Horsetail Herb: Priti NYC nail guru Kim D’Amato suggests this supplement, which can be taken in pill or tea form. Horsetail may have antioxidant effects and the silica derived from its herbs is important for maintaining body tissue.

Grass-Fed Beef: “Your nails are made of the protein keratin, so strong nails would mean getting sufficient protein at every meal,” says nutritionist JJ Virgin, author of THE VIRGIN DIET COOKBOOK. In addition to beef, she suggests free-range poultry, wild-caught fish, and— for vegetarians —plant-based (but not soy) protein powder.

Vitamin E: Whether you take capsules orally or rub the liquid right onto your nails, this supplement should help restore moisture and strength, D’Amato says.

Super Seeds: Make sure you’re getting sufficient amounts of freshly ground flax and chia seeds, Virgin says. “Essential fatty acids are crucial for vibrant skin and healthy nails,” she explains.

Nuts: Whether dehydrated or slow roasted, nuts provide calcium and other minerals crucial for strong, lustrous nails, Virgin says.

Avocado: D’Amato and Virgin agree that biotin is a much-suggested remedy because it really can help thicken weak nails (and make your hair grow super fast, to boot). Try high-biotin (and yummy) foods like avocado and sweet potatoes.

Full-Spectrum Multivitamin: For optimal nail health, Virgin says you should supplement your diet with a daily multivitamin that also has an essential fatty acid formula. That way, you’re getting all the nutrients you need, including iron and zinc, which can help strengthen nails.

Protect your Hands:
Our hands spend a lot of time in water and around harsh chemicals. Wear rubber gloves whenever you wash dishes and/or use household cleaners, says dermatologist Dr. Adebola Dele-Michael of Radiant Skin Dermatology and Laser. Nails are very porous and can absorb water before we know it. If your nails are peeling, this may mean water has gotten in, and aside from peeling, you may soon be dealing with nail infections or fungus.

Stay Hydrated:
The change of seasons can be brutal on our hair, skin and nails. Drink plenty of water so you are hydrated from the inside-out. Also use a moisturizer containing alpha hydroxy acids or lactic acid, says Delee-Michael.

Take your Vitamins:
Take a multivitamin containing B-complex vitamins and biotin, says Dele-Michael. If your nails are peeling or brittle, it could potentially mean you need more iron in your diet, so make sure the multivitamin contains that as well. Iron-rich foods like spinach are also a great bet (for your diet as well)!

Limit Gel Manicures:
Gel manicures can be incredibly addictive, but try to give your nails a break now and then. The acetone soaks we need to use to remove them can make our nails dry and brittle over time (not to mention that time under a heat lap to put that gel on in the first place)!

See your Doctor:
If none of this works, it may be time to see your doctor, says Dele-Michael. Skin conditions, infections, exposure to chemicals, repeated wetting and or stress can cause your nails to peel. A doctor may need to evaluate and determine the cause so remedies can be figured out.

We’re celebrating the 2016 football season with a few of our favorite and most-loved designs. Show your team spirit with a Fanicure by Racheal.

The Fan Favorite!
The Rockstar Glitter Shellac Ombre Fanicure
Keep the spirit strong with the fanicure that launched the craze, inspired by football fans.

The Accent Shellac Fanicure!
Be bold with your teams colors in Glitter with Shellac in any combination of alternating color.

The Rush Shellac Fanicure!
Vibrant polish with a beautiful colors in Glitter reverse fade.

Visit our Fanicure board for style inspiration! Non-Shellac Manciure options are also available.

For the ultimate Fanicure, add on Smoothing Gel for just a little extra. Smoothing Gel strengthens, smooths and extends the wear of your Manicure.

1. Your nails grow about 3.5 millimeters a month. There are number of things that can cause your nails to take longer to grow long, including a lack of vitamins or being sick. If you were to lose a fingernail, it would take about 3-5 months for a fingernail to grow back completely.

2. Hair and nails are made up of the same protein. Both are made up of the protein keratin, they’re just composed in a different way.

3. Men’s nails grow faster than women’s. Facts are facts. However, women’s nails tend to grow faster than men’s during pregnancy.

