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Another reason to take your vitamins? It could help prevent brittle, weak nails that break and split constantly. The best vitamins for nails come from eating foods like leafy greens, eggs, nuts, seeds, sweet potato, cold water fish, and more that are rich in a few key vitamins. “Vitamin B, C, E, A, biotin, magnesium, zinc, and iron are all vitamins that are essential for nail health,” says Dr. Dana Dr. Stern, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Consuming a healthy, balanced diet full of these vitamins, minerals, and nutrient, should give you the adequate support you need for healthy nails overall.”
Vogue’s Favorite Nail Vitamins
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However, if you’re deficient in any of these nail-boosting vitamins or minerals, a nail vitamin can play into your routine as a part of a broader strategy. “Supplements like nail vitamins can fill nutritional gaps, but they are not a cure-all,” says registered dietitian and wellness advisor for The Lanby Taylor Fazio. “For the safest and most effective use, it’s best to work with a practitioner who can evaluate your needs, guide your supplement choices, and monitor progress through blood work over time.”
Whether you’re here for the short, sleek, natural nails or prefer long, glossy, detailed manicures, we asked the experts to break down the best nail vitamins to keep yours in tip-top shape.
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Best Overall Nail Vitamin: Wellbel Women Clean Supplement for Hair, Skin, and Nails
- Why We Love It: Many key nutrients contribute to healthy nails, and the comprehensive formulation of Wellbel’s Hair, Skin, and Nails capsule made it our top choice for healthy nail support—and a favorite of Fazio’s. “Wellbel offers a clean, well-balanced formula with key nutrients that support nail health like biotin, selenium, iodine, and methylated B vitamins in forms and doses that are better tolerated and easier to personalize,” Fazio says. “Unlike other brands, which use high-dose biotin (3,000 mcg or more), Wellbel uses a lower, more physiologic dose (500 mcg), which still supports keratin production but with less risk of side effects like acne or interference with lab testing.” It’s also vegan, hormone-free, and allergen-conscious, making it a more gentle, transparent, and adaptable option for long-term use. It also doesn’t include herbal blends like ashwagandha or curcumin. “Herbal blends like that may not be appropriate for everyone and can interact with medications or hormone pathways,” Fazio adds.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin B12, biotin, zinc, selenium
- Form: Capsule
- Serving Size: 3 capsules
- Certifications: Non-GMO
Best Nail Vitamin With Protein: Momentous Essential Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder
- Why We Love It: As nails are largely composed of protein, ensure that your protein intake is optimal. A favorite of Dr. Stern’s, this grass-fed whey protein powder delivers 20 grams of protein per serving. “It may be worth considering protein supplementation if you are hoping to improve your nail health,” Dr. Stern says. “Choose a whey-based protein as opposed to plant-based for nail health.” It’s cold-processed and micro-filtered to preserve the essential amino acids and made with a clinically proven enzyme blend called ProHydroase to maximize absorption—so you’re actually getting the protein it says you are. “The amount of protein you need varies by person and on your activity levels,” Dr. Stern adds. “If you are someone who does a lot of weight exercise or weight lifting, for example, your protein needs may be higher.”
- Key Ingredients: Whey protein isolate, ProHydroase
- Form: Powder
- Serving Size: 1 scoop
- Certifications: NSF-certified
Best Nail Vitamin With Iron: MaryRuth Organics Iron Gummies
- Why We Love It: According to research, iron deficiency or anemia is one of the most common deficiencies in the world, affecting about 30% of the population. This can especially show up on nails. “An iron deficiency can cause vertical ridges, spoon-shaped nails, pale nails, brittle nails, discoloration, and also slow nail growth,” says Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD. “If you are deficient, adding iron to your diet can help promote stronger, healthier nails.” Deliciously grape-flavored and simple to take, this gummy packs iron and vitamin C for an easy way to up your iron intake without added sugar, nuts, or gelatin. And vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, which is necessary for healthy nails. However, Fazio notes that some vitamin supplementation, like with iron, should only be used in specific cases and otherwise avoided unless clearly indicated by a professional. “Without personalized guidance, supplements may do more harm than good, which is why it’s best to work with a practitioner to assess what your body actually needs.”
