Does Salt Water Make Your Nails Grow?

Nails are a fascinating part of the body. Beautiful, well-groomed nails are often seen as a symbol of elegance and good health for girls especially. It plays a crucial role in protecting your fingertips and helps to perform various tasks with precision. There are several ways to do nail care. One popular way that has come to practice is to use salt water and many people think that it makes your nails grow.

While the influence of natural processes like this is tempting, it is necessary to separate fact from myth when it comes to the beauty care of nails. So, Does Salt Water Make Your Nails Grow? I will help you to find out from this write-up whether saltwater truly possesses the power to make your nails grow. By exploring the science behind nail growth and knowing the step-by-step procedure on how salt water makes your nails grow, you will come to know about every aspect of using salt water for growing nails in detail.

Salt Water Components Explained

The main component of salt water is water. It also contains dissolved salts and other minerals. Here are the main components of salt water.

• Water: The solvent in which salts and other minerals are dissolved.
• Sodium Chloride: Common table salt, which is the most abundant salt in seawater.
• Magnesium Chloride: A salt that contributes to the overall salinity of seawater.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Another salt found in seawater, commonly known as Epsom salt.
• Calcium Carbonate: A mineral that can be found in the form of microscopic shells of marine organisms like corals and shellfish.
• Potassium Chloride: A salt that is present in small amounts in seawater.
• Sodium Sulfate: A salt that occurs in seawater but is less abundant than sodium chloride.
• Other Trace Minerals: Saltwater also contains various trace minerals such as bromine, strontium, boron, iodine, etc.

The Science Behind Nail Growth

Nails are composed of a protein called keratin and nail growth is primarily determined by the health condition and nutrition intake. The intake of protein is very essential to grow nails. Nails also grow because of carbohydrates. Again, as sunlight contains vitamin D, exposure of the body to sunlight can also cause the nails to grow. Age, gender, and genetic characteristics can also be responsible for nail growth.

The average nail growth of a person is 0.14 inches per month for fingernails while it is 0.063 inches per month for toenails. The fingernails generally take 3 to 6 months and the toenails take 12 to 18 months to redevelop. As a result of the creation of cells from the matrix of the nails, the nail plate is hardened and made up. This process continues for the time it takes necessary nutrition and helps the nail to remain in a healthy condition.

So, as nail growth primarily depends on diet, health conditions, and nail care, make sure that you do not restrict the growth of nails.

Does Salt Water Make Your Nails Grow: Exploring the Myth

Moving into the realms of salt water’s impact on nail growth, let’s explore the myth along the way and evaluate the factors that contribute to healthy nail development.

Salt water does not have any direct role in the growth of nails. Rather than using salt water, factors like age, gender, genetics, diet, health conditions, and nail care are more responsible for this. It doesn’t even help your nails to ensure quicker nail growth.

There are two types of opinions regarding the role of salt water in nail growth. One opinion suggests that salt water makes your nails grow, while the other one suggests that there is no answer to the question if salt water helps your nails to grow. Actually, no scientific evidence exists to substantially support the claim that salt water makes your nails grow. So, there is a need for more research to explore the myth.

However, if you still want to use salt water, you can use warm salt water. So, warm salt water will work well on your nails. It can play a role in maintaining the health of your nails. So, if it can play the role to keep the nails healthy, it can also be favorable for the growth of nails.

Many people think that nails grow faster after swimming in the water which is not valid. The reason behind it may be that the nails become softer after being in the water. As a result, it makes the nails appear to have grown faster. There is no chemical or other substance in pools or rivers that would cause nails to grow faster. But the water may temporarily expand the nails, making them seem longer.

Step-By-Step Procedure on How Salt Water Makes Your Nails Grow

If you want to use salt water to make your nails grow, you can use the regular table salt method or the dead sea salt method. For both, follow the procedures carefully.

Common Table Salt Method: 6 Steps

Since it is always available in the kitchen, you can easily go for it and favor the growth of nails. Here is the step-by-step procedure to help your nails grow.

• Step 1: Choose A Suitable Bowl: You first need to choose a bowl in which one or both of your hands or legs can fit.
• Step 2: Take One or Two Cups of Warm Water: Then take one or two cups of warm water in the bowl.
• Step 3: Put Salt into the Water: After that, you need to put two tablespoons amount of salt in the warm water.
• Step 4: Pour Olive Oil into The Solution: Pour one tablespoon of olive oil into the solution mixture.
• Step 5: Add Lemon Juice: You may add a few drops of lemon juice if your nails become pale yellow color.
• Step 6: Dip Your Nails in the Solution: Finally, you have to dip your nail fingers for 15-30 minutes in the solution. Repeat the process several times within a week. You will notice a healthy growth of nails after some time.

Dead Sea Salt Method: 7 Steps

It has some additional minerals that help in maintaining nail health. Here is the step-by-step procedure to help your nails grow.

• Step 1: Choose A Suitable Bowl: You first need to choose a bowl in which one or both of your hands or legs can fit.
• Step 2: Take Warm Water: Then take some warm water in the bowl.
• Step 3: Put Salt into the Water: After that, you need to put one tablespoon amount of dead sea salt in the warm water.
• Step 4: Pour Any Essential Oil into The Solution: Pour some drops of essential oil into the solution mixture and stir it well.
• Step 5: Dip Your Nails in the Solution: You have to dip your nail fingers for 15 minutes in the solution.
• Step 6: Clean Your Hands with Soap: Clean up your hands by washing them with a sterile soap. Then wipe out with a piece of clean cloth or towel.
• Step 7: Moisturize with A Lotion: Finally, you need to moisturize your hands and legs with a vitamin E-based lotion. Repeat the process several times within a week.

