Joy Onuorah

Growing your nails can be a trying process, and it tests your patience. Nails grow slowly, says Dr Hollmig. It typically takes about six months to regrow a fingernail and an entire year to regrow a big toenail.
Thankfully, the following expert-backed tips will help speed up the process.

Eat a balanced diet.

Diet is the most crucial thing you can do to promote the steady growth of your nails. So, load up on foods rich in the following nutrients, all of which support healthy nail growth:

Cysteine: chicken, turkey, yoghurt, legumes
Folate: spinach, asparagus, romaine lettuce, avocado, green peas
Biotin: egg yolks, salmon, nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli
Zinc: oysters, beef, crab, beans, nuts, seeds, fortified cereal
Vitamin A: sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, mangoes
Vitamin C: bell peppers, citrus fruits, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, kiwifruit

Stop pushing, picking, and biting.

Your best bet is to simply leave your nails alone in the first place, but that can be easier said than done. If you find that you’re mindlessly biting, it helps to first identify your triggers and do your best to avoid them. Frequently applying a hand cream or cuticle balm to your nails and surrounding skin can also help, as you’ll have fewer dry areas to pick at.

Dampen, then file.

Although you want your nails to grow long, you should still file them to keep them free of snags that may catch and cause splitting. To ensure your filing isn’t too harsh, wet your nails first to soften the structure and make it pliable.

Avoid harsh soaps and cleaners.

Exposing your hands to harsh soaps, cleaning products, solvents, and rough work makes the problem worse because it pulls natural oil from your nails and damages the nail keratin protein. At first, your nails begin to ‘fray’ on the edges, becoming brittle and eventually, the layers split.

Moisturize

You should consistently treat your hands and nails with oils that will lock in moisture, preserve the cuticle seal, and strengthen the nail itself. The best are natural oils like jojoba oil, avocado oil, and shea butter.

Assess your regular manicure.

They might look beautiful, but there could be a lot of damage happening underneath your manicures, especially if you have an unknown allergy. Allergy to a nail product will present with peeling, cracking nails.