How fast do nails grow? Fingernails grow about 3 mm a month, roughly 0.1 mm a day, so a full fingernail takes four to six months to replace and a toenail twelve to eighteen. Growth is a little faster in summer and in younger people, and slower with age, cold and illness. Nothing you put on a nail changes the rate, only how much length you keep.
- Fingernails grow about 3 mm a month, roughly 0.1 mm a day.
- A full fingernail takes four to six months to replace, a toenail twelve to eighteen.
- Summer, youth, the dominant hand and pregnancy speed growth up a little. Age, cold and illness slow it.
- Most nails seem slow because length is lost to breakage as fast as it grows.
How fast do fingernails and toenails grow?
A fingernail grows about 3 mm a month, which is roughly 0.1 mm a day.
Nails never stop growing, but it's slow work: a full fingernail takes four to six months to replace, and a toenail twelve to eighteen. Yes, toenails really are that slow.
| Typical figure | What it measures |
|---|---|
| About 0.1 mm | Fingernail growth, per day |
| About 3 mm | Fingernail growth, per month |
| Four to six months | A fingernail, full regrowth |
| Twelve to eighteen months | A toenail, full regrowth |
These are typical figures, not promises. Your own rate will sit a little above or below them, and results vary.
What makes nails grow faster, and what only seems to?
A few things really do nudge growth up a little: nails on your dominant hand, summer, being younger and pregnancy.
The effect is small, and none of them is something you can switch on. Other things only seem to help. A nail that stops breaking looks like a nail that has started growing faster, and the relief is real, but the rate hasn't changed. A fresh set of gel or acrylic adds length without growing a thing.
Myth: Cutting your nails makes them grow faster.
Fact: Nails grow from the base, under the cuticle. Trimming keeps the edge tidy, but it does not change the rate.
What slows nail growth down?
Nail growth slows with age, in the cold and during illness.
None of that is a fault. Bodies just work this way, which is why a nail can feel slower in winter than it did in summer. If your nails slow right down for no reason you can put your finger on, mention it to your GP.
Why do my nails seem to grow so slowly?
Your nails seem to grow slowly, most often because you are losing length as fast as you grow it.
If a nail grows 3 mm in a month and 3 mm snaps off, the length on your finger doesn't change, and it feels as if your nails have stopped growing. They haven't. They're growing and breaking.
That's why dry, thin nails feel slow, and why my routine for long nails is mostly about keeping what grows. It's all in how to grow long natural nails.
What can a serum speed up, and what can it not?
A serum cannot speed up the rate your body grows a nail, but it can change how much of that growth you keep.
A nail that stays flexible and hydrated breaks less often, so more of the 3 mm you grow each month stays on the end of your finger. That's the job of the Body Collective Nail Growth and Strength Serum pen: 3 ml, A$16.95. Most people notice softer cuticles within days and visible growth within one to two weeks; results vary.
How can you measure your own nail growth in a month?
Put a tiny dot of coloured nail polish on the nail itself, halfway up and away from the cuticle, and measure how far it has moved in a month.
You'll need a ruler that shows millimetres, and a little patience.
- Mark one nail. Dab a small dot of polish on the nail itself, about halfway up and well away from the cuticle, and let it dry. If it chips, start again with a new dot.
- Measure and write it down. Measure from the cuticle to the dot, and from the cuticle to the tip of the nail.
- Wait a month. Don't file that nail, and keep it out of the dishwater.
- Measure again. The dot has moved by the amount the nail grew. The tip has moved by the amount you kept. If the second number is smaller, the difference is length you lost.
When should you see a GP about slow nail growth?
A routine cannot explain growth that has all but stopped, or a nail that has suddenly changed.
If either sounds like yours, it's worth a chat with someone who can see your nails in person.
If it came on suddenly, hurts, is discoloured, thickened or lifting, see a GP, dermatologist or podiatrist.
Nail Growth, Strength & Repair Serum | Easy Twist Pen
A$16.95
The oil that keeps the nail flexible, so more of what you grow stays on your fingers.
Add to cartSweet almond oil is a nut derived oil; people with nut allergies should talk to their doctor first.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to grow a full nail?
About four to six months for a fingernail and twelve to eighteen months for a toenail. A fingernail grows about 3 mm a month, roughly 0.1 mm a day. Those are typical figures: yours will be faster or slower depending on your age, the season, your health and how many nails you break along the way.
Do nails grow faster in summer?
A little, yes. Nails tend to grow somewhat faster in summer and slower in the cold, though the difference is small next to the length you gain or lose through breakage. Being younger, pregnancy and your dominant hand also nudge growth up a little. Results vary from person to person.
Can you make nails grow faster?
Not really. The rate is set by your body, and nothing you put on a nail changes it. What you can change is how much growth you keep: oil daily, wear gloves for the dishes and use a glass file. Most people notice softer cuticles within days and visible growth within one to two weeks; results vary.
