How do I get my nails to grow faster,Longer and not to chip easily?

Question

I want longer nails and they keep breaking but I want natural ones not fake ones.

Answer 1

Fingernails

Like most body parts, our fingernails rarely measure up to perfection. Those tapered, precisely filed pink frosted nails you see in magazines obviously don''''t belong to women who toil at work or at home. But the wear and tear of daily living doesn''''t have to mean worn and torn nails. There is hope for those "hopeless" nails.

Few of us have the nails we''''d like to have, says Paul Kechijian, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology and chief of the nail section at New York University Medical Center in New York City. "Some people were just born with weak, brittle nails."

Tough Cells

A fingernail is a hard, curved plate made of keratin, a tough protein that''''s also the main constituent of skin and hair. At the bottom of the nail is an area called the matrix, which is the nail manufacturing area of the finger. In the matrix the cells get tightly packed to form keratin. The pink color of the nails is caused by a bed of blood vessels that lies underneath them.

If it seems your nails grow at a snail''''s pace, it''''s because they do: they creep along at the rate of 0.1 millimeter a day. Start a new nail on Labor Day, and by Christmas it will be nearing the tip of your finger. And, by the way, if you''''re right-handed, the nails on that hand grow faster, but for lefties the left nails are the quicker growers.

It''''s unlikely that you''''ll have nail illnesses, but they can signal problems elsewhere in your body. Problems such as psoriasis--the skin condition that causes itching and inflammation--may lead to fragile nails. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid gland, can also lead to fragility. Brittle, ridged, concave nails are a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. Fiberlike growths on the nails are a sign of tuberous sclerosis, an inherited disorder affecting the nervous system and the skin. But most nail problems are caused by injury or lack of tender loving care.

Making More of Your Nails

With all the day-to-day beating that injures our nails--not to mention nail-biting episodes that some of us have--you may be looking somewhat sadly at the ragged nubs, wondering how to make them presentable nails. There''''s always the expensive manicure, of course. But apart from that there are plenty of things you can do on your own to help make your nails the crowning glory of your hands. Here''''s how.

Let the moisture in. "The first step toward healthier nails is to apply moisturizer to your hands every time you wash them--or any other time they''''ve been in water," says Dr. Kechijian. Rub it in well and apply it frequently during the day.

In healthy nails a cell "adhesive" holds the tightly packed pancake-shaped cells of the nails together. When something damages this adhesive, you''''re likely to get weak, brittle nails. Many elements--from cold, dry winter weather to repeated soakings in water--can damage this intercellular substance, resulting in nails that chip, peel or break easily.

"If you apply a lotion to your hands as soon as you''''ve lightly dried them, while they''''re still a bit damp, the lubricant helps to better seal the moisture in your skin and nails. A moisturizer prevents the rapid evaporation of water from the nail plate and prevents the contraction that can cause the nail to crack or peel," Dr. Kechijian says.

When There''''s a Fungus among Us

No matter how diligent you are about nail care, your filed and polished prizes could still fall victim to nail fungus, which causes discoloration, thickening and even shedding of the nail.

While toenails are affected by nail fungi about four times more often than fingernails, once fungus finds a foothold, it can spread from nail to nail, from foot to foot and then to your hands.

Sometimes a doctor treats fungus by trimming back the infected nail and prescribing a topical antifungal cream or liquid for daily use. Here are steps you can take to prevent further spread of fungus, as recommended by Paul Kechijian, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology and chief of the nail section at New York University Medical Center in New York City.

* Keep your nails clipped or filed back so they don''''t extend beyond the tips of your fingers. (The same goes for toenails.)

* Use separate sets of clippers for infected nails and for healthy nails to avoid spreading the fungus.

* Disinfect manicure and pedicure tools after each use. Wipe them with gauze or cotton balls saturated with alcohol. Pay special attention to the jaws of the clippers, where infected debris tends to accumulate.

* Keep your hands clean and dry. Wash your hands and nails with soap and water every day and dry well.

* Wear cotton-lined work gloves when you submerge your hands in water or soil. Change cotton gloves frequently.

* Don''''t let your cuticles get so dry that they crack--leaving openings for infection. Keep cuticles moisturized with petroleum jelly or hand cream.