4. Cuticles are there for a reason. Cuticles seal in moisture and keep germs out of the body. Although some may find them unappealing, it is very important not to pick at the cuticle or to let your manicurist cut them completely off.

5. Genetics determine how hard your nails are. Some of us were blessed with thick nails and others cursed with easily broken ones. You can blame your genetics for this one. The hardness of your nails is passed down through your parents.

6. Your nails don’t need oxygen. When people tell you that your nails need to breathe, they’re wrong. The nail plates are dead cells and don’t require oxygen. However, your cuticles and nail beds are alive and need oxygen to survive.

7. Seasons and weather affect nail growth. Your nails are just like you: They only want to come out during the hot and sunny weather. In cold weather, your nails tend to grow slower.

8. Nail biting is called onychophagia. We should have known this nasty habit had an equally unflattering name to go along with it. The routine of biting your nails is most commonly associated with stress or nervousness.

9. Cutting your nails is important. When your nails get too long, dirt and bacteria can get stuck under them. When these sediments build up under the nail for an extend amount of time, it can become harmful and unsanitary. Keep your nails short to avoid any issues with hygiene.

10. Nails can indicate your health and overall well-being. There are numerous signs that show up on your nails that can determine health defects. Some of the most common being pale nails, which could be a sign of anemia, or dark vertical lines which are signs of melanoma. If your nails are blue, it’s a sign your body isn’t getting enough oxygen.

1. Always use a base and top coat. Using a base coat allows the selected color to grasp onto the nail. Not only this, but it protects the nail from any stains that a darker polish may leave. Also, the hardeners in most base coats can improve the overall health of the nail, therefore allowing it to grow and lengthen to your liking. A top coat is absolutely necessary when creating the perfect manicure. Aside from setting the polish and a top coat’s staying power, make sure that you set the tip of your nail with the top coat as well. Doing this will ensure that your entire nail is that much more prevented from chipping. Other perks of top coats include UVA/UVB protection, high shine and protection of minor flaws.

2. Moisturize. As we know, moisturizing your skin does wonders all year round. When you have a nice manicure, take the extra time to use hand lotion with ingredients like glycol, macadamia oil, cocoa butter and more. The softer and more moisturized your skin is, the longer your manicure has the ability to last.

3. Maintain your cuticles. Dry hands are one thing, but dry cuticles to boot is just not pretty. Keep your nail beds looking healthy, and keep your whole manicure alive for that much longer. A cuticle oil is the perfect way to achieve this because nutrients like Aloe and Vitamin E help resist breakage and promote nourished nails.

4. File your nails often. In between manicures, the maintenance is absolutely important. Aside from moisturizing, filing allows the nails to also remain healthy and prevents breakage. Something important to make sure while filing, is to do so in one direction. If you file one way, your nails wont feather and the application of your polish will not only look better, but last longer.

5. Avoid Heat and Water Immediately After Your Manicure. When your nails are freshly done, immediately washing your hands can loosen your polish. Complete hardening of lacquer can sometimes take up to 12 hours.

6. Buff Your Nails. A very helpful tool for making sure your manicure lasts as long as possible, is a buffer. Invest in a four-sided buff, file, polish and shine block that step-by-step will improve your nails instantly. Taking these steps will make your nails display the best manicure possible.

7. Don’t Exfoliate. Most times, exfoliating is the way to go. With a new manicure though, exfoliating the skin on your hands is not good. Ingredients and more abrasive elements of exfoliating products can take the polish right up off of your hands.

8. Protect Your Nails from Laborious Tasks. As much as possible, make sure you do what you can to protect your nails from the elements. When washing dishes and even when it’s cold, make sure you wear gloves!

9. Purge Your Polish. Don’t keep nail polish for too long. If you’ve had polish for an extended period of time, throw it away. If the polish is beginning to coagulate, don’t keep it. What are the chances that you don’t have another bottle of something extremely similar in your collection?

10. Keep Your Nails Healthy. Take vitamins and supplements like B-12, Zinc and Iron to maintain healthy nails. The better they are in between manicures, the better they will stay.

