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It often feels to me as if beauty is a waiting game designed to test my patience. On the one end of the waiting, scale is waiting for each layer of my nail polish to dry. On the other extreme is the seeming forever that it takes my hair and nails to grow. This raises the question of how long does it take for my nails to grow. The adult fingernail grows 3mm per month on average. The nails on your dominant hand grow faster and the nails on your larger fingers grow faster. Your nails also grow faster during the summer as well as during the day. Let’s take a closer look at how and why your nails grow at the speed they do as well as what you can do to be able to rock your long fingernails sooner. How Do Nails Grow? Before we start looking at how fast nails grow, we first need to know a little about how they grow. I’ll keep things as simple as I can and not overwhelm you with any complex nail anatomy. What Is The Nail Matrix: The nail matrix is also known as the root of the nail according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). This is the part of your nail that is constantly making new cells. These new cells force the old nail cells to become packed together and then get pushed through your skin to become the visible part of your nail. What Is The Nail Plate: The nail plate is the hard part of your nail. In other words, the actual fingernail you can see. This is what you are hoping to grow. This is what those packed old cells mentioned above become. The nail cells that form the nail plate are dead. That is why you don’t feel anything when you cut or file your nails. What Is The Nail Cuticle: This is probably one of the terms about your nails that you are familiar with. The AAD defines the cuticle as a small section of skin that protects the nail matrix from germs. Many girls mistakenly believe that it is the cuticle that causes their nails to grow. While the nail cuticle doesn’t directly relate to how nails grow, it’s still very important. What Is The Nail Lunula: The nail lunula is the small, white, half-moon shape that can be seen at the bottom of your nails. It is actually part of the nail matrix and is the only part of the nail matrix that might be visible. The nail lunula or just lunula for short is something that you will likely only see on your thumbs and sometimes on one or two other nails. Even though you can’t see it, every one of your nails has a lunula. You likely will notice this on your thumbs, though it’s present on all of your nails—you just might not see it. How Long Does It Take For Nails To Grow? Now that we have discussed all the parts of your nails as well as the process of how they grow, let’s talk speed – or how fast they actually grow. As you may have guessed from all the times you have stared at your nails, wishing them to be longer, nails grow pretty slowly. The sad truth is nails grow very slowly, as a matter of fact. There are a few things worth noting when it comes to how fast nails grow. Nails Grow Slower With Age: Both your fingernails and your toenails grow slower as you get older. Much like how everything slows as we age. Nails Don’t Grow Much: The adult fingernail only grows around three millimeters per month. This figure not only varies a little from one person to another but can also vary between the fingers on your hands. Toenails grow even slower and that can be about one millimeter per month. If for some reason you completely lose a fingernail, it will take six months to grow back. Toenails are a completely different matter. I have experience of losing toenails as an ultramarathon-distance trail runner. A toenail can easily take a year and a half to grow back. The Nails On Your Dominant Hand Grows Faster: As strange as it may seem, if you’re right-handed, your nails will grow faster on your right hand. Conversely, if you’re left-handed, they’ll grow faster on your left. Nails also grow faster on your larger fingers than on your smaller fingers. The Time Of Year Affects Nail Growth: Your nails grow faster during the summer. Your nails also grow faster during the day than they do at night. How To Make Your Nails Grow Faster Now that you are an expert on nails and nail growth, the thought has likely crossed your mind about how you can make your nails grow faster. If you are like me you are likely impatient and want to rock your long, gorgeous nails as soon as possible. The sad news is that there is no magic formula that will suddenly make your nails grow faster. There are some things that you can do that will help you to your goal of having long beautiful nails. The best way to encourage growth and make sure your nails can grow long is to keep them strong and healthy. You won’t get long nails if you have to frequently cut them short because they are damaged. Tips To Grow Your Nails Longer Here are a few nail care tips, courtesy of the AAD that will help you on your quest for gorgeous long nails. Clip Your Nails: When you do cut your nails, cut them straight across, slightly rounding the edges. Make sure there are no snags or tears. You can use a nail file to keep them in check with weekly maintenance to ensure you haven’t picked up snags or tears. The same treatment applies to your toenails. Don’t Bite Your Nails: This is an absolute no-no. Aside from being a bad habit, you can cause serious damage to your nails. Your goal is to have beautiful, long nails, and each bite puts you a month or more from your goal. Also, don’t remove or damage the cuticle. Keep Your Nails Dry: The only truly justified time to be keeping your nails moist is when you are getting a manicure. Moist nails are softer and more at risk of snags and tears. However, if you find that your toenails are difficult to cut, you can soak them in water for five to 10 minutes prior to cutting to help them soften. Wear Shoes That Fit: Tight shoes can harm your toenails. In more extreme cases tight shoes can lead to black toenails or maybe losing a toenail altogether. Why not expand your knowledge even further by reading another makeup/beauty article here on Pink Femme. You can find them either via the menu at the top of the page or by clicking this link that will take you to the list of all the beauty articles.

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