How to Grow Long, Healthy Nails—and Fast

Say buh-bye to short, brittle nails.

By
Erin Celletti
Erin Celletti, a contributing writer for Byrdie poses in a denim jacket for a headshot.
Erin Celletti
Erin Celletti has nearly 10 years experience, covering nearly all beats. Bylines include Byrdie, BRIDES, TeenVogue, Allure, TODAY Parents, HuffPost, Yahoo, and The Sunday Edit.
Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on 12/08/22
Reviewed by
Evelyn Lim
Byrdie contributor Evelyn Lim headshot
Reviewed by Evelyn Lim

Evelyn Lim is a nail expert with more than 18 years of experience. She currently serves as the chief educator of Paintbox, a top nail studio in NYC.

About Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Board
Nail Educator
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Hallie Gould
Hallie Gould
Fact checked by Hallie Gould
Hallie Gould is Byrdie's editor in chief + GM. She has a decade's worth of experience as a writer and editor, and her bylines can be found in such publications as ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and InStyle.
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Having short or brittle nails can be a huge pain—both literally and figuratively. Whether you're devastated about breaking a nail you've worked so hard to grow or have suffered some sort of nail trauma that is causing pain or discomfort, we know you want to learn how to grow nails fast. And while Dr. Kathleen S. Viscusi tells us that increased trauma may actually speed up nail growth—breaking a nail triggers your body to send more blood and an influx of nutrients to the area to help repair it—that's not to say that you should intentionally break a nail to stimulate growth (phew!).

If you're wondering how to grow nails fast, there are solutions to make your long-nail dreams come true—and they don't involve tips and overlays, either. According to Viscusi and nail expert Syreeta Aaron, with proper care, maintenance, and education you can be well on your way to achieving healthy nails, and in turn, nail growth.

Meet the Expert


Keep scrolling to learn how to grow your nails faster.

01 of 09

Protect Nails

Protecting your nails from harsh chemicals—including popular nail polish remover ingredient, acetone—will keep nails healthy and moisturized. Opt for a non-acetone natural remover like Sign Tribe Remove and Chill Nail Polish Eraser Cream for a non-traditional option—you won't regret it.

02 of 09

Try a Keratin Supplement

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Olly Undeniable Beauty $14.00
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Keratin is not just a hair treatment—it's actually the main protein that makes up your nails. So taking a keratin supplement could help build strength and resiliency, much in the same way it works on your hair. Taking it orally or applying it topically as an oil may bring you one step closer to long and healthy nails.

03 of 09

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Apart from ingesting protein as a keratin supplement, you should also be incorporating food with protein into your diet. Not only is it important to eat the right amount of protein for your overall health and nutrition, but it can also affect your nails and the speed at which they grow. "Vitamins and eating healthy promotes better conditioning from within to help with the growth of your nails," says Aaron.

04 of 09

Use Cuticle Oil or Serum

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Olive & June Cuticle Serum Duo $30.00
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Staying hydrated is an important part of any self-care routine—cuticles included. By using cuticle oil regularly, you'll avoid breakage and picking while simultaneously keeping your nails healthy and flexible, too. Dry nails will break and chip while well-moisturized ones will grow nice and long. "Keep in mind that it takes about 12 weeks for a nail to fully grow out from cuticle to tip. Healthy cuticles lead to healthy nails (as a healthy scalp leads to healthy hair)," comments Aaron.

05 of 09

Practice Good Grooming

When we hear the word "grooming" our minds first jump to men's facial hair and Tom Hardy; but, practicing good grooming is also key to having healthy nails. "Grooming nails on a regular basis may protect your nails from breakage," says Aaron. "When grooming your nails, you are removing dead skin and replenishing nutrients such as oil/moisture giving growth of your nails a better chance," she explains. Viscusi adds, "Frequent nail clipping can help stimulate circulation in the nail bed and help nails grow."

Filing is also a part of nail grooming. If your nails are brittle, we recommend switching to a crystal nail file—a gentler alternative to your traditional emery board—to maintain their shape.

06 of 09

Apply a Nail Strengthener

Isdin SI-Nails
Isdin SI-Nails Nail Strengthener $32.00
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In order for nails to grow long (without breaking), they need to be strong. Viscusi recommends applying a dermatologist-approved nail strengthener daily. Her pick? ISDIN SI-Nails. "This innovative formula has been clinically proven to help strengthen nails by hardening and increasing thickness, density, and durability of the nail and cuticle in just 14 days. SI Nails also promotes keratin and silicon in the nails to help improve growth specifically," she tells us. Meanwhile, Aaron likes IBX Nail Treatment. "There is a trio pack that includes repair, strengthener, and oil that completes for a great at-home manicure," she says.

When nails absorb too much water or are exposed to harsh chemicals they can weaken and become dry, which leads to breakage and cracks that stunt growth. So any time you're doing dishes or household chores be sure to protect your nails by wearing rubber gloves.

07 of 09

Take Biotin

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Jarrow Formulas Biotin Supplement $12.00
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Biotin is a vitamin often touted for its ability to grow hair and nails. It's water-soluble and helps aid in the body's processing of glucose, fats, and proteins. One reason it's often recommended for nail growth? Those with biotin deficiencies will often see brittle nails as a result. Anecdotally, many who take biotin supplements report seeing improvements in nail growth, and clinical trials have shown the supplements lead to an improvement in thickness.

08 of 09

Avoid Fake Nails

Acrylics may help you beat that nasty nail-biting habit but they can also do a number on your nails. "Avoiding nail enhancements prevents your nails from weakening, which also helps with less breakage and allows your nails to harden," explains Aaron.

09 of 09

Consider Collagen

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Great Lakes Wellness Collagen Peptide Packets $31.00
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Collagen helps support the body in several ways, including in the health of hair, nails, and skin. Research has found that collagen supplements (specifically those in powder form) can improve the hydration and elasticity of nails and skin.

Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. Journal of Dermatology Treatment. "Biotin for the treatment of nail disease." June 2018.

  2. Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. ACollagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494. doi:10.3390/nu11102494

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