Introduction:
Keratin is the building block of your nails. It’s the major type of protein that forms the cells that make the tissues of your nails. It plays an important role in your nail health. Nails are an important sign of your health. So, it’s really important to take care of your nails and nail’s health also. Your healthy nails can improve the appearance of your hands. Nails grow from the deeper layer of the skin called Dermis. The nail plate is attached to a vascularized bed, which provides necessary nutrients to nails. When the cells at the front edge of the nail plate and turn white as they lose contact with the nail bed. The whitish part of the nail is called Lunula. The growth of an average nail is round about 3.47 millimeters per month.
Types of nails:
Oval (If you have longer nails then this oval shape is perfect for you. It gives an elegant appearance to your nails)
Almond (It works better when you have long nails. If you want a modern look then it’s perfect for you)
Square (In this shape, length also matters a lot. This shape has a straight across-edge)
Squoval (This one is the mixture of oval and square. If you like this shape then first you file straight and then round out on edges)
Coffin/Ballerina (This shape is the favorite one of celebrities. To create coffin shape you need to create an angled-sides)
Stiletto/Pointed (It needs narrow nail beds. It’s perfect when you want an edgy look. This shape has a long and pointed tip)
Round (Round shape nails are easy to maintain. This shape is more suitable for people who have shorter fingers)
Factors that affect nail growing:
Some important factors matter a lot in nail growing procedures. There are many factors that stop your nails from average and fast-growing.
- Hormones
- Location
- Age
- Overall health
Hormones:
Hormonal changes in your body affect nail growth a lot. For example in pregnancy, when extreme changes occur in Estrogen and Progesterone, then it results in rapid nail growth. But this process slows down during lactation. Puberty in your hormone level can also be an important factor in nail growing. In puberty, nail growing is at its peak level. But it gets balanced with age.
Location:
Dominant hand’s nails are said to grow faster because of the dominant handwork more than the other one. But there is a side effect of overgrowing that can be the reason for trauma. For example, you can hit your nails with a hammer. If you face trauma, then your body naturally sends extra nutrition to the nail base which results in rapid nail growth.
Age:
Age, the most important factor. It’s a fact that when you are young the nail growing process works faster in comparison with when you start getting older. This is due to low blood circulation at an older age.
Overall health:
Some other conditions can also impact your nail growth including your nail’s overall appearance. Such conditions as kidney problems, liver disease, thyroid diseases lupus and psoriasis affect nail growth. Diabetes and circulatory issues also have an impact on nail growth.
Here are some important tips to grow nails faster:
You can follow some important tips to strengthen and grow your nails faster by taking proper nutrients because there is no proper and scientifically proven method for this purpose.
- Use nail hardeners
- Take biotin
- Avoid taking toxic nail polishes
- Keep your nails moisturized
- Taking gelatin supplements
- Proper amount of water
- Pay attention to your diet
- Avoid to use artificial or gel nails
- Change your filing style
- Always pay attention on Good Grooming
Use nail hardener:
Soft nails increase the chances of breaking. So, most experts recommend using nail hardeners. You can apply this by painting it on nails and then remove this from your nail polish remover. This process is helpful to make your nails stronger. But keep in mind to use this in a week because excess usage of nail hardeners can cause damages.
Take biotin:
Biotin is a rich source of vitamin B. This vitamin helps to allow your body to break the food and convert it into energy. Biotin helps to boost your nails and hair. Biotin supplements are also can be used for nail growing. If you take a 2.5-milligram dose of biotin daily so it can improve your nail’s health in a week. Biotin can be found in nuts, cauliflower, mushrooms, bananas, beans, cooked eggs, and yeast.
Avoid taking toxic nail polishes:
Regular usage of toxic nail polishes can weaken your nails and can also increase the chances of breaking. But if you want to put nail polishes on daily basis then you can use nail polishes that have less toxic or chemicals.
Keep your nails moisturized:
Your nails also need moisturizing just like your skin. Because dry nails are more vulnerable to breakage. So try to use good hand wash and moisturizers to keep your nails healthy. But try to avoid nail products that contain alcohol.
Taking gelatin supplements:
Gelatin supplements can be beneficial for nail growing but there is no scientific proof that they can increase growth. There are many gelatin supplements that you can take from the market. So it will be helpful for your nail health.
The proper amount of water:
Water is called a “beauty booster”. For better and beautiful nails you must include enough amount of water. You can take this essential water from your coffee and tea for your nail’s beauty. When you drink almost 8-10 glasses of water it definitely beneficial for eliminating the toxic materials from your body. And when your inner health is good then externally it gives you a fresh and healthy look overall.
Pay attention to your diet:
It’s really important to keep your diet healthy for strong and healthy nails. Because diet affects your whole body. If you are not taking proper nutrients with minerals then you can face problems regarding your nails. So, keep in mind to pay more attention to your diet for nail’s growing and healthy nails.
Avoid using artificial and gel nails:
When you are searching for an artificial way to beautify your nails then you must be at the wrong point because artificial things can reduce your original beauty included nails. As you know nails are an important part of our hands. So it’s better to avoid artificial products. Their usage can cause harmful effects.
