Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Grow your nails long
• Method 2 of 3: Maintain your nails
• Method 3 of 3: Paint your nails
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Do you want nails that look beautiful and don't break so easily? If you are tired of having dull or broken nails, then it is time for a nail makeover. Proper nail care needs to be done first, then you can add some glamor by growing your nails long and giving yourself a manicure.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Grow your nails long

1. Stop biting your nails. By biting nails you keep them from growing strongly. When you bite them off, you are actually tearing your nail, weakening it all the way to the nail bed. The saliva from your mouth also softens your nails, making them more prone to breaking and cracking. Nail biting is a hard to break habit, but it is the first big step to beautiful looking nails!
   • There are products on the market that will keep you from biting your nails by making them taste weird.
   • Reward yourself for the results you achieve by giving yourself an amazing manicure after growing your nails for a few weeks without biting them off.
2. Don't try to use your nails as tools. Are you tempted to use your nails to peel stickers off bottles, open cans, and perform other tasks? This puts pressure on your nails, causing them to crack and weaken. While it's impossible to completely stop using your nails as a resource - after all, that's what you got them for! - it can help keep them intact if you think more carefully about how you use your nails.
3. Do not scrape the polish off your nails. If you tend to scratch your nail polish, please stop. This will tear the surface of your nails, making them fragile and easy to break. When you are done with your manicure, gently remove the polish. You will see a big difference.
4. Do not use harsh products on your nails. If your nails are naturally prone to break then using caustic products can make the situation much worse. For example, acetone, the ingredient that removes nail polish from your nails, is extremely drying and can cause nails to crumble if you use it too often. Even nail polish usually has ingredients that can be harsh on your nails. Give them a few weeks to recover from products - they will grow strong and shiny again. An alternative to caustic, drying nail polishes are nail polishes that are water-based instead of drying chemicals.
   • Dish soap and other cleaning products can be harsh on nails. Wear gloves when cleaning your house or dishes.
   • Use a moisturizing hand soap when you wash your hands.
5. Eat foods with a lot of nutritional value. If your diet is deficient in certain foods, it will show up in your nails. It can cause them to look dry, ridged, or even discolored, and cause them to break more easily than usual. The solution? Eat plenty of foods that contain the vitamins and minerals your body needs to produce healthy nails. As a bonus, those same foods will work wonders for your hair too!
   • Eat plenty of protein, as this is what nails are made of. Fish, chicken, pork, spinach, and beans are all good sources of protein.
   • Eat foods rich in biotin, the B vitamin found in nuts, fish, eggs and liver.
   • Eat zinc and vitamin C.
   • Also eat foods rich in calcium.

Method 2 of 3: Maintain your nails

1. Keep maintaining them. When your nails are the desired length, file or trim them every now and then to keep the shape and prevent nails from growing too long.

Method 3 of 3: Paint your nails

1. Remove the nail polish when it is time. When the nail polish starts to crumble beyond repair, use a gentle nail polish remover to remove the polish. Make sure the nail polish remover does not contain acetone and be gentle. Look for a nail polish remover that contains ethyl acetate instead of acetone. If you used a water-based nail polish, keep in mind that standard nail polish removers will not work; you will have to buy a remover specifically for water-based nail polish. Be careful when removing polish, rubbing hard will damage the nails.
   • It is wise to leave your nails alone for a while after removing the nail polish. Wait a few weeks before painting them again.

Tips

• Instead of a metal nail file, use a cardboard nail file. These are better for your nails and work just as well. Crystal nail files are also gentle on your nails and can be washed and reused.
• Eating foods high in vitamin K, such as full-fat pasteurized dairy or leafy greens, will help your nails grow faster and stronger.
• Use hand and nail cream every night, making sure to rub it in and around your nails to keep your nails hydrated and strong.
• Does not bite nails. If they grow too long, just cut them with pliers. Don't bite them off, because doing so will damage your nails.
• Instead of using your nails as a resource, take the time to find the right tool. It keeps your nails from crumbling and breaking.
• If you want, you can use a four-sided nail polish block. The first side is used as a nail file, the second will smooth out deep ridges, the third will smooth the finer ridges, and the fourth will make the nail look shinier. Never use a nail polish block more than twice a month, otherwise you will thin and damage your nails. If you have very weak nails, it is best not to polish them until they are stronger.
• Take your time to care for your nails.
• Be careful when opening soda cans. If you have long nails, try opening them with the side of your finger instead of your fingernail.

Warnings

• Do not file your nails back and forth; file in one direction.
• If you plan on growing your nails long, make sure to use a nail brush to scrub under the nails to keep them clean. You can find nail brushes in various stores. Not washing your nails properly can make them a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Never drink nail polish or nail polish remover, and never inhale the fumes.

Necessities

• Nail scissors
• Nail file / cardboard nail file
• Clear nail polish or nail hardener
• Hand and nail cream
• Four-sided nail polisher (not necessary)
• Nail polish remover