Do Nails Grow Faster In Water? Find Out Now

I am sure that at one point in our lives, we have heard that water makes nails grow faster. However, the common belief that nails grow faster in water is a myth. Nails are made up of a protein called keratin, and their growth is determined by genetics and overall health.

Soaking nails in water does not affect their growth rate. However, keeping nails hydrated can make them appear stronger and less prone to breakage. As a nail blogger who has had long nails on for quite some time and still currently does, I can tell you from my little years of growing nails that fingernails do not grow faster in water instead, water causes more harm to them than good.

Before I proceed to give you my reasons, here’s a mail I want you to see. I got this mail a few days back from one of my subscribers.

It reads;

Hi, my name is Gloria, and I’m a diehard fan of your blog. I’ve been following all of your blog posts, especially how to stop biting nails in 9 minutes, and it has been helpful. In fact, with your tips, I no longer chew my nails and today makes it two months that I haven’t gone after my nails. Just recently, I stumbled on a post that talks about growing nails in water, so I want to know, Do Nails Grow Faster In Water?

I’ll appreciate it a lot if you can give a valid answer to this question of mine. Thanks in advance as I await your reply.

No, nails do not grow faster in water. In fact, it has been revealed that too much water does more harm than good for your nails as they make your nails weak and brittle. In this article, I will discuss why this is not possible.

Studies on Nail Growth in Water

Two things happen to you when your nails are in the water for too long a time

1. The skin around your nails shrinks and retracts backward giving an illusion of longer nails

2. Your Fingernails out of excitement expand

Having listed two possible things that may occur when your nails are in the water, let me explain further.

1. Skin Shrinks

If you’re that type that usually spends a considerable amount of your time in the pool or does activities that require immerging your fingers in water for too long, you must have noticed that each time you take your hands out of the water, your nails usually appears as if they’ve grown?

Well, the truth is, what you’re seeing is a result of shrinking skin and not actual nail growth per se. And when this happens, it gives you this false illusion of a longer nail. But if left for some time, it goes back to normal.

But why does this happens in the first place? Here’s the catch.

Our skin is made up of an outer covering known as Sebum. Usually, sebum act as a protective covering on the surface. During swimming, for example, the sebum which acts as waterproof gets broken, which further allows water to get the better part of your skin, making them look waterlogged.

The excess water already presents or is trapped in the skin of your fingers then causing some parts to swell more than others. That’s precisely why your nails look wrinkled after using the swimming pool for a long time giving your nails that appearance of long nails.

So, what can I do if my skin shrinks after swimming?

There’s absolutely nothing you can do if your skin shrinks probably after spending time in the pool or doing the dishes other than to wait for a while for it to get back to normal.

However, you can prevent this from occurring, especially if your work involves submerging your fingers in water often by wearing rubber gloves. Doing this will safeguard the protective oil – Sebum from being broken as a result of overexposure to water.

2. Nails Expands

If you cut a piece of sliced bread and allow them to stay in water for like an hour, what do you think will happen? It will swell. The same thing goes for your nails. When your nails spend a considerable amount of time in the water, your nail plate absorbs water and thus expands, making your fingernails appear longer.

But if left for some time or when moisturizer is applied to it, it takes away the moisture from the nails and restores them to their original position.

Process of Nail Growth

The process of nail growth begins in the matrix, which is the base of the nail located just beneath the cuticle. The matrix contains cells called keratinocytes that produce keratin, a protein that makes up the nails. As the keratinocytes die, they are pushed forward by new cells being produced in the matrix.

This process causes the nails to grow. Water does not play a direct role in the process of nail growth. However, keeping the body hydrated is important for overall health, which can in turn promote healthy nail growth. Drinking enough water can also keep the nails hydrated, which can prevent them from becoming dry and brittle.

It is also important to note that nails can be also affected by certain health conditions, such as anemia, thyroid problems, psoriasis, and eczema, which might affect the rate of nail growth and appearance, so it is important to address those underlying conditions if you have any concerns.

Other Factors that Affect Nail Growth

Several factors can affect the rate of nail growth, including:

1. Genetics: Nail growth is largely determined by genetics, so some people may naturally have faster-growing nails than others.
2. Age: As we age, the rate of nail growth tends to slow down.
3. Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes in the body can also affect nail growth. For example, pregnancy can cause nails to grow faster, while menopause can cause them to grow slower.
4. Nutrition: A diet that is low in certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, and biotin, can affect nail growth.
5. Health conditions: Certain health conditions, such as anemia, thyroid problems, psoriasis, and eczema, can affect the rate of nail growth.
6. Trauma: Injury or damage to the nails can slow down or even stop nail growth.
7. Medications: Certain medications can also affect nail growth, for example, chemotherapy may cause nails to stop growing.
8. Exposure to chemicals: Exposure to certain chemicals, such as cleaning agents, can also damage nails and slow down growth.

Tips to Grow Your Nails Faster

There’s little you can do to grow your nails out but with my little experience in nail growth and having taught several persons both offline and online, I can boldly say that the secret to getting long nails is this

1. Eat well-balanced diets

2. Exercise regularly

3. Keep your nails moisturized always

4. And don’t bite your nails

If you can keep up with these four things I’ve stated above, your nails will not only grow out healthy, but they’ll become so strong and above all, beautiful.

Does warm water make your nails grow faster?

If you think emerging your fingernails in warm water will make them grow longer then you’re incorrect.

Surprisedly, what it does to your fingernails, especially when little oil is added to it is softens your cuticles for them to be easily pushed back without you feeling any pain.

Do nails grow quicker in the water?

Capital No. The truth is water cause more harm to them than good. For these reasons, I’ll advise that you keep your nails protected by all means.

You can do this by wearing gloves while washing dishes, cleaning, or apply moisturizers on them after prolonged exposure to water.

Does drinking water make your nails grow?

I can’t say if drinking water does help your nails grow, but one thing I’m sure of is that taking lots of water can keep your nails and cuticle hydrated.

However, it’s not enough to drink water; you should exercise as well as this is what will keep the blood flowing which invariably can trigger how your nails grow.

Do your nails grow in the shower?

Not really, instead, spending time in the shower will soften your nails and make them susceptible to breaking.

Does water make your nails weak?

The answer is capital. Yes. When nails spend too much time in the water, they swell losing almost if not all of the natural oil in them, which further renders them weak and liable to break.

Does drinking water help your nails?

Taking Water indeed can help your body in a lot of ways. For example, it can help to flush toxins out of your body and make your skin look fresh, radiant, and glowing, Same way it can help keep your nails and cuticle hydrated.

Does pool water make your nails grow?

There’s no evident report as to whether pool water can grow one’s nails, but there is an apparent proof that fingernails usually appears longer due to the shrinking of skin which will create an illusion of a longer nail.

Conclusion

There may be many articles out there suggesting that nails grow faster in water, but the truth is, it doesn’t.

What a lot of us see as nail growth the moment we step out of that pool is as a result shrinkage in our skin plus a bit of expansion which usually goes back to normal after a while.

So if you’re among those still living with that myth that nails do grow faster with water, it’s high time you stop daydreaming.

Like I’ve said, your fingernails will only grow faster only when you eat a well-balanced diet, keep them moisturized, exercise regularly, and most importantly when you don’t bite them.