Change your filing style:
It’s better to file your nails in one direction because when you change your filing directions, you might face roughness and irritation on your nails. It also increases the chances of cuts on your tips. And also avoid filing too much because this process can weaken your nails.
Always pay attention to Good Grooming:
Good grooming plays an important role in for healthy and fast-growing of your nails. Regular grooming encourages nail growth and reduces breakage. It will also be helpful in boosting the strength of your nails.
For maintenance of good nails you have to follow some given things:
First, always keep your nails clean and dry which keeps bacteria away from beneath growing.
Always use sharp scissors or clippers for manicures to turn your nail tips into a soft curve.
Do not bite your nails. It can cause harmful effects. So try to avoid it.
Keep the base of your nails moisturized.
Top foods, vitamins, and nutrients for healthy and strong nails:
Nails are an important part of your hands. A good diet can make your appearance elegant. So, it’s important to take healthy nutrients that give rise to your nail beds and are also supportive of the growth and formation of new cells.
Here is the list of some important foods, vitamins, and minerals that you should add to your diet to keep your nails healthy.
- Iron
- Biotin
- Magnesium
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Protein
- Zinc
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Fruits (Blueberries, strawberries)
- Nuts and seeds
- Fortified milk
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
Iron:
Iron is helpful for the formation of red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible to provide
Oxygen to your body including your nails. Because less amount of iron can cause nail damaging. It results in vertical ridges. So add the foods that contain iron like beef, chicken, eggs, and fish. These foods will improve your iron absorption.
Biotin:
Biotin promotes healthy growth cells that are essential for your nail growing. Try to add the foods, vitamins, minerals that are rich in biotin because it helps to strengthen your bitter nails. It can be found in organ meats but mostly it is found in dairy products, yeast, avocado, salmon, and cauliflower.
Magnesium:
Protein synthesis is essential for nail growth. Magnesium contains this type of protein. If you found your nails brittle then it’s obviously a deficiency of magnesium. According to World Health Organization, there is almost 60% population of the US consumed this recommended amount. Whole grains are a rich source of magnesium. Like quinoa, cashew, nuts, and black beans also contain enough amount of magnesium.
Omega-3 fatty acids:
Omega-3 fatty acids help to moisturize your nails and give them a shiny appearance. If you feel inflammation in your nails, you need omega-3 fatty acids to reduce this inflammation. The deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids results in dry and brittle nails. Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and trout contain enough amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Protein:
Nails are made from keratin, a major type of protein that is very essential for nail beds. Protein gives health and strength to your nails. An interesting point is that your nails are also made from dead cells. It can be found in plant foods like lentils, nuts, legumes, soy, and seeds. So try to add these plant foods to your diet to take the proper amount of protein for your nail growth.
Zinc:
Zinc is essential for the division and growth of your body cells. Because nails are made from dead cells. The deficiency of zinc can create white spots on your nails. So, it’s important to add the proper amount of zinc to your diet to avoid this deficiency. Soy, chickpeas, poultry, black beans contain zinc.
Dark leafy vegetables (Spinach, broccoli, and kale):
Dark green leafy vegetables provide enough amount of iron, folate, and calcium. This all will help to improve nail health and get back into normal shape. Add all this to your diet. Spinach, kale, and broccoli are rich sources of vitamins and minerals.
Sweet potatoes (Carrots, tomatoes, and bell peppers):
These colorful veggies are helpful for the improvement of your nails. These will give you the power to nails. Tomatoes and bell peppers are highly rich in vitamin C. It will helpful for the collagen level. Carrots are high in antioxidants and vitamin A that keeps your nails protected and strong.
Fruits (blueberries, strawberries):
You can add a lot of fruits to your diet to boost your nutritional level in your body. It will help to strengthen your nail tips. Antioxidants are beneficial for radical damage because radical damage can cause stress hormones and inflammation. Blueberries contain a rich amount of antioxidants.
Nuts and seeds (almonds and sunflower seeds):
Nuts and seeds are full of fats that are essential for nail growth. Nuts and seeds are great sources of magnesium and protein. Sunflower seeds are perfect for weakened nails. It contains a high amount of copper and manganese. All these vitamins and minerals are essential for nail growth.
Fortified milk:
Milk products are loaded with calcium and vitamin D. milk products are the building blocks of nails. Add milk and dairy products to your diet to take enough amount of calcium and vitamin D to avoid deficiency of calcium in your body.
Oatmeal:
Oatmeal boosts the energy level in your body. It contains complex carbohydrates. Brown rice and whole grains are amazing sources of biotin and silicon. Oatmeal is beneficial to make the nail tips healthier. It also contains micronutrients like zinc and copper for bones maintenance and healthy nails.
Eggs:
Protein is highly essential for nail health. Your body needs amino acids that are beneficial for the creation of protein from which your nails have grown. So it’s really important to add the maximum amount of protein into your diet to get rid of brittle nails. Its deficiency also can be the cause of the discoloring of your nails.
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