How to Grow Your Nails Long and Strong: It’s Not a Secret Anymore

Long and shiny nails are every lady’s beauty goals. Each Kardashian has them and flaunts them openly.

No one would deny that it takes a lot of effort and patience to achieve long and lustrous nails, but all it takes is one little stub, and in less than a second a nail can crack.

You may want to rush to the drug store to stock up on multivitamins and other useless supplements, hoping to grow them back in time for a big day.

But it’s time to burst that bubble. You can't hurry your nails; they grow at a fixed rate of about 1 millimeter a month.

However, you can surely strengthen and nourish your nails to prevent breaking and chipping. With dedication, patience, and some extra TLC, you can grow your nails strong and lustrous within a month.

To make this possible, you don’t even need to step out of your home. Your pantry is already stocked with many ingredients that can nourish your nails and cuticles and promote nail growth.

To get your nail care regimen started, read on, and learn six easy home remedies to grow your nails long and strong for years to come.

Method 1: Soak Your Nails in Olive Oil

Olive oil has been a global sensation for its numerous health and beauty benefits. Being rich in vitamins E and K, olive oil helps strengthen and moisturize nails and cuticles.

It is antibacterial and antifungal, which helps to keep nail problems at bay. Olive oil imparts a natural luster to your nails and can also be used to dry your nail polish faster.

# Plain Olive Oil

Plain old olive oil can be used alone to massage and soak your nails daily to make them strong and long.

Step 1. Soak your nails in warm olive oil for 15 to 20 minutes

• Pour some olive oil into a bowl and microwave it for a few seconds.
• Make sure that it is comfortably warm, dip your nails in the oil and let them soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 2. Massage the oil on your nails and cuticles daily

• Massage the oil onto your nails and cuticles in small, circular motions for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Dab off the excess oil with a paper towel.

Repeat daily to keep your nails healthy and to help prevent chipping. You will start getting positive results in 2 to 3 weeks.

# Olive Oil with Lemon

You can also add lemon to olive oil and use it to soak your nails. While the olive oil moisturizes and strengthens the nails, lemon helps clear up yellow and dull nails. Lemon is also rich in vitamin C, which may also promote nail growth.

Things you’ll need:

• Fresh lemon juice (promotes growth and lightens nails) – 1 tablespoon
• Olive oil (promotes growth and moisturizes nails) – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Mix olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl

• Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a bowl.
• Add in 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.
• Mix them well.

Step 2. Soak your nails in the mix for 10 to 15 minutes twice a week

• Immerse your nails in the oil and lemon mix for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water and pat dry.

Use this treatment twice a week for 3 weeks to get healthier and longer nails.

Method 2: Rub Garlic on Your Nails

Your body needs selenium in order to use iodine, which is necessary for the growth and development of every part of your body. Lack of selenium also leads to slower nail growth.

This is when garlic comes into the picture.

Garlic is naturally rich in selenium, which when rubbed on your nails, can promote growth. Garlic is also antibacterial and antifungal, so it can also protect your nails from infections.

Single-Step Method: Rub garlic on your nails twice a week

• Peel off the skin and slice a garlic clove in half.
• Rub the garlic over your nails.
• Wait 1 hour, then rinse your nails with water.
• You can also rub some lemon juice on your nails if you can’t stand the garlic smell.

Repeat this remedy twice a week to grow your nails longer and stronger in a month's time.

Method 3: Take Biotin Supplements

Vitamins and mineral are essential for your general well-being, but they are also essential for healthy hair, skin, and nails. A slow rate of nail growth is often linked to the deficiency of biotin.

Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that is essential for metabolizing your food into energy. It is also needed to promote healthy hair and nail growth.

Naturally, biotin can be found in eggs, liver, avocados, cheese, Swiss chard, fish, legumes and mushrooms. However, you will need a higher dose to promote fast nail growth.

• Take 1 tablet of 2.5 mg of biotin every day.
• Drink plenty of water to prevent skin breakouts, which can be a side effect of taking biotin supplements.

