Making This One Small Change Made My Nails Grow Crazy-Fast

Confession: I did a bad thing. I peeled my gel
manicure off. Instead of letting a professional secure
acetone-soaked cotton balls to my fingers with aluminum foil to
gently loosen the polish, I maniacally picked and peeled until my
once-beautiful
mani lay scattered in tiny piles all over my coffee table.
Sigh.

I’m not proud of my actions. As someone who’s consistently worn
gel for the better part of the last five years, I know better than
anyone that I’ve broken the cardinal rule. Peeling off the firm
lacquer in this way also takes off the top layer of your actual
fingernails, so giving in to the urge can leave them flaky,
flimsy, ridged, breaking—all the things you do not want nails to
be and all the things that keep those babies from reaching their
full-length potential. So now, in an attempt to nurture my nails
back to health, I’m officially on a break from my beloved
gel manicures. Honestly, my nails are so much happier for it.

I used to justify my gel habit by pointing out that
the solidified polish made my nails stronger and able to grow
longer than if they were bare, but now I’m switching gears to focus
on adding topical nutrients, hardeners, and moisturizers to my
regimen to achieve those same results. Whether you’re recovering
from a gel-related mishap or just taking your nail-growth journey
to the next level, there are some excellent buys on the market to
help with every woe standing between you and the long, glorious
nails of your dreams. Ahead, 13 growth-inducing products that will
help you get here.

Sally
Hansen is one of those brands you can always look to for great nail
treatments. This one is a concentrated peptide serum enriched with
biotin that you dab onto each nail. Give it a few days, and you’ll
notice stronger nails that are able to sustain length much
better.

Keep
this nourishing cuticle oil on your desk or nightstand to apply
whenever your nail area is looking a little dry. That extra
hydration and TLC will go a long way when it comes to growth.

This
serum is infused with cold-pressed golden jojoba and vitamin E,
making it the perfect conditioner for nails, hands, and skin on any
other part of your body that’s in need of a little extra love.

Much
like hair and skincare, healthy nails start beneath the surface.
This one uses Japanese seaweed, aloe vera, rich bran oil, shea
butter, and vitamin E to condition the cuticles and keep nails
moisturized.

This
essential oil blend helps repair damage and encourages growth while
also improving the appearance of nails.

You’ve
probably seen this product used in the salon, and that’s because it
actually works. The three-step system employs a unique protein
formula to tackle weakness, thinning, softness, or peeling by
sealing the individual layers of nail back together. This bond
discourages the splitting and breaking that detracts from
growth.

This
vitamin-rich formula promises strong, long nails that resist
breakage.

You
can thank added calcium and protein for the hardening effect of
this base coat by OPI.

This
is one of those products I remember always seeing on my mom’s
vanity growing up. It helps strengthen weak nails with vitamin B5
and green tea.

Ridges
in the nails can stem from damage, genetics, or age, but filling
them in with a base like this one protects against heavy staining
from nail polish. Less staining means less polish remover and
buffing trying to remove color, which can weaken the nails and keep
them from growing.

This
heavy-duty Swiss cream is meant to restore health to damaged nails
by adding essential amino acids, lipids, and kerato-balancing
vitamins. By nourishing the outer layer, nails are strengthened and
encouraged to grow.

“My
nails are incredibly brittle and weak, with lots of peeling. When I
use this cream at least once daily, my nails grow long and rock
hard and stay that way. It’s a miracle cream,” writes one Amazon
reviewer. Calcium, vitamins, and hydrogenated jojoba oil are to
thank for the nail-saving effects.

This
natural formula contains nail-growing nutrients like almond oil,
lemon peel oil, cacao butter, and rosemary leaf extract. Up next,
every time I wear this nail color, I get so many compliments.