10 Tips for Stronger Nails

Strong, healthy nails can be an indicator of good health, but sometimes our nails aren’t as strong as we’d like them to be.

The good news is that we can always make changes to our lifestyle and habits to help strengthen nails and get them where we’d like. Here are some tips that you can use to help strengthen your nails in no time.

1. Take a biotin supplement

Biotin (also known as vitamin H and vitamin B-7) is one of the B vitamins. Because it’s water-soluble, it isn’t stored by the body, so you have to ensure that you consume it daily.

Biotin can help strengthen hair and nails and also helps the body’s nervous system to function properly. It can be found in foods like sardines, cooked eggs, and legumes, or you can take a B vitamin or supplement.

Check with your healthcare provider before taking a biotin supplement to ensure that it’s safe for you.

2. Minimize exposure to water

Too much soaking in water can cause your nails to become weak and brittle. Wear gloves when washing dishes, and try to keep your hands out of the water while taking a bath.

It’s impossible to always avoid submerging your hands, of course, but this is something to be mindful about.

3. Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water is essential for health, and nail health is no exception. Without adequate moisture, nails can become brittle and break and peel easily. Drinking enough water helps them to retain moisture and stay strong.

4. Pay attention to your diet

Make sure you’re eating a healthy and varied diet as well as taking a multivitamin with minerals. A diet that’s deficient in crucial vitamins and minerals can affect your entire body — including your nails.

5. Be careful about the products you use

Many nail polishes or treatments contain harsh chemicals that can actually weaken nails. Nail polish remover that contains acetone should be avoided since it can damage nails.

Look for nontoxic nail polishes and soaks as well as acetone-free polish remover.

6. Don’t use your nails to do things

Instead, use the pads of your fingers to open up a soda can or use a paper clip to reach something in a small space. Using your nails as tools can lead to breakage and chipping, which can in turn weaken the nail.

7. Use lotion on your nails

After removing polish, or if you think you’re not hydrated enough, use a hand cream on your hands, making sure to moisturize your nails. You can do this every time you wash your hands.

8. Avoid drying products

If you use hand sanitizer, try not to get it on your nails, and don’t overdo it. Constantly applying hand sanitizer can be disastrous for the nails. This is because the sanitizer dries out nails (and hands), leading to brittle nails.

9. Use cleaning products with caution

When cleaning around the house, wear rubber gloves. Many cleaning products or cleaning wipes contain chemicals that can weaken the nail. Gloves help you to avoid contact with these chemicals.

10. Take a closer look at your shampoo

If you’re using a shampoo that is drying or aims to strip oils (that is, one that’s for oily hair), it might be drying out your nails and causing weak or brittle nails. Try changing up your shampoo for a couple of weeks and see if you notice a difference.

If need be, they can prescribe a prescription-strength nail treatment that can help to strengthen your nails.

Pay attention to your nails

Our nails can send lots of messages to others, and weak or brittle nails may make you self-conscious. Thankfully, there are lots of things you can do to help strengthen your nails and improve them.

If you’ve tried various remedies and nothing helps, see your doctor. There might be an underlying condition causing thin or brittle nails, and only by treating the root cause will your nails be able to become strong again.