Quit These 3 Habits If You Want Longer + Stronger Nails In 2023

Growing long and strong nails isn't easy for everyone—but it is possible. While there's plenty of information about what you should be doing, it's just as important to know what to skip for longer tips. 

Cuticle care isn't just about looks (although, frayed, rough skin does take away from an elevated mani). Your cuticle has an essential function, too: This means when your cuticles are in less than ideal condition (dry, peeling, etc.), that function will be affected as well. 

"If the cuticle compromise persists, the nail will eventually grow in irregularly," board-certified dermatologist and nail expert Dana Stern, M.D., once told mbg. "This is because the cuticle overlies the nail matrix, which is the nail-producing center of the nail." To sum it up: Cuticle care is essential for thriving, long nails.

If you've been getting acrylic manicures for years, we're not blaming you for it. A fun acrylic or gel nail moment is A-OK every once in a while. However, you should proceed with caution, as these plastic tips can wreck your nails over time.

"To get the acrylic to stick, your natural nails must be filed down, causing damage and making them weaker. They also aren't flexible like your natural nails, and if you were to break one, you're more likely to crack and rip at the nail bed," organic manicurist Eunice Montes-Hamaguchi says regarding faux nails. 

While more research is needed to confirm biotin's efficacy on nail growth specifically, there has been some evidence to show that biotin supplementation can support healthy nails overall. And if you want to grow long nails that don't chip, you'll have to make sure they're as strong as can be. 

In addition, you can look to collagen supplements. Studies indicate that collagen supplements can support healthy nail growth.* That's because collagen supplements contain hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which are short chains of amino acids. 

These amino acids are the building blocks for keratin—aka, what your nails are made of. For example, one study found that when people took collagen daily for 24 weeks, their nail health was better maintained3, including faster growth rates, reduced breakage, and improved appearance.*