10 Ways to Make Your Nails Stronger & Healthier

The best tricks and products to make your nails long and durable

Co-authored by Marta Nagorska and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Fact Checked

Who doesn’t want long, strong, and glamorous nails? They’re eye-catching and fun to decorate, but they might seem unattainable. Long, strong nails don’t have to be a wild dream, though—they can be yours with the right care! By breaking bad habits and taking the proper manicuring steps, you can grow strong and healthy nails in no time. We interviewed professional nail artists and put together a list of tips on how you can get the best nails possible. Take a look below!

Things You Should Know

Keep your nails out of water whenever possible and avoid using harsh chemicals on them to prevent damage and breakage.
Stay on top of your nail health by applying a cuticle oil regularly and never skipping a base and top coat during a manicure.
Take a break from gel and acrylic nails to help restore and preserve your natural nail.

1

Use gentle products on your nails.

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Believe it or not, the products you use on your hands and nails can greatly impact your nail health. Opt for chemical-free lotions and acetone-free nail polish removers, as these won’t break down your nails’ natural barrier.^{[1]
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2

Keep your nails out of water.

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The longer your nails are in water, the more brittle they become. Avoid soaking your nails in water for extended amounts of time. Water softens the nail and makes it weak and flexible, causing it to bend or break easily.^{[2]
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Go to source}Take shorter showers or hold your hands out of the bath.
- Apply a base coat of polish on your nails and trim them down if your nails will be wet for long periods.

3

Eat a nail-friendly diet.

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Folic acid, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C can help support nail health. Folic acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin A, and Vitamin C are natural minerals that can help strengthen your nails. They support your overall health while supplying extra nutrients to your nails, keeping them happy and healthy.^{[3]
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- Eat dark leafy vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds, and eggs to add more folic acid to your diet.^{[4]
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- Consume more tomatoes, red bell peppers, mangoes, and milk to get Vitamin A.^{[5]
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- Take in more citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, and white potatoes to get a healthy serving of Vitamin C.^{[6]
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4

Use cuticle oil or serum regularly.

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Healthy and hydrated cuticles lead to healthier nails. As Marta Nagorska, a licensed nail technician, says, “it’s important to replenish those oils [in your nails] with cuticle oil.” Apply a cuticle oil or serum to your cuticles (the base of your nails) daily to keep them hydrated. Simply follow the instructions on your chosen product.^{[7]
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- Avoid trimming or pushing back your cuticles, as this can upset your nails’ natural barrier and cause infections.^{[8]
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- Marta Nagorska personally recommends using OPI’s cuticle oil for the best results.

5

Apply a base and top coat.

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Base and top coats add a protective barrier over your natural nail. Skipping a clear base and top coat could make your nails weaker. Apply a base coat before your colored polish, and finish the manicure with a strengthening top coat.^{[9]
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- Base coats add a protective layer between your natural nail and the color polish, minimizing the chance of staining.
- Top coats come in various formulas, from quick-drying to strengthening.

6

Consume more biotin.

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Aim to consume between 30 and 40 micrograms per day either through food or supplements. Whole grains, mushrooms, bananas, salmon, and avocado are all great sources of biotin.^{[10]
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7

Take a keratin supplement daily.

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Keratin is a protein that helps strengthen your natural nails. This natural mineral can be found in your hair, nails, and skin and is in charge of protecting and healing wounds. Your body produces keratin naturally, but taking a daily supplement may help promote nail growth and strength.^{[11]
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- Keratin can be hard to digest, so look for supplements containing soluble keratin or hydrolyzed keratin (meaning it’s digestible for the human body).^{[12]
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8

Stay away from fake nails.

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Acrylic and gel nails can weaken the outer layer of your nails. While pretty, fake nails can wear down your nails’ natural barrier, making them weaker and more fragile. Avoid getting fake or acrylic nails when you can. Instead, opt for regular polish.^{[13]
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- Even the proper removal of fake nails can cause damage. Remember, your nails are the most sensitive when wet.
- If you want gel or acrylic manicures, try alternating between the two. Get a traditional manicure between your gels or acrylics.
- Use nail polishes with strengthening properties for extra protection.

9

Avoid biting or picking at your nails.

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Nail biting can damage your nails and lead to infections. Chewing, biting, or picking your nails may seem like a harmless nervous tick, but it’s anything but. Excess nail biting can cause bacterial skin infections and damage your nails.^{[14]
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Research source} Try to stop the habit by:^{[15]
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- Identifying your triggers for when you feel the urge to bite your nails.
- Chewing gum or playing with a fidget toy.
- Keeping your nails polished.
- Applying a bitter-tasting polish.

10

Avoid using your nails as tools.

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Peeling labels or scraping glue with your nails could cause them to break. You might not even realize you’re doing it, but using your nails as a tool can damage them.^{[16]
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Go to source} Open things like packages with scissors or use a credit card to peel off labels and scrape glue.
- Expert nail artist Lindsay Yoshitomi agrees that you should “Avoid putting stress on your nails that can lead to breakage. For instance, if you pick off gel nail polish instead of soaking your nails, you're also removing some of the top layers of the nail, which weakens it.”
- Consider using a nail strengthener or hardener (such as a strengthening polish, cream, or serum) to prevent them from breaking.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What makes my fingernails weak?

Ritu Thakur, MA
Natural Health Care Professional
Dr. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant based in Delhi, India. She has over 14 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. Dr. Ritu also works as a business consultant in the life sciences domain. She has successfully executed 150+ small to large-scale custom consulting projects for both established and development-stage companies. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.

Ritu Thakur, MA

Natural Health Care Professional

Expert Answer

Using gel or acrylic nail polish can make your nails feel more brittle. You can also weaken them by keeping them submerged in water or exposed to dish soap.

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Question

Can a healthy diet and supplements help with dry and brittle nails?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Yes, taking biotin orally can be helpful. Taking an oral silicone supplement can also help strengthen your nails. Make sure you're eating enough protein as well. Nails are made out of a molecule called keratin, which is a protein, so it's important that you're getting enough protein in your diet.

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Tips

Apply petroleum jelly to damp nails and cuticles to hydrate your nails and prevent chipping.^{[18]
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Carry pre-moistened nail polish remover packets in your purse for quick removal when your nails start to chip. This way, you won’t have to worry about picking at your nails.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

I get acrylic nails and request them to be just a little longer than the end of my finger. When they get too long, I just file some off and then smooth down the edges. If I ever feel the need to bite them, I just scratch my check instead, because acrylics feel really good.
I have a bad habit of biting my nails and picking off nail polish. My tip to you is to get a non-harmful liquid to soak your nails in—just make sure it isn't bad for your nails! Also, this liquid needs to taste nasty, so you won't put your nails in your mouth.
When I struggled with nail-biting, I had one nail I was allowed to bite (right-hand thumbnail) while the rest grew out. It took a couple of weeks before I felt okay enough to stop biting that one, too, but it really worked!

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