Everyone wants their nails to grow fast and strong. They add beauty to your hands. Plus, healthy nail growth reflects the state of your overall health.
Nails are made of the same protein, called keratin, as that of hair. Fingernails grow faster than toenails, although growth is still very slow. On average, fingernails grow about one-tenth of an inch each month. But sometimes they grow even slower.
Several factors contribute to slow nail growth. These include the aging process, hormonal changes in the body, health problems, chemotherapy, medications and nutritional deficiencies. On the other hand, faster nail growth can be seen among children prior to puberty and pregnant women.
Slow or poor nail growth can also be accompanied by brittle nails, breakage, splitting and other nail problems.
Eating a healthy diet and following proper nail care are easy ways to keep your nails strong and growing at a healthy pace. You can also promote nail growth with some easy natural remedies using simple ingredients.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for nail growth.
Contents
1. Olive Oil
To promote growth, it is essential to keep your nails well moisturized. Olive oil is the best when it comes to nail care. It penetrates deep into the skin and nails and thus helps nourish your nails. Plus, it contains vitamin E which improves circulation blood circulation, helps repair damaged nails and promotes nail strength and growth.
- Before going to bed, apply warm olive oil to your nails and cuticles and massage gently for 5 minutes. Wear cotton gloves overnight. Do this once daily.
- You can also soak your nails in warm olive oil for 15 to 30 minutes once daily to promote nail growth.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil works well for healthy nail growth. It contains important nutrients to keep your nails moisturized and strong. It also strengthens your cuticles, which play a key role in nail growth. Plus, it helps cure hangnails, cuticle infections and fungal nails.
- Massage your nails and hands with warm extra-virgin coconut oil daily at night, before going to bed. Massage in circular motions to improve blood circulation.
- You can also prepare a nail soak. Mix 1/4 cup of organic coconut oil, 1/4 cup of honey and 4 drops of rosemary essential oil. Warm the solution in the microwave for 20 seconds. Soak your nails in it for 15 minutes. Follow this remedy one or two times a week.
3. Orange Juice
Another remedy that can boost nail growth is orange juice. Its vitamin C content encourages the production of collagen and keeps your nails healthy. Also, it has folic acid, which is essential for nail growth.
- Soak your nails in fresh orange juice for at least 10 minutes.
- Rinse them off with warm water, pat dry and apply some moisturizer.
- Follow this remedy once daily until you are satisfied with the results.
4. Lemons
Lemons contain vitamin C that is essential for nail growth. Also, it helps treat yellow nails and gives your nails a nice shine.
- Prepare a nail soak with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Slightly heat the solution in the microwave and then soak your nails in it for 10 minutes. Follow this remedy daily.
- You can also rub a slice of lemon on your nails for 5 minutes, then rinse them with warm water. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer. Do this once daily. Avoid rubbing lemon on your nails if you have any cuts or hangnails, as it may sting.
5. Horsetail
According to ancient Greek and Roman herbalists, horsetail is an effective herb for nail growth. Being a source of calcium, silica and other useful minerals, horsetail contributes to the overall health of your nails.
- Add 3/4 teaspoon of dried horsetail stems to 2 cups of boiling water.
- Cover and allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Strain and let it cool.
- Soak your nails in this solution for 20 minutes.
- Follow this treatment at least four times per week.
You can also drink horsetail tea once daily for healthy nails.
6. Biotin
A range of vitamins are necessary for healthy nail growth. One such vitamin is biotin, also known as vitamin H. Biotin encourages the growth of nails and hair as it improves the keratin infrastructure.
Slow nail growth as well as nail abnormalities like weak, thin and brittle nails are often linked to biotin deficiency.
- You can get biotin from foods like eggs, whole grains, carrots, tomatoes, salmon, almonds, cauliflower, cucumber, milk, soybeans, strawberries, lentils, oats and walnuts.
- You can also take a biotin supplement, but consult your doctor first.
7. Stinging Nettle
Another age-old remedy to promote nail growth is stinging nettle. This herb helps nails grow as it contains a high amount of silica and other useful minerals required for nail formation. Also, it strengthens nails, thus preventing weak and brittle nails.
- Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried stinging nettle leaves to a cup of hot water.
- Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain and add some honey.
- Drink a cup of this herbal tea daily.
8. Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil is also very effective in boosting nail growth due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains micronutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, lecithin, zinc and protein, which are essential for overall nail health.
Along with promoting nail growth, flaxseed oil can help treat nail cracking, splitting, drying or brittleness.
