How fast do nails grow?

1. How fast do natural nails grow?

Nails have the ability to grow throughout your life and regenerate themselves after damage. In general, nails grow about 0.1 mm per day, which means they grow about 3-4 mm in a month. After about 3-6 months, your nails are fully grown. When severe damage is done to the nail matrix, the growth of your nails can be stunted or even stop completely.

2. What affects nail growth?

If you want beautiful, long nails, it is important to understand the factors that can affect the growth of your nails. Below we discuss some of the most important factors that can affect the speed of nail growth.

2.1. Dominant hand

The nails on your dominant hand usually grow faster than those on your other hand, simply because you use that hand more. In addition, the nail of your little finger often grows more slowly then the other nails.

2.2. Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes can have a big influence on the growth of your nails such as pregnancy. During pregnancy, the woman suddenly has a big increase in estrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes ensure that the growth of the nail is accelerated.

2.3. Age

In general, nails grow faster in younger people than in older people. This is often because blood circulation decreases as we age.

2.4. Nail biting

Although nail biting is a bad habit, it can lead to faster nail growth. This is because biting causes damage to the nails, which can stimulate blood flow to the nail bed and accelerate growth.

2.5. Healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle can help your nails grow faster. Good nutrition, regular exercise and enough sleep are all important for healthy nails.

2.6. Gender

Men generally have faster nail growth than women.

3. How do nails grow?

Nail growth begins from the nail root, also known as the matrix. The matrix is ​​responsible for the continuous production of new nail cells. Each cell in the matrix continues to divide, creating new cells that allow the nail to grow. As the new cells multiply, they push the old cells to the surface. Once the new nail cells reach the surface, they lose their ability to multiply and become dead cells. This process repeats itself over and over again.

Please note! It is important to know that damage to the matrix can cause poor nail growth or in some cases the nail may not grow at all.

4. Can nail growth be accelerated?

There are many misconceptions about accelerating nail growth. Many people think that cuticle oil or other cosmetics can accelerate nail growth, but unfortunately this is not the case. Cuticle oil can increase the flexibility of the nail plate and thus reduce brittleness, making your nails stronger and less likely to break. This makes your nails grow longer. However, to actually accelerate nail growth, the nail matrix must produce more cells. This can be stimulated by eating healthy foods. Vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B and biotin, are important for nail growth. Zinc and iron also play an important role.

5. What about toenail growth?

Toenails are known to grow much slower than fingernails. While fingernails grow an average of 3-4 mm per month, toenail growth is limited to only 2-3 mm per month. This means that it takes much longer for your toenails to grow out completely, namely 12-18 months.

6. Why do fingernails grow faster than toenails?

Fingernails grow much faster than toenails. This is because nail growth depends on factors such as blood circulation, energy and nutrients. This is the main reason why toenails grow slower . In addition, toenails are treated differently than fingernails, for example, because we wear shoes or socks that restrict blood circulation, which slows growth.

Another reason why fingernails grow faster is that our hands are closer to our hearts and therefore have better blood flow. Feet, on the other hand, receive less oxygen and nutrients for the production of new cells due to reduced blood flow in this area.