How can I make my nails grow longer and stronger?
They get to a certain length, then flake and break. A. Look to your diet first and check you’re getting enough foods rich in vitamin E, such as vegetable oils, margarine and nuts, which, according to Mavala’s international training director Jenny Wiles, boost nail health and growth. A vitamin B complex can also be helpful. ‘Flaky nails also suggest your nails lack moisture, which causes the layers to split and break,’ says Jenny, who advises a twice-weekly application of the instantly hydrating Mavala Mava-Flex Serum for Nails, £14.50 (01732 459412), on bare nails. Celebrity nail technician Andrea Fulerton (her clients include Nigella Lawson) suggests filing nails down to one length rather than salvaging a break and having odd lengths. After filing, she recommends running a nail buffer across the tips to seal them. ‘Excess flaking can be caused by overexposure to water, too, so it’s a good idea to wear a protective treatment base coat, such as Revlon Calcium Gel Nail Hardener, £6.16.’