- Rub some flaxseed oil on your nails and massage gently for a few minutes.
- Later on, wear gloves for a few hours to retain the moisture.
- Do this once or twice daily.
9. Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a high amount of biotin that aids nail growth as well as makes them thick and shiny. Plus, tomatoes have vitamins A and C that are essential for healthy nails and skin.
- Mix 1/2 cup of tomato juice and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl.
- Soak your nails in this solution for 10 minutes.
- Do this once daily until you get the desired results.
10. Protein
Nails are made up of keratin, a protein. By adding more protein to your diet, you can promote nail growth. Lack of protein can cause white spots on your nails and make them weak.
- Eat lean poultry, fish, beef and pork, as well as eggs to increase your protein intake.
- Legumes, nuts, seeds, spinach and green vegetables also have protein. These are a good option for vegetarians.
- You can also drink protein shakes or add protein powder to a glass of milk. Consult your doctor before taking any protein supplements.
Additional Tips
- Avoid exposing your nails to harsh chemicals, including cleaning products. When working or cleaning, wear gloves to protect your nails from damage.
- To help prevent fungal infections from invading your nails, keep your nails and cuticles clean and dry. If you have a nail infection, get it treated immediately.
- Avoid biting your nails or picking at hangnails. Avoid scratching your nails as it can make them weak.
- Eat a healthy diet for healthy and strong nails. Increase your intake of green tea as it will improve the quality of your nails.
- Regularly trim and cut your nails to make them grow faster. Opt for frequent manicures to stimulate faster nail growth.
- Apply petroleum jelly on your nails and hands before going to bed to keep them moisturized.
- Avoid using nail polish that contains formaldehyde, toluene or sulfonamide.
- Expose your nails to early morning sunlight to help your body create the vitamin D that your nails need to grow faster.
- Do some exercises daily to have good blood circulation, which will help your nails grow faster.
- You can also take multi-vitamins to speed up nail growth.
I like this post .Thanks
I like da post too much!! Itz soo beneficial.
Do NOT heat anything in the microwave. This will kill all the goodness in the coconut oil, olive oil, lemon etc. Slowly warm on the stovetop. 🙂
I agree
You r rite
ya thanx for the help…..
I cant believe the help i got from this post, its so amazing, My day cant pass without opening this post.
I absolutely love this post especially the one about the biotin. This will be beneficial for my daughter Amber she is 13 and suffers from severe nail biting. I have a jar of biotin pills in my meds cabinet and since I dont use them at all i could use the gel pill and squeeze the gel out and apply it into a squeeze tube so that she can learn to use them everyday. The Biotin and the garlic together on her nails will surely prevent her from biting her nails and the biotin will make it have a nice glossy finish and make her nails grow even faster since she wont be biting her nails. Hopefully this will work. Thank you top10homeremedies.com for this tip…
Wow thanks so much! This was literally the only website that had information on how to grow nails without either it being some chemical solution, or some complex salon treatment. Literally! But one question, can i do the olive oil treatment without the use of the cotton gloves? Thanks.
Yes , It is totally fine . It works really good for me.
Another way is to mix an egg white and a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and massage for 5-10 mins before bed.
One more remedy which can be used is apply a mixture of olive oil and milk( keep the ratio 1:2 tbs). Keep this mixture in a bowl and now warm it in oven,apply this warm mixture using cotton pad on your nails every night and let it stay overnight. In the morning wash off and get nourished and shiny nails. Repeat it 2-3 times a week to get healthy and strong nails. I am doing this and I can tell the results are amazing.
I never heard of one with milk but I will be sure 2 try it how does the mixture stay on overnight?
ur probably confused on it but the nail will absourb the mixture adn it will stay on overnight cuz u r applying the mixture on not soaking and then in the morning u wash it off. hope this helps u . 🙂
Im ten and my aunt is having a wedding in five weeks and i was biting my nails but just stopped. Anyway my nails are longer but what helped is coconut oil, salt, and water. Just add as much as you want and soak your nails in it for about 5 minutes and it really helps. (My b-day is a day before th the wedding so im pretty much 11.)
Cool thnx this was so helpful Btw I’m 11 to lol
yas i need my nails long and i bite my nails and recently stopped last week omg bad habbit
How long did it take for them to get long..
I changed my name and i started biting them again before, but im guessing it would have been about 4 weeks. Now i dont bite them (im twelve now) and the sweet almond oil thing works amazing. Massage into your nails once or twice a day for however long you want.