There are so many hand creams, cuticle creams and lotions on the shelves that choosing one may seem daunting. The best cream is the one that rubs in well and whose consistency feels best. Some of the newer extra-moisture-enhancing ingredients include alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid, glycolic acid and urea.

Cover up. To prevent future dehydration, start protecting your hands when they''''re exposed to environmental hazards such as detergents, household cleansers or dry, moisture-robbing winter air, says Dr. Kechijian. For indoor jobs use lined rubber gloves with separate cotton gloves inside that can be removed as your hands become sweaty. Don''''t forget to wear warm gloves outdoors, even when you''''re out for a short time. If it''''s cold enough for a jacket, it''''s cold enough for gloves, says Dr. Kechijian.

Get the most from your moisturizer. When you apply your hand cream or cuticle cream, take a minute to massage the cream into your skin and nails. Not only is this relaxing but it also stimulates the skin and helps it absorb the cream. Massage your hands every night as well as during the day when you find that it''''s necessary to keep the cuticles from becoming brittle and dry.

Tickle the ivories (or computer keys). While so many things we do affect nail-plate growth negatively, a certain amount of trauma seems to help those nails a bit.

"Certain people, such as computer programmers or pianists, subject their nails to chronic, low-grade trauma when they hit the keys," says Dr. Kechijian. "This has been shown to actually stimulate nails to grow a little faster and stronger than they otherwise would." So any time at the keyboard is good for the nails--and even drumming your fingers on your desk might help them grow stronger.

Don''''t bully your nails. Most of us know when we''''re sabotaging our nails. Nail biting, for instance. Cuticle biting. Picking off polish. Pulling at the cuticle. An inventory of damaging nail habits reads like a list of deadly sins--at least to anyone who values nail appearance.

"Many children bite their nails, and most just grow out of the habit," says Dr. Kechijian. "If you''''re still biting them as an adult, the easiest thing to try is a nasty-tasting liquid you simply paint on your nails. Nail biting can be a reaction to stress, so if you really want to stop and can''''t, it might even be worth your time to work with a psychologist to find another way of coping."

Keep your cuticles cute. Healthy cuticles are vital to healthy nails. A common mistake people make is either to remove cuticles by cutting or to push them back, both of which impair the cuticle''''s ability to protect the finger, says Dr. Kechijian. Any damage to the cuticle affects the nail''''s healthy growth pattern--and a torn cuticle can open the way to infection.

Shower first, nails second. If your nails are thin or weak, you stand a chance of causing further damage when you groom them. "To lessen the possibility of this happening, cut or trim your nails only after bathing, because the nails will be softer," says Dr. Kechijian. "If you cut the nail when it''''s dry, it will be a lot more brittle and crack more easily."

File them away. Carry an emery board with you, and at the first sign of an uneven tip, gently smooth it, always filing in the same direction. "You can be doing everything right and still get a little chip in your nail," says Dr. Kechijian. "If you deal with it at once, you can prevent further damage."

Square them up. Fingernails can be rounded at the tip but should be left square at the corners, which maximizes nail strength and helps avoid ingrown nails, says David M. Stoll, M.D., a Beverly Hills dermatologist and author of A Woman''''s Skin. Clippers are better than scissors for squaring the edges.

Keep them short. Fragile nails look their best if they''''re kept on the short side, says Dr. Kechijian. "The less the nail extends beyond the end of the finger, the less likely it will be to incur more damage and break."

Polish with care. When you apply polish, brush it over the top of your nail behind the tip, notes Mona Winograd, owner of Dyanna Body and Nail Salon in New York City. This provides a protective cushion. And when it comes to colors, clear or light polish is actually the best, because it usually lasts longer and shows wear less, she notes.

Reduce remover use. All nail polish removers can be rough on nails, so try not to use them more than once a week. If your polish chips before then, just do a touch-up with your nail polish rather than using the polish remover and starting over, suggests Dr. Kechijian.

Building Them Better

Your nails shouldn''''t be as hard as nails, but there are things you can do to make them stronger.

"What you''''re really aiming for are healthy nails that are tough, not hard," says Doug Schoon, polymer chemist in Vista, California, and consultant to the Nail Manufacturing Council in Chicago. "Healthy nails are tough enough to withstand daily abuse and bend without breaking."

To improve your nails'''' ability to tough it out, here are some tips.

