There are a lot of things to do when it comes to getting your nails done. You can go to the nail salon and get them done professionally or you can do it yourself at home. I prefer to do my nails at home because I don’t have time to go to the salon, plus it’s cheaper this way.

One thing that I have noticed is that when you paint your nails with regular nail polish, they never last more than a couple of days before they start chipping off. If you use shellac nails though, they will last for weeks without chipping! This saves me from having to constantly repaint my nails over and over again. Also, shellac nails are stronger than regular acrylics so there’s no need for fill-ins every two weeks like you would do with acrylics. Instead, just buff away any bumps or ridges on the surface of your nail bed and reapply a new coat every couple of weeks!

Here are some tips for growing long nails:

1) Keep them clean by washing them with soap and water every day (or at least once a week).

2) Don’t bite them; this weakens the nail and makes it brittle which leads to breakage later on down the road.

Growing out your nails, and maintaining them, can be a daunting task. Between the constant breakage and peeling, it seems impossible for some to grow long nails. Trust me, I understand! After years of struggling with weak and brittle nails, I have finally figured out what works for me. Here are my top 7 tips for growing long, strong nails!

1. Strengthen your nail beds. The best way to do this is by using a nail strengthener that contains keratin. Keratin proteins are the building blocks of our hair and nails. The stronger your nail beds are, the less likely they are to peel or crack.

2. Keep your cuticles moisturized. Cuticles act as a sealant between the nail plate and skin on our fingers and toes. When dry and brittle, they tend to peel away from the nail plate causing damage to the new growth underneath. By keeping them moisturized, you will prevent them from peeling or cracking which can cause damage to the new growth underneath. Using a cuticle oil every day will keep them hydrated so they don’t dry out and peel away from the nail plate. My favorite is CND Solar Oil as it smells amazing and absorbs quickly into your skin without leaving it greasy

1. Use a Nail Hardener

If your nails are weak and brittle, they will not grow long. I use OPI Nail Envy (pictured above) which is a nail strengthener that also promotes growth. It actually makes your nails stronger and less prone to breaking so you can grow them out longer.

2. Moisturize Often

I tend to forget this step, but it is one of the most important steps in growing long nails. If your hands are dry, your nails will be too and they won’t last long without breaking or cracking. Use moisturizer often on your hands and cuticles to keep your fingers from drying out.

3. Take a Vitamin Supplement

Do you take a vitamin supplement? If not, you should start! Not only does it help promote healthy hair growth, but it also helps with nail growth as well! You can find biotin supplements at any drug store for a good price to help promote nail growth. Don’t forget to take them daily for best results!

4. Keep Them Buffed

This step doesn’t necessarily help them grow faster, but it will make them look better while you’re waiting for them to grow out longer! I like to use a 4-way buffer on my nails

If you want to grow your nails long you need to start with the right shape. You should keep your nail shape very simple, so it is best not to have a square or oval shaped nail. It is best to have a rounded shape. I like to think of it as a little moon on the top of your finger. You can have a file that has a radius at the end, and then use the center of that radius as the tip of your finger. Then file from the side outwards to create this shape. If you do not have a file like this you can also use an emery board for natural nails, which usually has about a 1/8″ radius at the end. The easiest way to get your nails into this shape is by filing them every single day for about 5 minutes each day. This will also help you keep them nice and even, since nail files are much easier on nails than clippers are. If you find that your nails are getting longer than you want them too, then just shorten them up with some clippers and then go back to filing them every day.

Another important rule when growing long nails is: never ever cut your cuticles! The cuticle is important because it protects new growth from bacteria and infection. If

Nail grows about one-tenth of an inch each month. If you have brittle nails, you may need to wait longer, but if you have healthy nails, you should be able to grow them out in about a month.

1. Stop Biting Your Nails: This is the hardest thing to do, so it’s always good to get it out of the way first. If you’re picking up a bad habit, try putting your hands in gloves or mittens whenever possible. Also, keep your nails trimmed short, so there’s not as much nail to bite off.

2. Use a Nail Strengthener: The best nail strengtheners on the market contain formaldehyde, but this powerful chemical can dry out your nails and damage them further if used too often or left on overnight. A better choice is a nail conditioner that contains calcium or beta-carotene instead. These are less powerful ingredients, but they will help strengthen your nails in the long run.

3. Avoid Polish with Formaldehyde: Many nail polishes contain formaldehyde and other chemicals that can weaken your nails over time. Always look for “three-free” nail polish–polish that does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP

Tip 1: Use a nail strengthener

If you have weak, peeling nails then a nail strengthener is just what you need. You can find them at any drugstore or beauty supply store. A nail strengthener will help prevent your nails from breaking, peeling and splitting. Apply it right after removing your old polish.

Tip 2: Apply lotion to your hands and nails every night

Massaging lotion into your hands and nails every night helps keep cuticles soft and moisturized. It also prevents hangnails from forming which means less chance of breaking and ripping off your nail. I highly recommend getting a good hand lotion with shea butter in it as it works great!

Tip 3: Always use gloves when doing housework

I don’t know about you but when I clean my house with bare hands I notice my nails break more often than if I were wearing gloves. Using gloves will protect your nails from harsh chemicals that could damage them.

1. Use polish remover with acetone and a lint free pad to remove any polish. The acetone will dry out your nails, so you want to make sure to use a moisturizer. If you suffer from nail biting or have a habit of picking at your cuticles, you can use super glue instead. A thin coating of glue on top of your nails will stop you from biting them and it will peel off when you wash your hands with soap and water. You can also rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into your cuticles to prevent the glue from sticking to them.

2. File your nails in one direction using a file that has a rough surface. You can find nail files at any drug store or beauty supply store. Start by shaping the edges of your nails and then smooth out the surface until you reach the length you desire. Make sure not to file too much or else your nails may become too thin, which is prone to cracking and splitting.

3. Take a sharp manicure scissor and trim off any dead skin around cuticles or hangnails by snipping them carefully and gently pushing them back with an orange stick or cuticle pusher that has been soaked in warm water. If you do not have manicure scissors