How to Strengthen Your Fingernails Naturally: 5 Tips
4 minutes
Currently, there are many methods and cosmetic treatments that help strengthen your fingernails naturally. However, the secret lies in applying them on a routine basis. We'll tell you more in the article to follow!
Do you want to know how to strengthen your fingernails naturally? Discover 5 effective tips in the article below.
Our fingernails are composed of a series of layers of a protein known as keratin. When they’re healthy, their surface will be smooth and hard, without irregularities or cracks. However, if our nails are weak, then they may appear weak and yellowish.
The appearance of our fingernails is about more than simple aesthetics. They also reveal certain aspects of our health. Therefore, when they’re weak and brittle, it’s important to evaluate the possibility of nutritional deficiencies or underlying illnesses. In that case, you’ll need to follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor before turning to any natural remedies.
However, if your doctor determines that the issue is mild, then basic care will suffice.
Tips on how to strengthen your fingernails naturally
To strengthen your fingernails naturally, there are various basic habits that you can incorporate into your beauty routine. While the application of commercial products can be quite helpful, it’s generally worth taking advantage of basic care techniques that help maintain fingernail health.
The proper consumption and assimilation of biotin boost the structure of fingernails, preventing weakness and breakage.
Consuming foods that contain biotin regularly is an excellent way to strengthen your fingernails naturally. This type of B vitamin allows the body to convert foods into energy and also helps form strong nails and hair. In fact, a study conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine suggests that daily biotin supplements can improve nail strength in just a few weeks.
You can increase your intake of biotin by consuming the following foods:
Brewer’s yeast
Cooked eggs
Sardines
Nuts and nut derivatives
Wholegrain cereals
Legumes
Cauliflower
Bananas
Mushrooms
2. Avoid the use of polishes and fake nails
The constant use of fingernail polish and fake nails can contribute greatly to the weakening of the superficial layers of our nails. Therefore, if you want to strengthen your fingernails, you should stay away from these products as much as possible.
In the case of fingernail polish, you should look at the labels and make sure they’re free of the following substances:
Toluene
Formaldehyde
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
The best fingernail polish formulas are those that are water-based and contain natural ingredients. Pharmacies and stores that sell cosmetics are already selling more and more brands that contain these gentle, fingernail-friendly components.
3. Wear protective gloves to strengthen your fingernails naturally
The use of protective gloves when handling chemical cleaning products will help prevent the weakening of fingernails.
Contact with chemical products is a factor that contributes greatly to the deterioration of our fingernails. Therefore, to maintain fingernail strength, you must wear protective gloves when it comes to domestic tasks that involve cleaning products.
Also, it’s helpful to only use environmentally-friendly products. After all, what’s good for the environment is also good for your body!
No matter what, gloves act as a barrier that keeps chemicals from coming into direct contact with your fingernails. What’s more, they protect your hands when they need to be submerged in water for long periods.
Good hygiene habits are a great ally when it comes to increasing fingernail strength. In fact, they help stimulate growth and minimize breakage. So, first of all, it’s important to wash your hands regularly and remove any dirt and grime from underneath your nails.
It’s also a good idea to cut your nails with a sharp nail cutter. First, you should cut them straight across and then round the corners with a file. What’s more, hydrating the cuticles and the surface of your nails is crucial.
All you need to do is gently massage with hydrating lotion, cream, or oil.
5. Consume protein to strengthen your fingernails naturally
Including a proper amount of proteins in your diet will guarantee the right nutrients you need for the formation of keratin.
According to the United States National Library of Medicine, fingernails are composed mainly of a fibrous protein known as keratin. Therefore, in order to keep your fingernails strong and healthy, you need to be sure to include enough protein in your diet. That way, you’ll be sure to increase your body’s keratin production.
Some foods that contain keratin are the following:
Pork and beef
Chicken and turkey
Eggs
Dairy products
Oily fish
Legumes
Dry nuts and seeds
Wholegrain cereals
Consult a specialist
You can strengthen your fingernails naturally by implementing certain changes in your diet and basic care routine. What’s most important is consistency. Nothing’s going to make your fingernails strong overnight, so you need to create and maintain these new habits.
However, if your nails still don’t improve, then you should see a doctor. Remember that weak and brittle fingernails can also be a sign of certain hormonal or nutritional disorders and nutritional problems.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
Lipner, S. R., & Scher, R. K. (2018). Biotin for the treatment of nail disease: what is the evidence? Journal of Dermatological Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2017.1395799
Basch C, Yarborough C, Trusty S, Basch C. Use of Protective Gloves in Nail Salons in Manhattan, New York City. J Prev Med Public Health. 2016;49(4):249–251. doi:10.3961/jpmph.16.017
