How to Get Good Looking Nails Fast: Expert Tips

Keep reading to learn the best ways to care for your nails, as well as which foods to go for to strengthen your nails from the inside out.

Things You Should Know

• Trim your nails once a week, and use a nail file to keep them flat and smooth.
• Apply cuticle oil and a nail hardener to strengthen your nails and the skin around them.
• Use natural products that don’t include acetone to avoid damaging your nails.
• Eat foods that are rich in biotin and zinc to promote healthy nail growth.

Caring for Your Nails

Clip your nails once every other week. Try not to bite your fingernails when they get long. Instead, maintain a set of beautiful nails by trimming them on a regular basis. While it might be tempting to grow them out, aim to keep your nails a manageable length. Use a pair of sanitized nail clippers to create an even, consistent trim.[1]

Keep the edges of your nails smooth with a nail file. Don’t panic if you break or scrape a nail against a rough surface. Instead of biting or chewing off the nail, use a smooth file to buff out the sharp edge.
Use nail clippers to trim your hangnails at the root. Don’t rip off your hangnails by hand—this can cause you to tear away the skin around your fingers (ouch!). To prevent infection, use a pair of clippers to cut your hangnails at the root. Additionally, try to avoid biting or nibbling at your hangnails, as this will do more harm than good.[3]

Apply cuticle oil once a day. Keep your nails looking refreshed and hydrated by saturating them with cuticle oil each day.
Apply a nail strengthener to harden your nails. Do your nails feel brittle or weak? If so, a nail hardener might be just the product for you. Swipe the product on once a day just like you would normal nail polish, then let it soak in. Over time, your nails will toughen up and grow in stronger.[6]

Leave your cuticles alone to prevent infection. Avoid the temptation to pick at or bite around your nails. While they can seem pesky at times, you need healthy, intact cuticles to keep bad bacteria out of your nails. If they’re really bothering you, use a cuticle pusher to nudge them further down your nail.[7]

Use nail products that don’t include acetone. Avoid products with ingredients that can cause damage to your nails, like acetone.
Scrub beneath your nails with soap and water as needed. Avoid picking out dirt and other gunk from your nails with anything pointy, like a metal tool.

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Eat foods that are high in biotin to make your nails thicker. Add fresh, biotin-rich foods to your diet like cauliflower, eggs, beans, bananas, lentils, salmon, and peanuts. Monitor your nails over several weeks to see if they feel stronger and thicker.[10]

Snack on foods that contain a lot of protein to strengthen your nails.[12] If you eat meat and other animal products, try adding chicken, lean red meat, dairy, and eggs to your diet. Additionally, you can opt for whole grains, soybeans, and nuts, regardless of your dietary preferences.