Just like a watched pot never boils, watched nails never grow. Or so it seems. Whether they’ve been broken down, or wrecked after acrylics or gel, or you’re a perpetual biter, the quest for long nails can seem endless. And for good reason: On average, nails only grow about .12 inches per month. A variety of factors such as age, season, diet, and genetics, also play a role in the growth rate. While there’s no miracle cure that will instantly leave you with lengthy tips, there are certain products you can use to help promote healthy nail growth, not to mention leave your nails stronger, too. Check out 9 of our favorites below, which, dare we say, nailed it.
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- DIY Beauty Hack For the Best Glitter Nails
- 15 Adorable Disney Nail Art Ideas for Kids
- 9 Metallic Nail Polishes for the Holidays
9 Products That Will Help Your Nails Grow Faster
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Barielle No Bite Pro Growth
For those prone to nail nibbling, Barielle No Bite Pro Growth ($9) is a must. Not only does the clear, odorless formula have a bitter taste that deters you from biting, it's also infused with pro-growth ingredients to speed along the process. Use it alone or swipe it on over polish.
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Butter London Horse Power Nail Rescue Basecoat
Butter London Horse Power Base Coat ($18) touts a long list of good-for-your nails ingredients. We're talking strengthening horsetail extract and calcium, plus biotin, an essential vitamin that helps promote nail growth. Also nice: It's free of a long list of questionable chemicals, including formaldehyde.
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Duri Rejuvacote 1
With two different types of protein, plus keratin and calcium, Duri Rejuvacote 1 ($6) stimulates healthy nail growth and also creates a protective layer to keep nails from breaking. Plus, it can use used as both a base and top coat, ideal for mani lovers looking for longer tips.
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Essie Treat Love and Color
It took 10 years and research to develop Essie Treat Love and Color ($10), a multi-tasking treatment. It leaves nails stronger in just one week, with 60 percent less peeling and 35 percent less breakage. (And we all know that stronger nails equal longer nails). It comes in a variety of hues, though we're partial to Tinted Love, this super sheer pink.
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Hum Killer Nails
Score longer nails from the inside, out. Hum Killer Nails ($20) is a plant-based supplement packed with biotin, a vitamin that's essential for long, healthy nails (and hair, too). As with any supplement, just be sure to check with your doctor before taking it.
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Lauren B. Beauty Nail Growth Serum
You likely already use a serum for your skin, but you may want to consider using one for your nails, too. The Lauren B. Beauty Nail Growth Serum ($75) is pricey, yes, but well worth the splurge. Loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, biotin, and peptides, it's the ultimate solution for brittle nails that refuse to grow. Bonus points for the easy-to-use brush-on applicator.
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Nutra Nail 5 to 7 Day Nail Growth System
When time is of the essence (and really, when isn't it?), Nutra Nail 5 to 7 Day Nail Growth System ($7) helps soft, weak tips grow longer and stronger in less than a week. The fast-absorbing formula is packed with calcium and protein to deliver results, fast.
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OPI Nail Envy Maximum Strength Nail Hardener
Swipe on two coats of the OPI Nail Envy Maximum Strength Nail Hardener ($18), then add another coat every other day. Remove after a week and repeat. Within two to three weeks you should see longer nails, thanks to the hydrolyzed wheat and calcium in this strengthening treatment (which also doubles as a base coat, FYI).
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Orly Nailtrition
Orly Nailtrition ($15) uses heavy-hitting ingredients such as collagen, wheat protein, keratin, and bamboo extract to help harden peeling nails and boost growth. Swipe it on after you've been sporting gels or acrylics, or whenever your tips are in need of a little extra TLC.
