Nail growth treatments are designed to keep your nails in tip-top shape. They help to strengthen and hydrate, so that your nails end up not only looking better but feeling better, too.
They do a lot for very little effort - treatments are quick and easy to apply and require minimal drying time - so you can swipe and go within a matter of seconds. It really is that easy.
To find the perfect formula for you, we’ve put the leading brands through their paces. Here are the ones that deliver the best results:
- Winner: Duri Rejuvacote 2
- Runner-up: Nail HQ All-In-One
- Best nail cream: Leighton Denny Renovate Intensive Nail Cream
- Best budget buy: Rimmel London Nail Nurse Base & Top Coat 5 in 1
- Best for sensitive cuticles: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Nail Care
- Best nail oil: Mavala Switzerland Mavaderma
- Best for fast nail growth: Sally Hansen Nail Treatment Growth Miracle
- Best for post-acrylic nails: China Glaze Nail Strengthener & Growth Formula
- Best for easy application: Orly Nailtrition Nail Strengthener
- Best for dry nails: Nails Inc Overnight Detox Mask Strengthening Nail Treatment
- Best nail tint: Cutex Brittle Nail Fix
How to get your nails to grow
A number of factors can contribute to the quality of our nails. Some things are within our control, such as diet and nail-biting, while some are outside of our control, like cold weather and hormones.
Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy and ageing, can play a part due to changes in your oestrogen levels. It they are low, it can affect how well the body retains water, which can in turn cause nails to become dry and break more easily.
Drinking more water and eating foods containing vitamin E (such as almonds and eggs) can help improve the health of your nails, while you should also avoid biting or picking the skin on your cuticles. If you have particularly dry hands, make sure they're covered in cosy gloves during winter, too.
Regulars at the nail salon should also avoid peeling off gel nails. You’re not only removing the gel, but also the top layers of your nails, which can make them sensitive and cause discolouration and bumpy patches. Acrylic nails, on the other hand, can make your natural skin weaker and thinner over time, so it’s important to take a break every once in a while.
How to use nail growth treatments
Nail growth treatments can be incredibly versatile. Whether you’re looking for a base coat for a manicure or a cream you can apply as and when if you’re out and about, we’ve got you covered in our list below.
Depending on the format, usually products will need to be reapplied at least once a week. If it’s a cream or oil, you can apply daily but a polish should provide you with a little more coverage. The general rule is to apply to clean, dry hands and then wait for the magic to happen!
Are nail growth treatments safe?
They do feature some ingredients such as formaldehyde and phthalates that have a bad rep, as they can cause irritation, but they don’t pose a risk in this small quantity or format. If you’re concerned though, we’ve noted down which ones in our lineup contain them below.
How we test
We asked over 270 testers to trial nail growth treatments, from oils to polishes to serums. They gave their feedback on the performance of each product, including whether it prevented breakages and peeling, if their nails looked healthier and felt stronger, and if it helped their nails to grow.
They also commented on the ease of application and how often they needed to apply the treatment, as well as whether their nails felt hydrated after each use.
Here are the ones that came out on top:
Score: 86/100
Claiming to help nails grow in a matter of days, our testers were so impressed with this polish that over 86% said they would continue to use after the trial was over. They found it helped protect their nails by improving their strength, leaving them less flaky and cracked.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 14ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: No (contains derivative)
Score 83/100
If you find your nails never grow past a certain point without breaking, this treatment claims to be the solution. Overall, 70% of testers with peeling nails agreed that it helped prevent any breakages, to leave them looking healthier and smoother by the end of the trial. In fact, 80% said they would continue to use it because they were so pleased with the results!
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 10ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: No
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3
Best nail cream
Leighton Denny Renovate Intensive Nail Cream
Score: 82/100
If you prefer a hand cream format, try this one. Our testers were impressed with how quickly it absorbed into skin, and with how nourished it left cuticles.
Packed with seven essential oils, 93% of our panel said their nails felt more hydrated by the end of the trial, while an impressive 87% said their nails looked and felt stronger.
Key specifications
Type: Cream
Volume: 10ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
Score: 81/100
Aiming to promote growth by mending brittle, weak nails, testers reported healthier-looking nails by the end of the trial. The brush made it easy to apply, while the liquid consistency dried quickly. Testers didn’t see a significant improvement in growth, but did find it helped prevent breakages. Not bad for under £5.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 12ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
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Score: 81/100
A great option for those that have sensitive cuticles, this polish features a silk-enriched formula to help fortify nails and prevent breakages. Over 97% of testers said it didn’t cause any irritation or redness around the nail bed, and reported a speedy drying time.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 13.3ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
6
Best nail oil
Mavala Switzerland Mavaderma
Score: 81/100
For a deep conditioning treatment, our panel loved this nourishing oily formula. The brush size was perfect for fuss-free application, and 92% said the product left tips feeling hydrated.
Being oil-based, it did take longer than average to absorb, but once it did, nail beds felt thoroughly moisturised.
Key specifications
Type: Oil
Volume: 10ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
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Score: 80/100
Our second entry from this brand and part of the same range, more than half of our testers found that this treatment sped up the nail growth process.
The polish was quick to dry too, and 81% said it made a visible difference to how smooth their nails looked. Some experienced chipping but overall more than half found it helped prevent peeling.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 13.3ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
Score: 80/100
There’s nothing quite like a fresh set of acrylic or gel nails, but it can cause some real damage underneath. This glaze claims to repair any cracking and flaking, to leave your natural nails feeling stronger.
It scored highly across the board for how well it strengthened and hydrated nails, but it didn’t have a drastic impact on growth. We’d suggest using it as a protective coat before or in between salon treatments.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 14ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: No
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9
Best for easy application
Orly Nailtrition Nail Strengthener
Score: 78/100
The silicone cap and wide brush on this polish made it easy and quick for testers to apply in a single stroke. They liked the hint of colour that the polish provided too, making nails look healthier and feel stronger. When it came to growth, testers said nails looked longer, with less of the usual flaking or chipping.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 18ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
10
Best for dry nails
Nails Inc Overnight Detox Mask
Score: 77/100
This treatment claims to regenerate and detox nails overnight to leave you with a glossy finish by morning. The result? 84% of testers found it helped with the dryness of their nails, improving uneven texture and eradicating any rough skin.
Although some noted the brush was larger than it needed to be, making application awkward at times, 78% said their nails felt smoother as an end result.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 14ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
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Score: 75/100
Want a subtle french manicure without much effort? This polish gives nails a pink tint to help them look healthy yet natural. Testers noted how protected their nails felt after application, with half finding it helped prevent breakages. It didn’t make a massive difference to nail length, but the texture made it easy to apply and it has a quick drying time.
Key specifications
Type: Polish
Volume: 13.6ml
Phthalate-free: Yes
Toluene-free: Yes
Formaldehyde-free: Yes
Charlotte Bitmead
Former Senior Beauty Writer
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
