Your fingernails grow at an average rate of 3.47 millimeters (mm) per month, or about a tenth of a millimeter per day.
Chacon, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. “Fingernails tend to grow about 0.7 mm or about 0.03 inches per week,” she says, adding that toenails take about 2-3 times longer to grow.
The average nail grows around 2-3mm a month (so around 0.6mm a week) however, some people find their nails growing at a much faster or slower rate.
Biotin, a type of B vitamin, has been shown to increase nail thickness by about 25% in patients with brittle nails and "can improve nail smoothness and reduce nail splitting,” she says, ultimately supporting faster growth.
Your middle nail grows the fastest and your thumb nails the slowest.
Olive oil penetrates the nail and promotes quicker and stronger nail growth. Thus, olive oil is good for dry brittle nails. Warm olive oil in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds and massage it into your nails and cuticles for five to ten minutes. After that, put on cotton gloves and leave them on overnight.
Your fingernails will not grow at a faster rate than the usual if you are swimming, but the water does make your fingernails more pliable, which could have an affect on making them feel like they are growing.
Similarly, biting your nails might increase the rate of nail growth. While it's not clear exactly how this occurs, researchers theorize that the physical manipulation of a nail through biting stimulates the growth plate of each finger to be more metabolically active, leading to speedier nail formation.
The nails on your dominant hand will grow quicker, as well as those on the longest fingers. The rate of growth differs by around 0.1mm, which can make it quite noticeable from finger to finger. Interestingly, the rate of growth is three times faster for a bitten nail compared to a healthy nail.
Yes, fast-growing nails are a good sign of your health.
Whitening toothpaste, when applied, can lighten and brighten your nails in just a few short minutes. The same clinically proven natural whitening ingredients in products such as Tom's of Maine Luminous White Toothpaste can double as a treatment for surface stains on nails.
Vaseline does not actually stimulate nail growth, but it can help to improve the condition of the nails, which will then lead to more healthy nail growth. Vaseline can help you to get strong nails, and is a great way to keep your nails healthy, if you apply it regularly to your nails.
New studies show long nails could leave you vulnerable to fungus and bacteria that get trapped underneath. One study even found MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause serious infections in hospitals, CNN reported.
Nail growth rate was calculated based on recorded distance and time between the two measurements. Results: Average fingernail growth rate was faster than that of toenails (3.47 vs. 1.62 mm/month, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between right and left fingernail/toenail growth rates.
The rate of nail growth is affected by a number of activities and environmental conditions. For example, during the day and in the summer, nails grow faster than at night or in winter. Nails grow more rapidly on longer fingers and on the dominant hand.
They are made up of layers of the protein keratin and grow from beneath the base of the nail under your cuticle. As new cells grow, older cells become hard and compacted and are eventually pushed out toward your fingertips. Healthy nails are smooth, without ridges, grooves, spots or discoloration.
The nails on your dominant hand grow faster than the rest, as do the nails on your longer fingers. Your fingernails also grow faster during the day and during the summer. Although it may sound like there's no rhyme or reason to how your nails grow, there are a few basic factors that affect the speed of growth.
Fingernails grow approximately 1/8 inch, per month. Toenails grow slower than fingernails, at a rate of about 1/16 inch per month. Hair, on the other hand, grows at a much faster rate: roughly ¼ to ½ inch per month, or up to 6 inches per year.
Shorter nails are generally healthier
“(Short nails) can help you rejuvenate the nail to promote strength and length, especially if you've been having regular (manicure) appointments without giving your nails a break,” Natalie says.
Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration. Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail.