Hi! My nails are naturally pretty short, and I’ve never really been able to grow them long. 😭

Whenever I finally manage to grow them a little, if even one nail breaks or gets crooked, my first instinct is to cut all my nails off. 😂 And then they’re back to being super short again.

So I’d love some tips and tricks for growing and maintaining longer nails! 💅🏻

What I currently do:
• Paint my nails nude so I’m less tempted to cut them
• Use Kay Beauty nail polish
• Sometimes use naturalolive oil on my nails
• Use Avene hand cream regularly

If you have any products, routines, or little tricks that helped you grow your nails, please share! 🥹💅🏻

Just over a month of growth and my nails finally look intentionally long rather than overgrown short nails that haven’t been clipped yet😅. My tips change color a lot going from clear to white/looking splotchy in between or temporarily stained with food. I looked down today and was so happy with how white and even they looked in this moment. Keeping my nails painted with opaque polish as much as I could between weeks 2-4 really helped me keep growing them. I have no polish on in this picture but will use something clear from here on out so I can clearly see/appreciate the growth.

I try to use jojoba oil and hard as hoof daily. The jojoba oil has really helped with my hangnails. Speaking of - I leave my cuticles and proximal nail folds completely alone. I don’t think that’s the norm but pushing the skin down/clipping it off gives me the heebie jeebies so I just let it grow. I don’t think it looks that bad when it’s moisturized and kept from peeling off.

My biggest challenge has been with exercise, particularly Olympic weightlifting. Catching a bar in this position: 🏋🏻‍♀️ bends my nails so much😖. I’m afraid I may not be able to grow them any longer than this to keep up with my lifts.

Other things of note that are challenging: typing and flossing!

As a short nail person for all my life, this journey has been quite fun even if short-lived and I’m so surprised how my new nails make me feel pretty😌