Recently, I've been receiving nonstop compliments on how long my natural nails are and how fast they grow. I've also been reminded of how incredibly lucky I am to have a long nail bed and nails that don't split or break easily. However, there's nothing truly "natural" about it. In fact, I owe everything I love about the length, shape, and overall look of my nails to my routine of hydration-boosting nail and cuticle oils, nail-strengthening treatments, and a monthly manicure to keep my nails looking their best. A few years ago, I didn't know the first thing about keeping my nails healthy and couldn't seem to keep the length I was after.
That was, of course, until I changed my approach. While I think I've finally gotten the hang of my nailcare routine, I'm always on the hunt for helpful tips and tricks from experts to level up my approach, especially when their advice has to do with encouraging nail growth and keeping my desired length. This time around I tapped Aja Walton, a celebrity manicurist and content creator, for her advice on promoting nail growth and the best products to make it happen sooner rather than later.
What's Hindering Your Nail Growth
What are the culprits that continuously get in the way of achieving your goal nail length? Walton tells me there are many factors that contribute to the peeling, splitting, and thinning of nails and lead to slow nail growth. In turn, this damage interrupts the natural growth cycle, which leaves nails weak and fragile. Below, Walton shares the biggest factors that delays nail growth.
- Damage from harsh products: Overuse of acetone-based nail polish removers and low-quality polish can weaken the nail plate and slow growth.
- Excessive buffing and improper gel removal: Peeling off gel polish and acrylic strips leads to significant damage to the nails since this results in the removal of the nail plate, leaving the nails brittle.
- Nutritional deficiencies: A lack of biotin, protein, and other essential nutrients can impact nail health.
- Everyday habits: Damage to nails can occur over time from using our nails as tools, failing to protect them during hand-focus activities, and frequently exposing them to water and cleaning products without gloves.
To avoid the aforementioned issues, Walton advises taking regular breaks from UV nail treatments to allow nails to recover naturally (she suggests using To the Rescue UV Gel Damage Repair by Essie during this time to seal and protect nails from peeling and splitting), practicing proper gel- and acrylic-removal techniques, keeping a balanced diet to promote nail health, and wearing gloves when cleaning to shield nails from exposure to harsh chemicals and water.
How to Promote Speedy Nail Growth
No matter where you are on your nail-growth journey, there are some very simple ways to boost growth. Walton encourages focusing on hydration and moisture by applying cuticle oil daily to keep the nail matrix (the layer of cells at the base of your nails that produces new cells) healthy. Walton also advises using products designed to strengthen, repair, and nourish the nails. Turn your attention to incorporating biotin-rich foods into your diet and keeping your nails trimmed and shaped to avoid breakage. "Following these steps consistently will help nails grow stronger and faster," says Walton.
The Perfect Nail Growth–Boosting Manicure
There are always ways to encourage growth during your manicure process, and they're easier than you may think. For Walton, "the perfect manicure would focus on nurturing, repairing, and protecting the nails while encouraging growth." When doing manicures designed to help her clients boost the length of their nails, she begins by soaking them in water infused with a cuticle softener to loosen dead skin gently. "Add in a nourishing oil like jojoba or olive oil to hydrate nails and cuticles," says Walton. After pushing back the cuticles and shaping the nails to prevent breakage, she suggests using a fine-grit file to shape the nails while avoiding micro-tears.
Next, apply a nail-growth base coat to restore damage and create a strong foundation. Walton's top pick is Essie's To the Rescue UV Gel Damage Repair. She suggests either leaving the nails bare with the natural finish of Essie's sheer treatment or using a breathable nail polish to combat nail breakage while allowing your nails to strengthen naturally. Walton finishes the manicure with a growth-boosting topcoat for added protection and shine, and she massages cuticle oil into the nails and skin to effectively "stimulate circulation and encourage growth."
Discover the Best Products for Nail Growth
Walton highlights this clinically tested nail treatment as a way to promote strong nails and improve visible signs of UV gel damage in five days. "This innovative treatment repairs damage caused by gel and UV exposure. Its builder gel–inspired viscosity provides a thick overlay of protection to seal and strengthen the nail structure," she says. "It's a must-have for anyone transitioning back to natural nails. The treatment also acts as a base coat so you can wear alone or follow up with a color of your choosing."
After soaking your nails in water infused with cuticle oil to gently loosen the dead skin, Walton advises gently pushing back the cuticles and shaping the nail to avoid breakage. Londontown's professional-grade cuticle pusher helps to clean and refine the appearance of your cuticle in addition to giving the nails an elongated appearance, immediately adding length.
No matter what stunning Essie shade you choose, Walton encourages nail novices and experts to consider the brand's nail polish. "Breathable formulas allow oxygen to pass through, helping nails maintain their natural health while still looking polished," Walton explains. Each polish uses a salon-quality, vegan formula that, when paired with the brand's easy-glide brush, delivers flawless coverage. Right now, my favorite shade is Bubbly, a sparkling golden beige that goes on sheer and works with all skin tones.
One of Walton's biggest tips? Avoid the frequent use of acetone, which is commonly found in everyday nailcare products like polish remover. This one, however, uses a nourishing formula free of acetone, synthetic fragrance, and other harmful additives to wipe away polish while nourishing the nails with essential oils, vitamins, and extracts like rosehip, aloe, and vitamin E. My nails haven't been as dry since I added this one to my at-home manicure routine.
If you're looking for a topcoat to keep your manicure looking fresh for days after you step out of the salon, it may be time to get your hands on this Essie topcoat crafted to keep salon-quality manicures protected and shiny for up to seven days without chipping and fading. "This quick-dry topcoat is specifically designed to prolong the life of your manicure by adding a layer of resilience to help prevent breakage," explains Walton.
When it comes to cuticle removers, this product has received the stamp of approval from Who What Wear's beauty team. It gently loosens and removes dry, dead skin around the cuticle to help you maintain healthy nails without having to soak your hands in water or remove shedding skin with a cuticle cutter. Simply apply this product liberally where the skin meets the nails and push the cuticles back toward the knuckle with a cuticle pusher before wiping the nails clean.
To jump-start nail growth, consider using Essie's hydrating cuticle oil. "This oil is the perfect final step to a manicure because it delivers hydration and nourishment to nails in need," Walton tells me. "It's infused with a blend of natural oils—including apricot-kernel oil, which is rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids." The oil rehydrates dry, rough cuticles after exposure to acetone, polish, and other drying manicure products. Massage it in to boost blood circulation in the nail matrix, which stimulates growth.
To provide my hands and nails with an extra burst of hydration, I always find myself reaching for this cream by Caudalie. Packed with moisturizing ingredients like antioxidant grape polyphenols and reparative organic fair trade shea butter, the richly textured and fast-absorbing cream leaves the skin feeling soft and delicately scented. I love pairing this with the brand's Nourishing Hyaluronic Body Lotion and Vegan Body Butter.
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