How I grow long and strong natural nails

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1) Take your vitamins

Two photos of hands holding a cuticle complex nail pen. The first with short nails the second with longer nails. Text: 5 ways to grow long, strong natural nails. buttersilkbody.com

Supplements can give your body the nutrients it needs when there is a deficiency. Biotin is the main nutrient in Hair, Skin, and Nails supplements. It can make your skin breakout though, so stop use if you notice your skin reacting negatively to them.

And of course, consult your physician before starting any new vitamin regimes. This is not medical advice.

2) Drink your water

This tip is on a lot of different lists for a lot of different reasons but it bears repeating: drink your water. Moisturization cannot simply come from outside the body. You must hydrate as well. Proper hydration helps the function of your body and its tissues which include your cuticles and nail beds.

Are you drinking enough water? This calculator from the USDA will help you figure out your recommended water intake, along with your daily caloric needs, macronutrients, vitamins, and more.

Once you know how much water you should be drinking, you can work it into your routine.

The best thing I ever did to help myself drink more water was buy a water bottle. It’s great for the environment and when you keep it nearby it’s a constant reminder to take a sip. This is the one I’ve used since I was pregnant and I can’t recommend it enough.

3) Take a break from gel and acrylics

As cute as they are, acrylic and gel nails tend to strip the top layers of your nails and weaken your nailbeds. Especially during the removal process. Soaking off acrylic or gel nails in acetone removes the artificial nail, yes, but it also drains the natural oils from your real nails. Over time and multiple applications, your natural nails can become brittle and weak which negatively affects nail growth.

Give your nails a chance to breathe.

Three rose petal cuticle complex nail oil pens against a background of a blue sky and large tree. — Our BSB members love Rose Petal Cuticle Complex the most.

4) Moisturize your nails

Moisturizing your nails is an important step. Especially for heavy acrylic users. When you moisturize your nails, you give them direct access to nourishment and vitamins. Some of the best oils to use are jojoba oil and vitamin e oil.

Jojoba oil absorbs through the nails well due to its molecular structure being so similar to sebum - the oil naturally produced by your body. This makes it easy for your body to take advantage of the wonderful benefits of jojoba oil.

Vitamin e oil has tons of positive benefits for your nails from repairing damage, protecting against free radicals, to hydrating the nail bed and cuticles.

Jojoba and vitamin e oils are the primary ingredients in any Butter Silk Body Cuticle Complex. You can get yours here.

Photo of four fingers in front of a notebook. The nails are long on all fingers except for the middle which is broken. — Accidents happen!

On photoshoot day for my nails…one decided to snap right off **sob**

5) Understand that accidents happen

Try as we do to avoid them, accidents do happen. Sometimes we break a nail!

And it’s okay.

It’s up to you if you want to start the rest of your nails over or shorten them a bit but please don’t beat yourself up about not having perfect nails.

It’s a journey.

We’re all imperfect.

Take it from me.