What makes nails strong: a practical guide to nail health
Nails grow slowly and remember every soak and scrape. How they are built, what weakens them and the everyday habits that make a real difference.
Interactive tool
Nail Growth & Refill Planner
How long until a damaged nail has grown out, and when is your next infill due? Based on average growth rates.
The numbers behind the planner
A 2010 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology measured an average growth of about 3.5 millimetres per month for fingernails and about 1.6 millimetres per month for toenails. A whole fingernail therefore takes roughly four to six months to grow out, a toenail around twelve to eighteen months. The calculator uses these averages. Growth varies from person to person and finger to finger, and nails tend to grow faster in younger people.
About the appointment intervals
The planner uses typical intervals: regular polish is usually refreshed after about a week, gel polish after two to three weeks, builder gel is commonly infilled every three to four weeks and extensions need an infill or rebalance about every two to three weeks. Your technician may suggest a different rhythm for your nails. Never prise off gel or extensions to save an appointment, because peeling removes layers of the natural nail. Our guide to taking off gel without damage explains the gentle way.
Questions
Why does my result differ from my experience?
The planner uses average growth rates from research. Your own nails may grow faster or slower depending on age, season, health and which finger it is. If you know your personal rate, measure the gap at the cuticle after two weeks and compare it with the planner to calibrate your expectations.
Can I make my nails grow faster?
There is no proven way to speed up healthy nail growth significantly. What helps is protecting the nail so it does not break while it grows: keeping it at a manageable length, wearing gloves for wet work, oiling the cuticles and avoiding peeling off polish or gel.
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Stories for this tool
Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you
Three systems, three ways of living with your nails. How regular polish, gel and builder gel work, how long they last and how they come off.
Taking off gel polish without damaging your nails
Peeling gel feels satisfying and costs your nails dearly. A patient soak off method and a little aftercare keep the nail plate intact.
Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on
Acrylic, hard gel, soft gel tips, polygel and press-ons all add length, but they are applied, maintained and removed in very different ways.