How to make nails stronger?

No one likes to have bendy & soft nails. Especially women, they don’t want their nails to be soft because soft nails don’t grow long & even if they do, they break off very easily, resulting in messed up manicures. So women always want stronger & longer nails. Surely, not everyone is born with the genetics of strong nails, but there are still ways to make their nails stronger & healthy. So, if you are one of them and ponder the question, how to make nails stronger?

 Then we are here to answer it. There are various ways to stay hydrated, consume a healthy diet, take biotin supplements, and use lotion on your nails to make your nails stronger. Let’s get to know all of them in detail:

Why are my nails soft and bendy?

Before knowing how to make nails stronger, it is essential to know the reasons for soft & bendy nails because there can be health issues involved. Our nails can tell us a lot about our general health by how they look and how they feel. 

Here are the various reasons for soft & bendy nails:

1) Exposure to too much moisture

Overexposure to water makes nails soft and fragile. This usually happens when your nails contact water and then get dried. This process happens back and forth, resulting in nails getting softer & bendy over time. 

2) Contact with Chemicals

Some of you may be wondering when the chemicals come in contact with your nails. First, it’s important to know that several of the items touched & poured on our nails, such as nail paint, cleansers, and nail treatments, that might harm them. 

3) Deficiency of Vitamins & Minerals

The most common causes of weak nails include lack of vitamin B, calcium, iron deficiencies, and fatty acids in our body. So if you have soft or bendy nails from your childhood, then surely some nutrients are deficient. 

4) Anemia

Yes, you read it right. If you have depression, constipation, muscle twitching problems, and soft & bendy nails, these are the signs of Anemia. In this case, you should contact a doctor. 

Also, Read – Why Are My Nails Yellow

How to make nails stronger?

You can make your nails stronger & firmer, despite any reasons behind your nails being soft & bendy. However, if you have Anemia, then it will be best to contact your doctor before trying any tips we provided here. 

Here are the ways by which you can make your nails stronger:

Do’s-

1) Focus on Hydration

First, it’s essential to be hydrated for your overall well-being, including your nails. Nails that lack moisture are more likely to crack and peel. So, it is essential to provide them with hydration internally, so they adequately drink water. 

Focus on drinking water & avoid putting hands in water. 

2) Take Nail-Friendly Diet

Nails become softer & bendy in lack of some nutrients like Vitamin B, calcium & iron. So how to fulfill the deficiency, naturally? You can do it by consuming, Nail-Friendly Diet. 

If you want longer, stronger nails, you should eat a rainbow-colored diet of colorful fruits and vegetables as well as leafy greens, oily fish, nuts, seeds, avocado, eggs, lean meat, some whole grains, and sweet potatoes.

You can even add foods that help in the growth of beneficial bacteria, like kefir, miso, live yogurt, and kimchi.

3) Take Biotin Supplements

Known as vitamin H or vitamin B-7, biotin is a B-vitamin. You must be sure to ingest it every day since the body does not store it due to its water-soluble nature.

Hair, nails, and the neurological system all benefit from biotin supplementation. You should take Vitamin B-7 supplements after consultation with your doctor.

However, if you want to take it naturally, then sardines, boiled eggs, and legumes are all good sources of B vitamins for strong nails.

4) Use a ‘Soft’ Nail File

Depending on how you file them, you may practically make or break your nails if you’re going to avoid damage or breakage when filing; elevate the file each time you make a return stroke.

Instead of using metal files or rough emery boards, use a fine-grit nail file (at least 180 grit).

After taking a shower or cleaning the dishes, wait at least 10 minutes before filing. Moreover, Infection and weakening of nails might occur if you file down the sides of your nails.

5) Provide nourishment to your nails & nail beds

Do you know the secret to stronger & healthy nails is hydration? And how you can achieve them. Surely not by putting them back and forth in water but by moisturizing your nail bed & nails. 

