Tired of having dry cuticles and brittle nails that seem always to break? With these seven easy tips, you can achieve healthy natural nails in no time!
7 Ways to Get Healthy Nails Naturally
1. Eat a Healthy Diet Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
A well-balanced diet full of vitamin-rich, nutritious food is key to growing long, strong nails. Brittle nails are often a sign of vitamin deficiencies. So before you begin adding expensive supplements and nail treatments to your self-care routine, start by upping your fruit and vegetable intake. You'll be amazed at what a well-balanced diet can do!
2. Add Collagen Powder to Your Diet
Collagen accounts for around one-third of the protein in your body. It's a fundamental component of your skin, bones, and connective tissues. As you age, the collagen in your body begins to break down, leading to saggy, wrinkly skin and also weak nails. While you already consume collagen from protein-rich foods like eggs, meat, dairy, and fish, it doesn't hurt to add a collagen powder or supplement to your daily routine. It'll boost your protein intake, support healthy joints, and improve skin elasticity, among many things.
Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen
Vital Proteins is undoubtedly one of the best collagen supplements brands on the market. Their best-selling powders are made from high-quality, sustainably sourced bovine collagen without artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. This Vital Proteins Strawberry Lemonade Beauty Collagen Powder contains 15g of bovine collagen peptides and 120 mg of hyaluronic acid per serving to improve nail health, along with a healthy dose of probiotics for improved gut health.
3. Take Daily Hair, Skin, and Nails Vitamins
Beautiful natural nails are rooted in a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A few of the key nutrients needed for healthy fingernails are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Biotin— a B Vitamin that plays an important role in skin, hair, and nail health. So if you're looking to have strong, long nails, swap your run-of-the-mill multivitamin for a hair, skin, and nails vitamin instead.
Mega food Hair Skin and Nails Dietary Supplement
This Hair, Skin, and Nails Dietary Supplement from Megafood is one of the best-selling hair, skin, and nails vitamins on the market. They're the perfect choice for someone looking to improve the health of their nails without spending a lot of time or money. In addition to essential daily nutrients like iron, zinc, manganese, and Vitamins A, C, D, and E, the coated capsules are packed with argan oil, folic acid, hyaluronic acid, and 5,000 mg of biotin. Add them to your daily routine, and you'll see longer nails, shinier hair, and healthier skin in no time.
4. Moisturize Your Cuticles with Cuticle Oil
Nail health is about more than just your fingernails. Cuticle health is equally as important to the overall appearance of your nails. If regular hand lotion just isn't cutting it, try painting on a cuticle oil designed specifically to hydrate the skin around your nails. Look for cuticle treatments made with naturally moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, Vitamin E oil, aloe vera, and olive oil.
Mineral Fusion Cuticle Treatment
Mineral Fusion's Cuticle Treatment is specially formulated to hydrate, soften, and repair dry, damaged cuticles. The non-greasy formula is made with natural shea butter, jojoba oil, aloe vera, and safflower seed oil. And it's made without synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, parabens, formaldehyde, and other unwanted chemicals. To use, simply apply to the cuticle and let it sit for one minute before pushing back your cuticles.
5. Ditch Fake Nails
As any artificial nail lover can attest, wearing acrylic nails can do serious damage to your natural nails (and your bank account). Between the intense filling and the chemical-filled nail glue and the acetone nail polish remover, fake nails can wreak havoc on your natural nail strength and length. Taking a break from your acrylic nail routine gives your natural fingernails time to grow longer and stronger while saving you a whole lot of money.
6. Stick to Natural Nail Polish
Most of the nail polishes on drugstore shelves and in nail salons are packed with harmful chemicals that can damage your nails. Even the popular and expensive gel polish can cause damage to your natural nails. According to studies, gel manicures can cause brittleness, peeling, thinning, and even cracking. So next time you're in need of a manicure, stick to natural nail polish that's made without "the toxic trio" of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, and formaldehyde. Ask your regular nail salon what are some of the natural nail polish available or bring your own.
ella+mila Nail Polish
Healthy natural nails have never looked better thanks to ella+mila's Nail Polish Collection. The vegan, cruelty-free products feature a "17-Free" formula that doesn't contain 17 harmful ingredients (like acetone, formaldehyde, parabens, sulfate, and DBP) that most conventional nail polishes do. The long-lasting nail polish applies easily, dries quickly, and resists chips for a salon-quality manicure at home.
7. Avoid Acetone Nail Polish Remover
While all nail polish removers are drying, acetone, in particular, is incredibly damaging to your natural nails. Consistent use can lead to splitting, peeling, breaking, and dry, flaky nail beds. Instead, try using a gentler nail polish remover made without acetone. While it may take a bit more soaking and scrubbing to remove gel manicures and thick glitter polishes, your nails will thank you.
Blossom Lavender-Scented Natural Nail Polish Remover
Blossom's Lavender-Scented Natural Nail Polish Remover makes a great addition to any nail care routine. Instead of toxic ingredients like acetone, it's made with organic, plant-based ingredients that are equally as effective at removing your gel manicure or regular polish. Conditioning essential oils help to hydrate your nails as they power away chipped polishes. Plus, it's infused with real flowers for a natural floral scent.
