How to Make Your Fingernails Grow Stronger

If you are suffering from weak fingernails and red cuticles, stay away from the nail salon. Contrary to what you might think, salon manicures often expose your nails to unnecessary cuticle trimming and harsh chemicals that weaken your nails. To grow stronger fingernails, baby your hands. Keep your nails neatly trimmed and moisturize regularly. Don't bite or pick your nails and don't use them as tools to pry or scrape things.

Cuticle Care

• Your cuticles protect the living area of the nail, called the matrix, where new cells are formed. Trimming the cuticles often exposes them to infections, which in turn can damage the nail bed. However, cuticles can become overgrown and suffocate the nail bed. Instead of trimming cuticles, soak your fingertips in warm water until the cuticles are softened and push them back with a cuticle pusher or orange stick. Hold the cuticle pusher at an angle and push the cuticle back using gentle circular motions. Moisturize your cuticles afterward with cuticle cream and continue to moisturize regularly. Don't pick at your cuticles or tear off a hangnail. Clip a hangnail carefully.

Harsh Chemicals

• Protect your fingernails from harsh chemicals. Wear protective gloves when washing dishes and using harsh cleaning products around the house. If you work in a profession that requires you to wash your hands frequently, try to use a hand moisturizer as often as possible. Avoid acetone fingernail polish removers. If your nails begin to chip and split unexpectedly, take an inventory of any changes in your routine that might be causing the damage. If you have recently started using a new shampoo, for example, it could be the problem.

Professional Manicures

• Limit professional manicures and ask for extra care when you indulge. Women who have regular salon manicures are most likely to suffer nail damage, according to a study conducted by the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. The doctors who conducted the study theorized that increased exposure to stronger chemicals could be the reason for the result. When you treat yourself to a professional manicure, ask for non-acetone fingernail polish remover. Take your own manicure tools and fingernail polish. Tell the manicurist that you want your cuticles pushed back, not trimmed.

Diet and Supplements

• Most weak nails are the result of environmental factors, so dietary changes usually will not help much. A balanced diet, rich in protein and vitamins, is, however, necessary to support healthy nails. One supplement that might help you grow strong nails is biotin, a member of the vitamin B family. Gelatin, which has often been used, is actually thought not to help. If you have poor dietary habits, your nails may reflect deficiencies or problems. Dryness and brittleness can indicate a lack of vitamin A and calcium. Hangnails and white bands could point to deficiencies in protein, folic acid or vitamin C. Splitting nails might indicate insufficient hydrochloric acid. Excessive dryness and darkening of nails might mean an insufficiency in vitamin B-12, while white spots could signal a shortage of zinc in your diet.

Nail Hardeners

• Whether nail hardeners actually work is debatable. While some health professionals say to stay away from them, others advocate these popular products. The nature of your problem might determine whether nail hardeners, or strengtheners, will work for you. Soft, weak nails might benefit from strengtheners, but brittle nails are likely to become more brittle if certain strengthening products are applied.