You can use moisturizer for your hands & special cuticle oil for your nails & nail bed. It’s crucial to use cuticle oil whether you’re growing your nails or just want them to look their best since it hydrates the cuticle and nail bed.

6) Keep your nails shorter

If your nails are weak, you may want to try shortening them while you work on strengthening them. Nails with longer lengths are more prone to break and get stuck on items, but shorter nails are less likely to be damaged.

The shorter nails are good because there will be fewer exposed edges to rip and a smaller surface area to absorb water and chemicals.

7) Try Natural Nail Polishes

The scale goes from “three-free” to “13-free,” which means that the brand doesn’t use any of the most common chemicals that are harmful in nail paints. So the higher the number, the better & more natural nail polish will be. 

So try selecting a natural & higher chemicals-free nail polish. 

8) Try Keratin Treatment

Our hairs, nails are made of a protein called keratin. The keratin makes nails flexible but also makes them strong and less chippy. So you can apply a keratin treatment on your nails, which will make your nails stronger & healthy. 

9) Apply base coat & topcoat during manicures

Applying base and top coats to preserve your nails from factors like dryness and breakage is particularly beneficial when your nails are on the weaker side.

10) Check your shampoo

If you have oily hair and use shampoo to strip extra oil, beware of its effects on your nails. This could dry out their nails and make them weak or brittle. 

Try a new shampoo for a few weeks and see if you detect a change in your nail’s condition.

11) Consult a doctor

Like I said before, bendy nails can cause anemia and some other problems like depression, constipation, and muscle twitching. So if you are going through these problems, then the best for you is to contact your doctor. 

For healthy and strong nails, address any underlying health conditions that may be interfering with them as soon as possible.

Also, Read – White Nails with Design

Don’ts-

12) Prevent using hand sanitizer more often

Your nails will become brittle and dry if you often use hand sanitizer because it is generally alcohol-based.

Avoid getting it on your nails when using hand sanitizer, and don’t overuse it.

If you have used hand sanitizer, follow up with a layer of moisturizer to restore the skin’s natural pH balance.

13) Avoid Acetone Nail polish & Removers

Acetone-based nail polish or remover can be hard on nails and severely dry them off. Acetone is the solvent that dissolves nail polish so quickly. Nail Peeling and splitting are two of the most common side effects.

So avoid using acetone nail polish & nail paint removers. 

14) Avoid constant contact with water

This is the first step to start for strong & healthy nails. Because constantly making your hands come in contact with water will make them bendier & softer. 

With overhydration, our nail beds expand as water is absorbed, then constrict as the moisture evaporates, leaving them obviously weak and prone to peeling.

To avoid your nails from growing soft, always use rubber gloves to wash dishes and reduce time spent in hot showers and swimming pools.

15) Avoid using gel or acrylic nails

If you have trouble growing your nails, acrylic and gel nails are a simple way to get them to grow. However, if you use them too often, your nails will peel, weakening them. So, please don’t wear them all the time. 

Moreover, exposure to UV light for drying gel nail polish can result in skin aging that supports the nails. So it is best to avoid gel or acrylic nails.

16) Don’t try things with your nails

Don’t use your nails as tools to open a soda can or use a paperclip to reach something in a small space. Using your nails as tools can cause them to break or chip, weakening the nail. So don’t try such things with your nails. 

How to make nails stronger home remedy?

You can make your nails by following very easy-to-do home remedies. And yes, these remedies will 100% work & you will see the results very soon. Now, you will not need to spend money on acrylic nails or products to make your nails stronger; you can achieve them at home. 