Dr. Chris G. Adigun, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist, nail expert, and member of the Dermelect Board of Advisors was up to the challenge. Below, Dr. Adigun explains what causes weak nails, how to make nails stronger, and whether the myths out there are worth paying attention to.

Beauty High: What are some of the reasons nails become weak?
There are several factors that cause our nails to become dry and weak. The biggest factor is moisture loss. This can happen due to climate changes, such as the very dry weather in the winter in conjunction with the very drying indoor heating systems. It also commonly happens with excess exposure of the nails and hands to water and harsh substances such as cleaning solutions. Finally, any time that cuticles are cut, trimmed, or vigorously pushed back, the cuticle is not longer able to function and maintain moisture within the nail unit. As a result, the nails and surrounding skin will lose moisture to the surrounding air.

Moisture loss in the nail unit can cause problems to nail quality over time. Many of my patients come to me for evaluation of brittle nails or peeling nails. Often, these problems stem from chronic cuticle manipulation, such as pushing or trimming. I treat these patients with a rigorous rehydration regimen for their cuticles and nails, and explain the importance of maintaining healthy cuticles to maintain healthy nails.

Are there natural remedies for strengthening nails?
Paying special attention to keeping your hands, fingers, and entire fingertip (which includes the nail plate, surrounding skin of the nail, and cuticle) well moisturized is key. I often advise patients that have persistently dry nails and cuticles to wear cotton-lined rubber gloves when performing any kind of “wet work” (cleaning, dish washing) and to minimize excessive water exposure. When washing hands, I recommend immediate application of a heavy emollient to the nails and digits such as Aquaphor. As far as natural remedies, great occlusive and moisture-retaining agents include bees wax and shea butter. All of these can be excellent hydrators to the nails and nail units. I would add oils such as coconut oil and/or vitamin E oil as helpful for the cuticles, as these oils can get to tough-to-reach areas such as the hyponychium.

Do the strengthening top coats/polishes really work?
Yes, many of them can be very helpful by sealing moisture into the nail plate, allowing the nail plate to be more pliable and resilient to breakage. However, I do recommend to my patients with persistently dry nails to try top-coats and polishes geared to more sensitive nails (such as the 3-free polish options). For more severe cases, prescription products such as Nuvail and Genadur are necessary.

We often hear that women should take a break from nail polish to let their nails “breathe” every three weeks or so. Is this just a myth or should we be doing this? If so, how often would you recommend?
I definitely recommend to my patients to take short “manicure honeymoons” or go on “manicure diets” to give their nails a chance to have oxygen flow around and under the nail plate. There is another very important reason to remove the polish for a few days every several weeks. That is because it is important to see your nails, or “police” them for changes, infection, or other problems. People that have regular manicures, long-wearing manicures such as gels, or acrylic nails, may not see their nails, or what may be going on underneath them, for a month—or longer if they consistently have a new manicure put in place as soon as the old one is removed. It is important to observe your nails periodically (every 2-3 weeks is sufficient) to make sure that there are no changes that could be concerning for infection or even a tumor.

Does the direction of filing nails have any effect on the strength of nails?
It is highly unlikely that the direction of filing will have any effect on the overall strength of the nail plate. However, the technique of filing can affect the likelihood of splitting. Small ridges in the nail are individual points of weakness, and a sawing motion may cause these small ridges to crack, which will lead to a split nail. Dryer nails, in general, are very vulnerable to splitting and peeling. When filing thin, ridged, or dry nails, I recommend being as gentle as possible, and trying keep the filing in one direction.

Do you recommend any products for strengthening nails?
For stronger nails, I first recommend hydrating nails with heavy emollients, and taking meticulous care of your cuticles. Our cuticles nourish and protect our nails, so we must nourish and protect them! Apply Petroleum jelly, Aquaphor, Aveeno Healing Ointment, or Vaniply Ointment 2-3 times daily to the nails, cuticles, and surrounding skin, and apply nourishing cuticle oils, vitamin E oil, or coconut oil to the cuticles twice daily. I also recommend biotin 5 mg (or 5,000 micrograms) daily as a supplement. Nourishing polishes, preferably (at least) 3-free, applied immediately after moisturizing, can be very restorative and protective.

