Having long, beautiful nails is a goal for many people. But what if your nail beds are short or uneven? Getting longer nail beds can help your nails grow out stronger and more evenly for a prettier manicure.<\/p>\n
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Soak nails in water, gently push back cuticles with a tool, use cuticle oil daily, and get professional manicures to encourage growth and proper shaping over time<\/b>.<\/p>\n
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about safely and effectively getting longer nail beds for gorgeous nails.<\/p>\n
The nail bed is the skin underneath the nail plate. It extends from the base of the nail plate to the tip of the finger or toe. The nail bed contains blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes which produce pigment that gives color to the nail plate.<\/p>\n
The nail plate is the hard, translucent part of the nail that we see. It is made up of compacted keratin. The nail bed is the skin underneath the nail plate containing the blood vessels, nerves, and melanocytes.<\/p>\n
While the nail plate protects the delicate nail bed underneath, the nail bed provides nutrients and pigmentation to the nail plate through the matrix.<\/p>\n
The length of the nail bed determines how much nail plate can be supported on the finger or toe. A short nail bed gives less surface area for nail growth, resulting in shorter nails. Longer nail beds allow more nail plate to be grown out to the fingertip before growth has to be trimmed.<\/p>\n
Having long nail beds is desirable for maximizing nail length and shaping abilities.<\/p>\n
Some key facts about nail bed length:<\/p>\n
Increasing nail bed exposure allows for longer, stronger nail growth. Nail procedures like backfills and grafting can help lengthen short nail beds for better growth potential.<\/p>\n
Soaking your nails in water for 5-10 minutes before pushing back your cuticles helps soften them, making the process easier and safer. The warm water causes the cuticles to become more pliable, reducing the risk of tearing or damaging them when pushed back.<\/p>\n
According to dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology<\/a>, cuticle care should always begin with soaking to allow for gentle removal.<\/p>\n Pushing back the cuticles after soaking is preferable to cutting them. Cutting can lead to infections and hangnails. The Nail Care HQ<\/a> experts recommend always using a cuticle pusher rather than nippers or scissors, as this reduces the chances of damaging the nail bed.<\/p>\n Be gentle and take your time when pushing them back after soaking. Never tear or rip off hangnails, as this can be painful and lead to further tearing.<\/p>\n For especially stubborn cuticles that don’t soften enough through soaking, you can apply a cuticle remover product before pushing them back. These products contain ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids that help break down the “glue” between the cuticle and nail plate<\/b>.<\/p>\nAvoid cutting cuticles<\/h3>\n
Use cuticle remover product if needed<\/h3>\n