• Microwave 3 teaspoons coconut oil and 1 teaspoon honey for 20 seconds. Soak your nails for 10 minutes. Do this for a month to see the full effect.
• Soak your nails for ten minutes in a combination of 3 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Follow this 10-minute daily home treatment to strengthen your nails.
• Apply the oil from oral vitamin E capsules to your nails and nail beds before bedtime.
• Massage tea tree, almond, jojoba, flaxseed or pumpkin seed into your nails to strengthen them and prevent breakage. Do this for 10 minutes every day.
• Improve nail blood circulation by gently massaging the nail beds with the nail buffer. This will naturally make nails stronger. 
• Take a proper diet containing Vitamin B7, iron, zinc, calcium & protein. 
• Egg yolk and milk are fantastic nail moisturisers that promote healthy nail growth.
• Apply castor oil straight to your nails to battle fungus and strengthen them.

These are all the ways to make your nails stronger & healthy with home remedies. Surely, these will help your soft nails become firmer. 

How to grow nails faster and stronger?

There are many ways to make nails stronger, but they will take time but if you want your nails to grow faster, then here are some tips that you can follow:

1) Use Nail Strengthner

Nails need to be strong to grow long. So apply regularly a dermatologist-approved nail strengthener; this will help the nail grow strong in a few days. 

Some nail strengtheners actually have keratin and silicon, which work on nails to provide fast growth.

2) Use Keratin Supplement

As you know, our nails & hair are made of keratin. So what if we provide our body with keratin? Surely it will make nails grow longer & at a fast pace. Taking it orally or applying it to your nails as oil could help you get long and healthy nails.

3) Groom your nails properly

Nail grooming removes dead skin and replenishes essential oils and moisture, allowing your nails to grow at a faster rate. In addition, frequent nail trimming stimulates the nail bed’s blood supply, allowing nails to grow more quickly.

4) Use Nail Cream or Serum

It’s better to keep your nails moisturized than to let them dry up and break. You can maintain your nails strong and flexible by applying cuticle oil on a regular basis and avoiding breaking and plucking.

These four methods will surely work to give you stronger nails faster. Use only the best products to see quick nail growth results. 

How to make nails stronger and whiter?

Nobody likes to have yellow nails & that is too bendy & soft. Women are more likely to have to deal with this than men because of overuse of nail paint remover or water exposure. As a preventative measure against infection, it’s important to maintain the health of your nails, as well.

So there is a need to make nails stronger & whiter. To do so, there are many ways. 

1) Nail Mask

This remedy works as a homemade manicure and strengthens your nails. Add 1 tsp chamomile to peppermint tea. 

Add hot water to the mix. After 2 hours, strain the tea. Add 1 tsp olive oil and 2 tsp wheat flour to the liquid. Apply well blended on nails. Let it sit for an hour. This will give you whiter & stronger nails with twice a week use. 

2) Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly provides benefits to our skin, lips, and nails. It hydrates and strengthens nails.

Smear them with petroleum jelly on your nails. Apply before bedtime to soften and hydrate cuticles the following day. 1-2 months to thicken nails. Moreover, this method helps nails get a whiter appearance.

3) Whitening Toothpaste

Use a baby toothbrush, apply the product and scrub your nails for a few minutes. In certain cases, you may need to repeat the process numerous times. Adding baking soda to a whitening toothpaste is much better.

This will help you achieve whiter nails. 

4) Use Lemon Juice & Baking Soda

If your sole purpose is to make your nails look whiter, then this method will definitely work & will remove all the yellow stains from nails. 

Mix half a lemon (or more) with baking soda in a plastic dish, and then stir until you have a paste-like consistency. Then cleanse your nails with an old toothbrush. Repeat the procedure as necessary.

5) Baking Soda & 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

To make a paste, mix the two together. Next, you should cover your nails with it and let the mixture sit on them for about three minutes before rinsing them off with warm water to get rid of them.

Now you will obtain beautiful & whiter nails. 

How to grow your nails healthy and strong?

