Weak or brittle nails can send the wrong message but are also easy to fix. Lifestyle tweaks and consistent efforts can give you healthy, strong nails.
Drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet with lean proteins and veggies, and using a good moisturizer can help your nails grow strong. Consider taking biotin supplements.
Eat a healthy diet
Brittle and weak nails can indicate an imbalance or deficiency in vitamins and minerals. It will strengthen their nails by incorporating a nutrient-rich diet that includes whole grains, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and beans. Additionally, Consider using appropriate nail conditions & treatments to ensure healthy and strong nails.
It’s important to avoid harsh chemicals like acetone found in nail polish remover, which can damage delicate nails. Also, using hand sanitizer frequently can cause nails to become dry and brittle, so limit the amount you use and slather on lotion afterward to restore the balance of moisture.
You can help strengthen your nails by eating biotin-rich foods (Vitamin B7). It can be found in various foods, such as sardines, cooked eggs, and legumes. Biotin supplements can also be helpful but always check with your healthcare professional to see if they are right for you.
Don’t bite your nails or pick at cuticles, which can harm the nails and cause infection. You should also carefully clip hangnails rather than pulling them, as this can rip live tissue from the nail bed.
Use a good moisturizer.
Keeping nails healthy requires time, but the payoff is worth it. Well-maintained nails are one of those less visible confidence boosters that can make you feel put-together and ready to tackle any challenge, whether it’s a demanding job or a long hike in the mountains. Strong, healthy nails also help you keep your hands clean by preventing dirt and bacteria from entering the nail bed.
Overdoing frequent hand-washing can also wreak havoc on your nails, so it is suggested that you wash with gentle soap or sanitizer wipes and apply the moisturizer immediately. Also, wear gloves when washing the dishes and limit exposure to household chemicals (especially those with a high concentration of fragrance), as they can cause dryness and weaken your nails.
Avoid exposing your nails to water
While soaking your nails in water is good for them, it’s important not to overdo it. Water absorbed by the nails diffuses over time and can weaken them, leading to breakage. This is especially true for people who wash their hands a lot or get frequent manicures.
Minimizing contact with harsh cleaning products and nail polish removers is also important. The chemicals in these products can wear down the nails, making them brittle and more likely to chip or break. To protect your nails, consider wearing gloves whenever possible and opting for nontoxic, acetone-free polish remover.
Finally, it’s essential to moisturize your nails and cuticles frequently, particularly if you wear nail polish.
Wear gloves when washing dishes
Healthy nails are important to a polished, pulled-together appearance like a great haircut or a well-fitted suit. Yet brittle, peeling nails can indicate nutrient deficiencies and health problems such as thyroid or anemia. Fortunately, a few lifestyle tweaks can strengthen weak nails and help them look more vibrant.
Wearing gloves when washing dishes is the simplest way to help strengthen your nails. Constant exposure to hot water and harsh cleaning solutions dries out the skin on your hands, making your nails brittle over time. Wearing rubber, vinyl, or nitrile gloves protects your hands from these substances. Also, it keeps your fingernails clean by preventing them from becoming dirty or contaminated by gross leftover bits of food.
It is also a good idea to avoid using your nails as tools, such as opening packages or scratching off stickers. This can cause nail damage and breakage, leading to a build-up of dirt under the nails that can cause infections. In addition, it is a good idea to trim and file your nails regularly and keep them on the shorter side.
Wear gloves when gardening.
Your nails are delicate and can be damaged by harsh chemicals, hot water, and vigorous activity. For this reason, it’s important to wear gloves whenever you can. When cleaning with chemicals, gardening, or doing other dirty work, choose rubber, vinyl, nitrile, or plastic gloves and make sure they have a cotton liner.
Keeping your hands and nails moisturized as much as possible is also a good idea. “Look for nutrient-rich oils and moisturizers to hydrate your cuticles and nails. ” It is recommended to use almond and avocado oils before bed to ensure your nails are soft and healthy in the morning.
If you use a nail file, be gentle. The grit number on your nail file is important: the higher the grit number, the softer the file. When filing, always go in one direction instead of a back-and-forth motion. Also, consider switching out your emery board for a glass nail file, which creates a smooth surface and is less likely to snag or tear.