Eat a Healthful Diet

• Eating lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and low-fat dairy products ensures that the body is getting the proper vitamins and minerals to keep fingernails strong and healthy. If eating healthy all the time is not an option, or a person is not sure they are eating a healthful enough diet, then adding a multivitamin to fill possible deficiencies is a good idea.
  
  

Biotin

• Adding a biotin supplement to the diet can significantly increase fingernail strength. It was in the 1940s that vets discovered that when biotin was given to horses and pigs, it made their hooves stronger and harder. Also, according to a study done at Columbia University, adding 2.5 mcg of biotin to the diet increased nail thickness in 90 percent of the participants. It's important to speak to a physician before starting a biotin regime as biotin does not mix well with some supplements.
  
  

White/Decolorized Iodine

• Take a cotton swap and dip it in the white iodine and then coat just the tips of the fingernails, not the entire nail. Allow the fingernails to dry. Repeat this once a night for a week, and then once a week after that. More is not better in the case of white iodine, and overuse can actually cause the fingernails to turn brittle.
  
  

Protect Your Nails

• Harsh chemicals, water and even just the way fingernails are used daily can cause them to become weak. So, one of the best ways to strengthen the fingernails is to wear gloves when washing dishes or cleaning the home. Also, coating them with a clear polish such as Sally Hansen Hard As Nails, for example, will help to protect fingernails. The current formula for this nail polish has vitamin B5 and green tea to nourish the fingernails as well as protect them.