While nail growth can't be accelerated in 5 days, you can do a number of things to make the most of it. Strengthening and protecting your nails will make them easier to grow. In addition, you can also get used to taking good care of your nails to improve their health. If you frequently bite your nails, there are a few things you can try to prevent it.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Strengthen and Protect Nails
Step 1. Use a nail hardener
You may need to use a nail hardener to help strengthen and protect the nail as it grows. Nail hardeners can help prevent your nails from cracking, breaking, and consequently needing to be trimmed before they reach your desired length.
- Keep in mind that your nails will only harden as long as you use a hardening product. After the effect wears off, the nails will return to their original state. Use a nail hardener daily to maintain the strength of your nails.
- Nail hardeners should only be used as a short-term solution while you provide long-term treatment to improve the natural strength of your nails.
Step 2. Wear gloves to protect your nails from cold weather and chemicals
In addition to using lotion, remember to always wear gloves during outdoor activities in cold weather. Also, wear latex gloves or thick gloves when you work with all kinds of chemicals, from household cleaning products to painting equipment, depending on the situation you are in. Wearing gloves will help prevent your nails from breaking.
Step 3. Protect nails from prolonged exposure to water
Leaving your nails submerged in water for too long, whether you're doing the dishes or swimming, can make them weak and prone to splitting as they grow lengthwise. As a result, you will have to trim your nails more often.
If your nails are long enough, be sure to protect them by reducing your exposure to water, for example by wearing gloves while washing the dishes
Step 4. Follow a balanced diet
You may have consumed more than enough protein for the body. So, unless you have a protein deficiency, you don't need to add protein to your diet to grow your nails. In fact, consuming too much protein can lead to obesity, accelerate kidney damage, and possibly lead to diabetes.
To get strong nails, try eating a variety of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products
Step 5. Try taking a biotin supplement
Biotin can help strengthen brittle nails so they don't break easily. Taking a biotin supplement may help make your nails grow longer and faster. Eating foods that contain biotin can also help nail growth.
You can buy biotin supplements at pharmacies, convenience stores, or health food stores. The usual dose of biotin for adults is 30 micrograms daily
Method 2 of 3: Caring for Hands and Nails
Step 1. Use moisturizer on your hands and nails
Moisturizing your hands and nails should be part of your daily nail care routine. This treatment can help prevent your nails from drying out so they can grow stronger and longer. Try applying moisturizer to your hands and nails several times a day or whenever your hands feel dry.
- Use a lotion that is thick and gentle, such as a special hand lotion.
- When applying lotion to your hands, try massaging it into your nails and cuticles as well.
- Be sure to apply lotion especially after washing your hands as soap can strip your nails of natural protective oils and make them more prone to breaking.
Step 2. Trim the uneven tips of the nails
If some of the tips of the nails are torn or rough, it's a good idea to trim them immediately with a nail clipper before this problem gets worse. Uneven nail tips can get caught in an object and cause it to break. Trim the tips of your nails like this as soon as you find them so they don't develop into a problem.
You can also file slightly uneven nail tips
Step 3. Treat the nail cuticle
The cuticle is the most important part of the nail because it protects the nail from infection. Damaged cuticles (such as if they are cut or pushed without softening them first) can also damage the nails, and as a result, they cannot grow quickly.
- Softening the cuticles will make it easier to push back without causing damage. Try soaking your fingertips in warm water with a little soap to help soften the cuticles. After that, use the orange-tipped tool to press the cuticles back.
- Massage the cuticle to promote blood flow around it. While it won't accelerate nail growth, it will strengthen your nails so they're healthier and stronger for a longer period of time.
- Do not cut the cuticles as this can cause bleeding and cause nail infections.
Step 4. Form a rounded nail tip
Avoid filing nails into a square. Instead, shape the tip of the nail "rounded" or "pointed". Square-shaped nails tend to get caught easily on objects such as clothes, making them prone to tearing and breaking easily.
If you prefer square nails, at least try to smooth the tips so they don't get caught easily
Method 3 of 3: Breaking the Nail Biting Habit
Step 1. Try a manicure treatment
If the tips of your nails look rough, you may be tempted to bite them. This is why manicure treatments are great for breaking your nail-biting habit. You won't be tempted to bite your nails clean, neat, and painted even with just clear polish.
- Try to give a manicure treatment at least once a week. Trim, file, and polish your nails, then apply a coat of clear nail polish.
- You can also buy special nail polish to help break the habit of biting your nails. This nail polish will taste bitter if bitten.
Step 2. Control stress
Stress will increase your temptation to bite your nails. However, by controlling stress, you can reduce this temptation. There are several ways you can try, including:
- More exercise such as walking, running, cycling, dancing, or swimming.
- Practice yoga.
- Meditate.
- Breathe deeply.
Step 3. Find ways to keep your hands busy
If your hands are not doing anything, the chances of you biting your nails will increase. On the other hand, if your hands are almost always busy, you are less likely to bite your nails. Some of the activities you can try include:
- Play musical instruments.
- Knit or crochet.
- Jewelry making.
- Cooking or Baking.
Step 4. Visit a psychologist
If all your efforts to stop biting your nails are not working, you may need to seek help and consult a mental health professional, such as a psychologist. A psychologist can help you find the root cause of your nail biting and help find ways to stop it.
