How to grow your nails and stop them from splitting and peeling

We’ve left no stone unturned in the quest for healthier nails

Nails are a lot more complicated than you think. What you see on the surface has actually been in the works for quite a while. So if you're looking for how to grow your nails, you've come to the right place.

If you're not looking after them from the inside out, it's likely to lead to your nails splitting and peeling. Unsure of how to stop it from happening? Here are five easy steps you can follow for healthier and stronger nails.

How to grow your nails in five simple steps

Use oils

We’ve been extolling the values of using oil on our hair, skin, even our even gums for ages, so why not use the magic elixir on your nails too? Whether your nails are brittle due to one too many Shellac manicures, or they’re relatively healthy and you just want to give them a boost, it’s worth investing in a cuticle oil.

Try Cowshed's Apricot Nourishing Cuticle Oil, £8 at Fabled. It contains pure essential oils and botanical extracts that nourish your nails from inside out.

File in one direction

If the file is particularly coarse, only file in one direction to avoid splitting the nail. If you can, invest in a crystal file. They seal the nail as you go, so you don't end up with any small splits. Try Leighton Denny Small Crystal Nail File, £12.50 at Boots. It's bascially the Rolls Royce of nail files.

Wear gloves

Fingernails become softer and more likely to split, break, and peel when they're exposed to water and dried frequently. Wear rubber gloves when you wash up dishes, mop your floor or do other household chores that require putting your hands in water.

Moisturise your hands

One of the biggest causes for your nails splitting and peeling is lack of moisture. Especially after you wash your hands and dry them. Use a hand cream that contains vitamin E to replenish any hydration lost. Keep a bottle of Floris Cefiro Luxury Hand Lotion, £22 at Fabled, next to your bathroom sink, and a small tube of L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, £8 at Fabled, in your handbag.

For extremely dry, brittle nails lather them in hand cream or Vaseline, £1.50 at Boots. Then, cover them in cling film for 10 minutes to allow the petroleum jelly to sink in.

Get a manicure

Manis are a nice way to relax, unwind and make your nails look good. But, they're also very beneficial for the health of your nails and your hands. All of the techniques that they employ will keep your nails soft, which will in turn stop them from splitting as they grow.