It is the fashion that has swept us away, with the result that many of us are trying to grow our nails longer than ever before.
However, if, due to a pandemic, you have given up acrylics and have also taken a much-needed break from all artificial ones, and your nails are still brittle, then I feel your pain.
Therefore, here are two very important steps to strengthen your nails, to make them stronger and stronger and then you can decide undisturbed on the length you want to give them.
Use oil daily
According to Ama Quashie, manicurist and founder of Salon Ama, hydration is the key to nail growth. “To have strong nails, they need to be healthy – and to be healthy, they need to be hydrated,” she says. “Vaseline works by hydrating the skin and nails, which is why it’s such an important step in nail care, whether you’re growing your nails or just want them to look better.”
Her favorites? Skip the expensive bottles and branded brands and opt instead for organic oil or a simple jojoba oil: they’ll do the job just as well (if not better) and don’t cost much.
Check the biotin
Studies show that brittle nails that are prone to peeling and fragile could be a sign of a biotin deficiency, so it might be a good idea to supplement your diet with an extra dose of essential vitamin B.
“Biotin-rich foods can help strengthen brittle nails,” says Amanda Griggs, a nutritionist at Khera-Griggs Cleanse Clinic, Urban Retreat. There are several small studies to support this, although Griggs points out that “the existing studies did not include a placebo group and did not examine the baseline biotin status of the participants.” However, they showed significant increases in nail thickness and hardness after taking 2.5 mg of biotin supplementation daily.
