Nail growth is slow and steady, which is why damage takes months to disappear and why no polish or oil can make nails long overnight. Understanding how nails grow helps you to set realistic expectations, to notice when something has changed, and to see the results of better care.
How a nail grows
The nail is made in the matrix, an area of living tissue under the skin at the base of the nail. The pale half-moon you may see at the base of some nails is the visible part of it. New cells form there, harden with keratin and are pushed forward over the nail bed. The nail plate that you see is no longer living tissue, which is why cutting it does not hurt.
Anything that affects the matrix, such as injury, illness or picking at the cuticle, shows later as a ridge, dent or mark in the nail.
How fast nails grow
| Average growth | Time to replace a whole nail | |
|---|---|---|
| Fingernails | About 3 mm a month | About 6 months |
| Toenails | About 1.5 mm a month | 12 to 18 months |
These are averages. Rates differ from person to person and even from finger to finger.
What affects the rate
Things you cannot change
- Age. Growth is fastest in childhood and early adulthood and slows gradually.
- Which nail. The middle finger tends to grow fastest and the little finger slowest. Nails on your dominant hand usually grow a little faster.
- Season. Nails often grow slightly faster in summer than in winter.
- Hormones. Growth can speed up in pregnancy.
Things that slow growth
- Poor circulation, and smoking.
- Illness, fever and some medicines.
- Poor nutrition or very restrictive diets.
- Some long-term health conditions.
Things that do not change the rate
- Cutting or filing your nails.
- Nail polish, strengtheners and oils. They can protect the nail, so that it reaches a greater length without breaking, but they do not make the matrix work faster.
- Massaging the fingertips, though it does no harm.
Why nails seem not to grow
Usually they are growing at a normal rate and breaking, peeling or being bitten at the same speed. Keeping the length you grow depends on protecting it.
- Wear gloves for wet work.
- Moisturize nails and cuticles daily.
- File snags promptly.
- Do not use nails as tools.
- Break a biting habit. See How to Stop Nail Biting: Practical Habits to Try.
Brittle Nails: Causes and Everyday Care Tips covers brittle nails.
Can you make nails grow faster?
Not by much. What you can do is give the matrix what it needs and avoid setbacks.
- Eat a balanced diet with enough protein, iron and zinc. See Nutrition and Hair Health: Nutrients Your Hair Needs.
- Do not smoke.
- Look after your general health.
- Leave the cuticles intact, because they protect the matrix.
Supplements help only if a deficiency has been confirmed. Biotin is widely promoted, but the evidence is limited, and high doses can interfere with some blood tests.
How to track your own nail growth
- Choose a nail, such as the left thumb or the middle finger.
- With a fine file, make a tiny scratch on the nail plate just in front of the cuticle, or place a small dot of polish there.
- Note the date and measure the distance from the cuticle to the mark in millimeters. A photograph next to a ruler works well.
- Measure again at the same time each week or month.
- The distance the mark has traveled is your growth for that period.
You can use the same idea to see how long it will take for a damaged area to reach the tip. A ridge 6 mm from the tip of a fingernail, for example, will take about two months to grow out. See Nail Ridges: What They Can Mean.
Using growth to plan
Knowing your rate helps you to plan trims, to time a manicure before an event and to judge whether a treatment is working. The Manicure Planner can put your nail care on dated days.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if a nail stops growing, grows much more slowly than the others, becomes thick or misshapen, or does not regrow normally after an injury.
Related on ArniSun
- Nail Ridges: What They Can Mean
- Brittle Nails: Causes and Everyday Care Tips
- Nutrition and Hair Health: Nutrients Your Hair Needs
- How to Stop Nail Biting: Practical Habits to Try
- Manicure Planner: Schedule Your Nail Care
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a fingernail to grow back?
About six months for a complete fingernail. A toenail takes 12 to 18 months.
Do nails grow faster if I cut them?
No. Growth happens at the base, and trimming the tip has no effect on the rate.
Why do my toenails grow so slowly?
Toenails naturally grow at about half the speed of fingernails. Reduced circulation to the feet and pressure from shoes can slow them further.