Since this is nothing to be ashamed of and can actually be a pretty quick fix, we’ve rounded up some of the most quick, easy, and convenient ways to get rid of yellow nails! Check them out below!

1. The most common suggestion? Stop using so much dark nail polish.

Of course we all love a little black or dark navy polish from time to time, but constantly using dark colors like this may cause your nails to become discolored. Try to switch your color choices from something dark to something nice and light (or no polish at all, if you can stand it) so you can give your nails time to recuperate.

2. Always, always, always use a base coat.

It sounds crazy and everything, but base coats actually were made for a reason! Of course, it’s the perfect way for nail companies to add on one more product to your order, but we actually believe that this step is pretty necessary. By using a base coat, you’re adding in a protective layer between your nails and the polish. This will help to prevent staining and can actually help keep your nails healthier. They even make base coats that are meant to color correct and strengthen your nails before you apply your color.

3. Use a buffing board to remove the exposed top layer that may be stained.

If you’ve just recently realized that your nails are starting to get discolored, try as a first step to remove some of the top layer of the nail with a buffing board. Make sure not to scrub away too much, as you want your nails to stay as strong as possible. However, this may help to fade the discoloration when it’s not too severe.

4. Rub your nails in lemon juice or a whole lemon.

Like anything else that’s super acidic, you don’t want to soak your nails or skin in it too long, but lemon juice is a great option to rub onto your nails to help remove any yellowing. You have a couple option: you can either use an actual lemon, slice it in half, and work each nail into it for 30 to 60 seconds each, or you can go ahead and use lemon juice with a cotton ball and rub each nail thoroughly. Afterwards, let your nails sit for 10 to 30 minutes before rinsing them in water.

5. Mix water with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a toothbrush.

You also have a couple options here. First, you can create a hydrogen peroxide and water mixture, dip the toothbrush into the mixture, and rub each nail. You can always use that same mixture as a soak and dip your nails into the solution for 1 to 10 minutes or just until the discoloration is gone.

6. Dissolve denture cleaning tablets in water and soak it up.

Since denture cleaning tablets are meant to clean and whiten teeth, they can also do this for your nails. It’s easy! Just dissolve your desired amount of tablets (usually 2 to 4) in water and soak your fingernails in it for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pat your nails dry and make sure to follow-up with some type of hand moisturizer. For best results, repeat the process three times per week for one to two months.

7. For a quick fix, use a nail whitening pencil or scrub.

If you’re trying to skip polishing your nails but can’t bare to go out with yellow nails, you can opt for a nail whitening pencil (like this Flowery Nail White Pencil) or scrub (like Develop 10’s Nail Whitening scrub) that you can pick up at your local Ulta to get instant results.

8. Apply tea tree oil to your nails.

If it’s not the polish that’s doing the damage, you may have a nail fungus (ew, we know, but it happens) that is causing the discoloration. To try to solve the problem with a home remedy, you can put a drop of tea tree oil onto your nail beds, leave it to settle for a couple of minutes, and then rinse with warm water. To see the best results, you’ll want to do this twice daily for a few months until you notice improvement.

9. Cut teeth whitening strips into the shape of your nails and let them do their job.

Since the objective here is to whiten your nails, using a gentle whitener like a tooth whitening strip would get the job done. While the process of cutting the strips to fit your nails may be tedious and the price of the whitening strips to begin with can get expensive, it’ll do the trick.

10. Use fruit!

If you’re the type of person that believes food can fix anything, you’ll love this one. Aside from lemons, you can also use fruits like oranges or juniper berries to whiten your nails. If you’ll be eating an orange every day, you can save your orange peel and rub your nails with it two to three times daily (make sure it’s fresh each day). Within a few weeks, you’ll start to see results. Like we said, you can also use juniper berries. Add one teaspoon of these berries all crushed up into a bowl of warm water. Repeat this once daily before you head to bed. Bonus, you’ll smell great!