanimelo444]

on 7/24/2009 Nice article!

I also suggest increasing the blood flow to your matrix, nail root, by doing activities like typing or playing the piano. Increasing your blood flow will make your nails stronger and help them grow. I wrote an article on this that can be found on my profile page.

Overall, great article. 5*

[godfather25]

on 7/24/2009 Great tips on getting your nails to grow long and strong.

[rwhite-writer]

on 7/24/2009 Good article! Thanks!

[sonni57]

on 7/23/2009 Thanks for the good advice on having stronger nails.