Most women want to grow their nails longer, healthy & strong to make later them beautiful & nail polished. So, is it necessary to pamper your nails? You can achieve healthy & strong nails by following some tips:

• Don’t bite your nail skin. You could think that just chewing the skin surrounding your nails isn’t damaging them. False, adding saliva to your nails weakens them and makes them brittle.
• Use a cuticle oil daily: Many alternatives include fatty acids and vitamins that nourish the nails and skin. Surely your nails will become healthy & strong. 
• Take biotin supplements or biotin rich food for optimum nail strength. 
• Keratin, the protein that makes up your nails, is composed mostly of amino acids, it is critical that you acquire enough of these acids in your diet.
• A nail strengthener on hand may work wonders—just make sure it doesn’t include formaldehyde (which makes polish dry).
• Sun damage may yellow, brittle, or dimple your nails. Use UV filter polish to protect your tips. It will make your nails stronger and healthier.
• Cracking and peeling are more prevalent in nails that are dry. As a result, it’s critical that you thoroughly hydrate them internally by drinking enough water.

Following the above tips & steps will make them healthy & strong over time. 

How to make nails stronger after dip? 

In comparison to acrylic or gel nails, dip powder nails are a breeze to apply and maintain. However, dip powder nails might damage your natural nails, so you’ll need to take extra care of them afterward. So, to take care of these nails & make them stronger, here are some ways:

1) Remove Dip Powder correctly

One of the drawbacks of purchasing dip powder is that it is harder to remove at home but not impossible.

When it comes to getting rid of dip powder, acetone is one of the greatest methods to go. As we all know, acetone soaks may weaken nails, but they shouldn’t do any harm if you perform them in a regulated manner.

Furthermore, acetone is preferable to peeling off the dip because of its cleaning properties. However, you must perform it exactly to maintain the strength of your nails.

2) Keep nails hydrated

Because of the drying effect of any form of manicure, you’ll notice that your nails get severely dried. After removing the dip powder, use cuticle oil to keep your nails nourished. 

In times of dehydration, cuticle oil is an excellent choice since it helps restore moisture.

3) Apply Nail Strengthener

After using a nail strengthener, your nails will be stronger & the effects of dip powder will reduce. It is a fantastic product to use for strengthening your nails.

If you make your own manicures or remove your own dip powder, you should apply a nail strengthener to prevent your nails from getting damaged.

4) Protect the nails

Wear gloves while using harsh materials like cleaning goods or washing dishes to help strengthen your nails after dip powder.

You might also use a moisturizer every day to help nails regain their strength. 

How to make nails stronger after gel?

Gel manicures might look great, but they can also leave your nails dry and brittle. So if you’re getting a gel manicure, you’ll want to take precautions to prevent harm to your nails and even strengthen them afterward. 

So, to strengthen your nails after gel, here are some points to follow:

• Moisture helps your nails recuperate after a gel manicure, which dehydrates them. Local beauty supply or department stores have nail moisturisers. Every day, hydrate your nails.
• Do this once a week. Milk removes colour residue from nails. The milk’s nutrients will help strengthen your nails after gel. 
• Beauty supply stores and websites sell keratin gloves. They are great for strengthening nails after a gel manicure. Use the gloves for the prescribed period.
• Opt for a clear, strengthening product instead of coloured nails or extra gel products.
• If you let your nails grow out right after a gel manicure, they will break or snag. Trim your nails short after a gel manicure.
• Take a vacation from gel paint so your nails can recover properly.

These all steps will help your nails gain back their strength after gel nails. 

Bottom Line

To strengthen nails, maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly biotin. Hydrate regularly, avoid harsh chemicals, and use a non-acetone nail polish remover. Keep nails trimmed, file in one direction, and apply a strengthening nail polish or hardener. Use gloves for chores, and consider supplements if necessary. Prioritize overall health, as nail strength is often indicative of internal well-being.

FAQs

Can supplements help strengthen nails?

Yes, biotin supplements can be beneficial. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice on supplements.

How should I care for my nails daily?

Moisturize regularly, avoid excessive exposure to water, and protect nails during chores. Trim and file nails gently in one direction.

Do nail strengtheners work?

Some do. Look for products with ingredients like keratin and collagen, and follow the instructions for optimal results.