Pros and cons of using Salt Water for growing nails

If you want to use salt water to maintain the growth of your nails, you need to be associated with the pros and cons of using it.

Pros

Here are the pros of using salt water for growing nails.

Cons

While there might be benefits to saltwater on your nails, there are also some drawbacks that you should be aware of. So here are the cons of using salt water for growing nails.

Alternatives To Salt Water For Growing Nails

There are many alternatives to salt water for growing nails that you can opt for and some suggestions on how to use these for your nail health.

• Coconut oil: One of the most overlooked ingredients in your kitchen is coconut oil. It can be beneficial for your nails. Massage your nails daily with coconut oil to increase their vibrancy and looks. It makes the cuticles stronger and moisturizes the nails. The antioxidants present in it helps to get rid of bacterial as well as fungal inflammation. Additionally, it will act as a barrier that protects the nails from drying out and becoming weak.
• Olive oil: Olive oil can be used to care for nails. It is an excellent option for fragile, dry nails. Olive oil is easily penetrable, so it hydrates your nails from the inside by getting to the innermost layers. Your nails as well as cuticles should be treated with warm olive oil, then left on overnight. If you want your nails to grow quickly, you must do this daily. You may add tomato juice to olive oil for improving your nails.
• Cuticle oil: Cuticle oils are an amazing healer on dry, fragile nails. They moisturize the nails and also boost circulation to encourage nail growth. Consequently, applying them can develop the growth of nails. To prevent your nails from cracking and breaking, put some drops of cuticle oil on them using a cotton ball or pad. The oil may also be applied with a brush. After applying, give your nails a few minutes of gentle massaging.
• Flaxseed oil: Try flaxseed oil to help in the growth of nails. Flaxseed is rich in lecithin and omega-3 fatty acids that help support the growth of healthy nails. Just give your cuticles and nails a gentle massage. Wear gloves overnight. For optimal nail development, repeat this procedure multiple times per week.
• Green tea: Green tea is great for nail development because it is rich in antioxidants. Make a cup of green tea, then let it cool. Put your nails completely in the solution and dip them for five minutes. After thoroughly rinsing, pat dry with a towel. After that, massage your hands with an excellent hand cream. You may follow it two times per week.
• Garlic: Garlic contains sulfur, which is known to encourage the growth of fragile and thin nails. For optimal results, add crushed garlic clove with lemon juice to boiling water. Allow these to boil for some time, then thoroughly cool. Each night before bed, put in an empty nail polish bottle, and apply it on your nails.
• Orange Juice: Orange juice contains vitamin C and folic acid. Both promote making your nails grow. Every day, let the orange juice immerse your fingertips for a few minutes. Rinse them thoroughly, then pat dry with a soft cloth. After that, apply a high-quality moisturizer.
• Biotin Supplements: One of the B complex vitamins is biotin. Sardines, salmon, carrots, cauliflower, bananas, sweet potatoes, and eggs are natural sources of biotin. It is not a bad idea to include foods and supplements high in biotin in your diet as it can promote healthy cell growth and help the digestion of amino acids that help create proteins to ensure steady nail growth.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a good natural alternative to salt water for growing nails. You need to press the vitamin E gel on your nails. To make it smell sweeter, mix in a little lavender oil. Massage it in, then let it stay for the whole night. Your nails will be stronger and more obviously bright in the morning.
• Nail Strengtheners: Nail straighteners strengthen nails by protecting and nourishing natural nail plates. They frequently provide a flexible film to the nails to strengthen the structure and deliver nutrients and minerals. It can help damaged nails if used daily or on alternate days for up to two weeks.

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Dos and Don’ts for Maintaining Healthy Nails

You need to follow some dos and don’ts for maintaining healthy nails.

Dos

1. Keep both the fingernails and toenails clean.
2. Trim the nails regularly for ensuring quicker growth.
3. Cut down the hangnails carefully.
4. Use a sanitized nail trimmer to cut the nails.
5. Use a nail hardener to make the nails stronger.
6. Wear gloves while doing dishes, gardening, or when required.
7. Wash the necessary tools for nail care before use.

Don’ts

1. Do not bite or chew your nails.
2. Do not cut cuticles as they help to prevent infection.
3. Do not pluck hangnails as live tissues may also come out with it.
4. Do not get acrylic or gel nails frequently.
5. Do not use products that have formaldehyde, sulfonamides, and toluene.
6. Do not use harsh nail products like acetone for removing nail polish.
7. Do not scrape off the nail polish as it dries out the nails by removal of the protective layer.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Salt water can be great for your nails. You can use salt in your daily beauty care routine to get several benefits for your nails. Although there is a lack of proper evidence on the role of salt water for your nail growth. You can still use it. But you should use warm salt water which will work well on the nails in maintaining the health of nails. As salt water influences nail growth, you can see the nurtured strong and resilient nails.

Nail growth primarily depends on diet, health conditions, and nail care. So, make sure that you do not restrict the growth of nails somehow, follow all the dos and don’ts. You may also opt for several alternatives to salt water which also help the growth of nails, such as coconut oil, olive oil, cuticle oil, flaxseed oil, green tea, garlic, orange juice, biotin supplements, vitamin E, and nail strengtheners.

So, if you have been seeking to separate fact from myth, this article must have guided you toward a clearer understanding of the question.

Key Points

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