You should start to see positive results in about 4 to 5 weeks.

Method 4: Soak Your Nails in Coconut Oil and Honey

Coconut oil contains essential fatty acids and other nutrients that help achieve healthy and shiny hair and nails. It is also a powerful remedy to alleviate fungal infections in nails.

You can use the oil alone or increase its potency by adding honey, which draws in moisture, and essential oils to aid in repairing your nails.

Things you’ll need:

• Organic coconut oil (nourishes nails, antifungal, and moisturizer) – 2 tablespoons
• Raw honey (draws in moisture) – 2 tablespoons
• Rosemary essential oil (repairs nails) – 4 drops

Step 1. Mix coconut oil and honey in a bowl

• Pour 2 tablespoons of organic coconut oil in a bowl.
• Add in 2 tablespoons of raw honey.

Step 2. Add rosemary oil and stir the solution

• Add 4 drops of rosemary essential oil.
• Mix all the ingredients well.

Step 3. Soak your nails in the solution for 15 minutes once a week

• Dip your nails in the mix for 15 minutes and let the ingredients work on your nails.

Do it once a week to begin seeing positive results in 4 to 5 weeks.

You can also massage your nails with plain coconut oil before going to sleep to give your nails some extra TLC.

Method 5: Soak Your Nails in Orange Juice

Oranges are loaded with vitamin C and folic acid that are essential for nail growth.

Soaking your nails in fresh orange juice also exfoliates your nails and cuticles, due to the presence of citric acid. Healthy cuticles result in faster nail growth.

Things you’ll need:

• Fresh orange juice – 1 cup
• Olive oil – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Add olive oil to orange juice

• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to 1 cup of fresh orange juice.
• Stir the ingredients thoroughly.

Step 2. Soak your nails in the mix for just 10 minutes daily

• Soak your nails in the juice and oil mix for 10 minutes, then rinse them with water.
• Pat dry and apply some moisturizer.

Repeat daily to grow your nails long and strong in 4 to 6 weeks.

Method 6: Soak Your Nails in Salt Water and Oil

Saltwater and oil is a simple, inexpensive, and effective remedy to help your nails grow faster. Sea salt helps in mineralization of your nails, making them stronger.

The oil helps moisturize the nails and cuticles. You can use any healthy oil of your choice. We’ve used coconut oil in this example.

Things you’ll need:

• Warm water – 1½ cups
• Sea salt (remineralizes nails) – 1 teaspoon
• Organic coconut oil (moisturizer) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix sea salt and water in a bowl

• Pour 1½ cups of warm water into a bowl.
• Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt to the water.
• Stir until the salt completely dissolves in the water.

Step 2. Add coconut oil & soak your nails in it for 10 to 20 minutes daily

• Add 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil to the salt solution and stir again.
• Soak your nails in the solution for 10 to 20 minutes if you can soak them longer, even better.
• Rinse your hands and pat dry with a clean towel.
• Finish up with your favorite moisturizer.

Repeat the process once every day to grow longer and stronger nails in 4 to 6 weeks.

Additional Tips

• In order to get healthy and long nails, don't bite your nails.
• Keep your nails and cuticles dry to avoid fungal infections. If you already have an infection, you can use various home remedies to treat the nail fungus.
• Eat a healthy diet, including eggs, chicken, leafy vegetables, and nuts for healthy and strong nails.
• Regularly trim and file your nails to make them grow faster.
• Nail strengtheners can help achieve strong nails. They contain keratin protein that is similar to the composition of your nails.
• Apply a light layer of petroleum jelly on your nails before going to bed to keep them moisturized.
• Avoid using nail products that contain formaldehyde, toluene, or sulfonamides.
• Expose your skin to sunlight to give your body a boost of vitamin D that your nail can also use to grow faster.
• Massage your nails and cuticles regularly to increase the blood circulation. This in turn promotes nail growth.
• You might also want to try almond oil, jojoba oil, flaxseed oil, and vitamin E oil in remedies to help grow your nails longer and stronger.

Summary of How to Grow Your Nails Long and Strong

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