Get creamed. The cuticle cream that moisturizes also protects the nail''''s matrix. Creams or oils that you rub into your cuticles and nails help strengthen your nails while helping to retain moisture, says Schoon.

What Your Nails Say about the Rest of You

Feeling under the weather? Check out your fingernails.

Revealing a great deal about your general health, your nails could even help you detect undiagnosed illnesses. Here''''s a breakdown of conditions and what they could mean.

* Thick, yellow nails can indicate diseases of the thyroid, lymph system and respiratory system. Long-term use of the antibiotic tetracycline could also be the culprit.

* Blue nails can mean a circulatory problem caused by heart disease or Raynaud''''s disease, a condition that impairs circulation in the hands.

* White marks can signal cirrhosis of the liver.

* Horizontal grooves, also known as Beau''''s lines, are furrows that can be caused by malnutrition, certain toxic substances or a number of illnesses.

* Horizontal lines, also called Mees'''' lines, are white stripes that can be caused by heart attacks, kidney failure, Hodgkin''''s disease or sickle-cell disease. Red streaks can mean high blood pressure or heart valve disease.

* Pitting in the nails can indicate psoriasis or eczema.

* Spooning--the appearance of large indentations in the nails--may indicate anemia.

* Clubbing is the term for curled nails. These may signal diseases of the liver, colon, lung or heart.



Don''''t dry them to death. If you have brittle or weak nails that you want to improve, steer clear of nail hardeners that contain formaldehyde, says Richard K. Scher, M.D., professor of dermatology and head of the nail section at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.

"Formaldehyde-based products do make your nails hard, but they do it by drying them out. That is the last thing you want to do to brittle or even soft nails; it just makes them crack more," says Dr. Scher. "In addition, many people are allergic to formaldehyde."

Try a resin. There are hardeners that contain resins as hardening top coats or base coats, but you have to read the labels. These products reinforce nails with a stiff outer covering, but they don''''t help the nail itself become healthier or sturdier, says Dr. Kechijian.


Good Luck.

Answer 2

I would recommend purchasing a product called NailTech. Its a clear nail polish sold in a lot of Beauty Salons, Nail Salons...I've even seen it sold at a Shopko recently. NailTech comes in 3 different formulas...I use #2 for soft peeling nails. You apply 2 coats on the first day and an additional coat everyday after that for 1 week....at the end of the week you remove the polish and start over again.

If you can't find NailTech my second suggestion would be Nail Envy by O.P.I. which is another brand I LOVE!!

It would also be a good idea to take extra calcium vitamins to help strengthen your nails and make sure your cuticles are always healthy.

Answer 3

Get a pedicure every 3 weeks starting NOW. If you don't pay for one at least do a nice one yourself.

Take care of your cuticles. This is the secret, as that is where healthy nails START. Massage a good cream or oil onto the cuticle.

Massaging your hands/fingers and typing on a keyboard helps stimulate blood flow and growth, so I have heard.

Don't overwash your hands and use a good hand/nail lotion in these winter months. Wear gloves when cleaning and handling other harsh liquids.

Wear gloves outside to protect your hands and nails from the cold, and other outside elements.

Invest in a good quality base coat with protiens. Apply a couple of coats to protect and feed your nails.

Take calcium supplements and eat healthy veggies, fruits, and 3 servings of non-fat dairy.

Answer 4

I also was a nail biter until I was about 27, I decided I would definitely not put my fingers in or near my mouth chips or not... I had to use a nail file and I kept OPI clear nailpolish on. It also really helps if you get a manicure every couple weeks. Having them all filed and clear polish on makes a big difference.

Answer 5

Go to the store and in the nail section they generally have something to put on your nails to make them healthier, IE they won't break as easily and they'll grow faster.

Answer 6

Hi ,here in Southampton uk we can get all theSally Hanson products for nails.I used the"teflon tuff" for 4 weeks and now my nails are like super strong, now i just use it once a week and put coloured over the top, it's clear, if you can get hold of it, try it

Answer 7

i have long nails i use hard as nails put a coat over them and under the bits of nails also should work

Answer 8

Drinking plain unflavored gelatin will strengthen your nails. It can be found in the grocery store next to all the regular jello type products.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

sally hansen has the coolest products, they cater for all your nail problems. not to mention they are very cost affective. good luck.x

Answer 11

You could take pre-natal vitamins. To keep them from breaking you could simply try keeping them polished.