When it comes to growing nails, there’s no timeline. If you want a beautiful nail that’s in line with the traditional short ring finger, chances are you’re going to have to really push for it. But since you don’t have to wait for your nails to grow naturally, here are six easy steps to help you get the long, healthy nails you desire (before the procrastination creeps in and bites you on the ass).
1. Vacuum Your Nails
You may think this kind of thinking is total BS, but while most people shy away from the idea of a vacuum brush, research has shown that you may be onto something. Nail vacuums have been shown to eliminate redness and the appearance of dead skin from nails. And while they may take a few hours to run their course, they should last through many nail polish and pedicure applications. So maybe you’ve skipped this chore, but it’s well worth it.
2. Use a Shave Cream
If you are more of a smoothie eater, and you’ve been using a razor for the last decade, you may have ignored this important option for your nails. Just don’t use too much. A little less than two ounces of shaving cream per square foot of nail, or more than a generous amount of a few drops from the store, is all you need to keep your nails soft. Avoid using anything that contains almond oil or deodorant.
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3. Skip Lip Balm
Using lip balm to fight a dry, brittle nail sounds like a pretty great idea in theory, but it may not be the best idea in real life. Why? Lip balm imparts oils (among other things) into your fingertips that they would naturally ingest, and that would be left on your hands for several days. So it’s just a temporary fix, and not a permanent one. If you do decide to opt for lip balm to keep nails hydrated, make sure it’s a thick, luscious balm that contains alcohol as the sole solvent.
4. Use a Nail Refill
Once you’ve found a quality nail polish (or several with the same hue), stock up on polish refill packs for a quick fix. Bottle caps are full of empty bottles of base coat, top coat, and topcoat. Don’t buy paint or glue-on strips, which are often found in the drugstores. They can appear sticky and frizzy, making you more likely to chip than smooth. Although store-bought refills can be purchased over the counter and free-standing, find the salon for nail product refills.
5. Use Vitamins
If your nails are in bad shape and they’ve been falling out, they probably need some TLC. If they’re knotted and growing in droopy spines, on the other hand, they’re in for a long, hard time. Spraying vitamins onto the nails will help the color (which should then start to fade) stay longer.
6. Water Your Teeth
Speaking of which, it’s essential to stay hydrated by eating and drinking enough water to keep your nails healthy. Bacteria thrive in sweat, so it’s better to stay clear of grime while you have your blood moving. If your nails are already dead, really good nutrition is key to rejuvenating the dead cells in your hands. If you haven’t already done so, scooping out your teeth and putting them on toothpaste is just as good (if not better) than brushing regularly.
So there you have it: just commit to some of these tasks for a few months, and in the end, your nails will start to look beautiful and they’ll have a chance at the perfect ring finger. If you don’t, you’ll soon be dealing with stubbies and cuts all over the place.
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