While most of us can find the time to care for our skin and hair in our busy lives, we often end up ignoring another essential part of our bodies: our nails. Maintaining good nail health is as important as caring for your skin and hair and shouldn’t be ignored.
In this ultimate guide, we will go over the 8 essential ways to make your nails stronger and healthier and provide some other helpful tips you can follow.
To know more about this and lots of additional nail care information read our articles here.
Importance of Healthy Fingernails for Stronger Nails
Maintaining good toenail and fingernail health is essential to your overall health and well-being for several reasons.
Firstly, healthy fingernails prevent the spread of germs and infections. Bacteria and other microorganisms can easily accumulate under the nails, especially if they are long or dirty. Regular handwashing, proper nail care, and keeping nails trimmed can significantly reduce the risk of infections, such as fungal nail infections or bacterial paronychia.
Moreover, fingernails can also provide valuable insights into your overall health and alert you to any underlying health conditions such as nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular problems, or respiratory issues.
And of course, well-groomed nails are often associated with good personal hygiene and self-care. Taking good care of your nails by keeping them clean, neatly trimmed, and free from dirt can contribute to a positive self-image and increase your confidence.
How to Make Your Nails Stronger
Below, we’ll list down 8 key ways in which you can make your nails stronger and maintain good nail health.
Wash and Moisturize Your Hands Frequently
Washing and moisturizing your hands frequently is perhaps the best way to maintain good nail hygiene and improve nail health. Regular washing prevents the build-up of dirt and debris under your nails and on the surrounding skin. It also makes you less vulnerable to a plethora of skin diseases and other problems.
Moisturizing the area surrounding your nails is just as important as washing it. Moisturizers not only nourish your nails and the surrounding skin but also protect them from any kind of damage by forming a protective layer on top. For moisturizing your nails, a good hand cream should be perfect for the job. You can also try cuticle oil for enhanced nourishment and protection.
Trim Your Nails Regularly for More Strength
Trimming your nails regularly goes a long way in maintaining good hygiene and making them stronger. Growing your nails too long doesn’t only make them harder to clean but also makes them weaker since they are more prone to breaking. Keeping them shorter makes it easier to protect them from damage and also helps maintain good hygiene.
While keeping your nails short is better for building nail strength, you should avoid cutting them too short. This can cause the nail to grow inwards, piercing the surface of your skin and causing a great deal of pain.
Having the best nail clippers is essential if you want to ensure a nice, even trim. If you’re looking to buy a pair of high-quality nail clippers or filers, check out the best nail files and best nail clippers and our Swissklip review. A secondary option could also be the Seki Edge Nail Clippers.
Eat a Nutritious Diet Can Help
Eating a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet is vital for building and maintaining nail strength. Nails are made up of a protein called keratin, and various vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are essential for their growth and strength.
Below, we mention some essential nutrients and how they help in keeping your nails strong and healthy:
- Protein: crucial for healthy nails since nails are primarily composed of keratin, a protein
- Iron: helps prevent nail brittleness and builds strength
- Vitamin E: helps protect the nails from damage caused by free radicals and aids in maintaining nail moisture, preventing dry and brittle nails
- Omega-3 fatty acids: maintain nail health by reducing inflammation and promoting moisture retention
- Zinc: essential for the proper growth and development of nails since it helps in the production of keratin and collagen
Stay Hydrated
In addition to sticking to a nutritious diet, you also need to stay hydrated to ensure good nail health.
Proper hydration helps maintain the moisture balance in your body, including your nails. Dehydration can lead to dry and you will ask yourself why are my nails so brittle, which makes them more prone to breakage, splitting, and peeling. By staying hydrated, you ensure that your nails receive adequate moisture, which promotes their flexibility and strength.
In addition to that, hydration also plays a significant role in promoting nail growth. Well-hydrated nails grow at a healthy rate, allowing them to replenish and repair themselves effectively. On the other hand, dehydration can slow down nail growth, leading to weak and slow-growing nails.
Consider Taking Vitamin Supplements
If you want to ensure even better nail health, consider taking certain vitamin supplements for that purpose. Biotin (vitamin B7) is one of the B vitamins that provides a wide range of health benefits if consumed regularly.
Biotin is widely known for its ability to help strengthen the nails and hair but it also plays a key role in helping your nervous system work properly.
However, before you start taking biotin supplements, or any kind of supplements to promote nail strength for that matter, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional or dietician first. They will tell you whether it’s safe for you to consume it regularly given your medical history and conditions (if any).
Avoid Overexposure of Your Nails to Water
While water is essential for maintaining hydrated and healthy nails, prolonged exposure to it can have negative effects on your nail health.
Overexposure to water can cause your nails to become soft and weak. The nails absorb water, which leads to expansion and increased flexibility. This makes them more vulnerable to damage, such as bending, peeling, or breaking.
Soft nails are also more prone to developing fungal or bacterial infections. Fungi thrive in moist environments, and excessive water exposure can create a favorable environment for fungal infections to develop. Fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) can cause discoloration, thickening, and brittleness.
To avoid these problems, avoid washing your hands for too long and dry your nails properly after contact with water.
Avoid Using Harsh Nailcare Products and Nail Polishes
Using harsh nail products with harsh chemicals can be very detrimental to your nail health and can weaken them significantly. Chemicals found in nail polish removers such as acetone can weaken nails and make them brittle.
Hand sanitizers can also cause a great deal of damage to your nails if they are used excessively. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are notorious for drying out nails and making them brittle. In addition to that, frequently applying nail polish and leaving it on for extended periods can also lead to dry and brittle nails.
To avoid causing damage to your nails from harsh cleaning products, always wear gloves for tasks such as washing dishes. Once you’re done, apply some moisturizer around your nails for added protection and nourishment.
If you want to find out a complete list of reasons how to cut thick toenails, check out this guide.
Visit a Doctor to Check for Underlying Health Problems
Close-Up long fingernail of women on background blurred, Concept of health care of the fingernail.
Your nails can take on a different appearance if there are some associated nail health problems or any other underlying health issues. Here are some symptoms that might indicate a problem:
- Discoloration of the nail and/or the appearance of dark streaks
- Thickening or thinning of the nails
- Pain and swelling in the area surrounding the nails
- Changes in the shape of the nails
If you have concerns about your nail health or notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms persistently with your nails, we recommend visiting a doctor, specifically a dermatologist or a primary care physician. They can evaluate your nails, provide a professional diagnosis, and recommend appropriate treatment options if necessary.
Other Helpful Nail Care Tips and Suggestions
Here, we’ll list down some other essential nail care tips and suggestions you can follow to make your nails stronger and healthier.
- Try filing your nails. Use a fine-grit nail file to shape and smooth the edges of your nails. File in one direction rather than back and forth to prevent nail splitting.
- Don’t bite your nails. Avoid biting or picking at your nails, as it can damage the nail bed and lead to infections.
- Protect your nails from trauma. When engaging in activities that could expose your nails to trauma or moisture, consider wearing gloves to provide protection.
- Avoid using your nails as tools. Don’t use your nails for opening or prying things as this can cause them to break or split.
- Monitor your nail health. Regularly inspect your nails for any changes in color, texture, shape, or thickness. If you notice any persistent abnormalities or concerns, consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, proper nail care is important for ensuring stronger nails and isn’t something that can be ignored. In this guide, we explained in detail 8 different ways in which you can protect your nails and make them healthier. Thank you for reading and we hope you found this guide helpful and informative!