Don’t reveal your age on the internet! Just some advice 🙂
Yeah you right it can be dangerous??
Such a Dear Post Rmj….. Very Thoughtful Young Lady! Hope You kept it up and Enjoyed Your Big Event!!!! ………Cool
-lu lu
wow its brillent…idea to increases the nails.just I have joint the airhostes accadamy so my grooming is incomplete because of my nails because my nails have not grow and its very week BT now I am tried this tips and follow it …thankxx..
really nice ideas
I like this website a lot
Simple and nice ideas
I have heard that if you soak your nails in olive oil for 1 hour, then take them out, your nails will grow. Is this true?
No, this is not true however if you rub olive oil on your nails and massage them than they will grow
yeah it is true they will still grow, but you will get better results when you rub your cuticles.
i found a better way- just get a bowl and add salt water and oil( the water can be any temerature
Love this post…itz amazing
I don’t believe in soaks and they never really worked for me but however I feel that olive oil is very effective I am 11 years old and all my life I have been a nail biter but I resent ly disided to stop and grow out my nails. Through out the day I apply thick hand cream and thoroughly massage my nails and finger tips. When I am in a rush I use pink armor nail gel a protective clear polish with a slight tint of pink I find this treatment very effective and I picked it up at my local pharmacy
I am quite young and I really want to grow my nails especially for holiday , so I made a little experiment, people say water salt and coconut juice works and so does soaking your nails in oil. So I went and got a pot and put 4 tea spoons of salt in and a bit of water then I went and got some oil and put 2 tea spoons of that in, I mixed this all together until the salt devolved then I put my nails in and let them soak for about ten mins . This worked for me. After dab youtpr hands dry and then but hand lotion on them . X
i like these top ten home remedies. My nails r often weak and brittle. So thanx for this info.
I can’t wait to try the orange juice method for my friend.
The lemon one worked
for me in 2 days my nails were longer than my mom but I really never bite my nails.
these home remedies do not work especially if you eat your nails. lol
Hello
I need to disagree which your post, this home remedies work I try the first two and have work miracle in my nails.
I just got my nails painted professionally today and the lady cut the too short. They are still polished and the colour looks great! Is it ok to do the olive oil massage rubbing method still? Or will it not work? Thanks!
OMG THIS PAGE IS LIEK SOOOO USEFUL OMGGGGG MY NAILS GREW LIEK 6 INCHES IN AN HOUR!!!!!!!
OMG that is so GREAT !!! It is awesome how long did it take you
Yeah right
I found a great remedy for me before bed I put vasiline on my nails (alot) then I put on latex gloves this really works.
These r very useful
Nice I have done this process
OMG!!!! THEY ALL WORK REALLY WELL! THANKS TO WHOEVER POSTED THIS!
Nice…….its usefulll….tricks for nails………..thanks….so much
Very nice tips..but orange one is my tried and tested.. my nails were all bitten like hell..i have been bitting my nails since I was a kid..and now my nails are all grown up…all because of ornge juice.. I do recommand all of you to use orange juice it really works..thanks
tips are useful…..its working……
Guys, rubbing sweet almond oil on your nails is great. My nails were bitten and down to the quick (im guessing, maybe alittle longer, but the tiniest bit…) and now, two-three months later, coming off the top of my fingers. Thats really slow i know but it helped so much. I can post the link to the video where I found it if youll want.
It really worked for me
thnx too much its too beneficial.
good idea
Good idea, Hope this will work for me as well. I have very short nails because of my nail biting habits. I am going to try this. Thanks
I love these home remedies much. I will try to do the olive oil remedy today.
I will try to do the lemon juice remedy with olive oil.
This is great! I have short nails that tend to break when they grow out, I’ve been using store -bought mail strengthener, but I want to go more natural. Would you suggest the olive oil or coconut oil first for overnight? Do i need real cotton gloves, or can I use like a cheap pair from Walmart for this? Also, the coconut oil mixture, do I just soak then rinse, or do I massage too?
LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, I need a help. I am a woman who has been suffering from brittle nails for almost many years now. I have tried all tricks in the trade and nothing seems to be working. I was advised to be on a calcium rich diet and also take vitamin D supplements to help overcome the problem. However the problem never really got any better and over the past years it has been only getting worse. Frankly speaking, is there any which can be done to get my nails back to my original shape?
I am going to try some of these when I get home…
I am so trying this when i get home
I really don’t know if it works but I wanna try it
really helpful…everybody try it out