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, iron
- Form: Gummy
- Serving Size: 2 gummies
- Certifications: Clean Label Project Certified, B Corp Certified
Best Nail Vitamin for Nail Strength: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced
- Why We Love It: We naturally produce less collagen as we age, but it’s a structural protein that supports nail strength overall. And although research is still building on how oral collagen can support nails, it’s promising. “The most effective form for supplementation is hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which are easily absorbed and shown in studies to help strengthen nails,” Fazio says. “Collagen works best when overall protein intake is adequate, since your body needs a full range of amino acids to build hair, skin, and nails.” This powder comes in a few delicious flavors—unflavored, strawberry lemon, vanilla, and chocolate—and is packed with vitamin C, which can support collagen synthesis to further boost effectiveness, according to Fazio.
- Key Ingredients: Collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C
- Form: Powder
- Serving Size: 3 tablespoons
- Certifications: Paleo-friendly, Whole30 Approved
Best Nail Vitamin for Flaky Nails: Naomi Mighty Mg
- Why We Love It: Magnesium is a miracle mineral for many reasons—it can help with sleep, stress, muscle tension, migraines, as well as a key vitamin for smooth, strong, even nails. “A lack of magnesium can show up weak, flaky nails,” Dr. Nussbaum says. “It may also help prevent vertical ridges from forming.” Magnesium is also essential to use vitamin D, which some research shows is associated with thicker fingernails and bone density. “Magnesium is required to activate and use vitamin D too, which can help us better absorb calcium for supporting strong bones,” Fazio says. “That means that without sufficient magnesium, vitamin D supplementation may be less effective.” This capsule delivers a powerful dose—360 mg—of magnesium glycinate and malate.
- Key Ingredients: Magnesium glycinate and malate
- Form: Capsule
- Serving Size: 2 capsules
- Certifications: Non-GMO
Best Nail Vitamin for Brittle Nails: Dr. Mercola Hair, Skin and Nails
- Why We Love It: When looking at nail health, a lack of keratin may cause nails to grow more slowly, become more brittle, and appear less shiny and smooth overall. “Nails are composed of keratin, which is derived from protein,” Dr. Stern says. While more research needs to be conducted, a promising clinical study found that participants who took a specific soluble keratin supplement for three months strengthened and improved the appearance of their nails. While keratin itself is difficult to digest, this capsule includes soluble keratin, a more digestible form of keratin (hydrolyzed keratin) sourced from New Zealand wool; biotin, which helps support keratin production; and hyaluronic acid.
- Key Ingredients: Keratin, biotin, hyaluronic acid
- Form: Capsule
- Serving Size: 2 capsules
- Certifications: N/A
Best Nail Vitamin for Nail Thickness: Thorne Biotin
- Why We Love It: While biotin is popular among supplements for hair growth, it can also benefit nails. “Nails are made of similar proteins—keratin and collagen—as hair,” Fazio says. “They require some of the same nutrients to grow and repair like biotin, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E.” Thorne’s simple formula contains 8 mg of biotin which can help reinforce thick, firm nail plates—and it’s under the 10 mg dose that was reported to interfere with lab test results. “In 2017, the FDA issued a warning that excessively high biotin consumption (higher doses of over 10 mg) may interfere with some common lab tests, such as falsely elevated levels of T4 and T3 and low levels of TSH,” Dr. Stern says. “If you are taking biotin supplements, keep the dose under 10 mg and report that you are taking it when having blood work done,” Dr. Stern says. Most people get a sufficient amount of this key vitamin through their diets alone—biotin can be found in beef liver and eggs, and for those without a biotin deficiency, biotin is unlikely to help.
- Key Ingredients: Biotin
- Form: Capsule
- Serving Size: 2 capsules
- Certifications: Third-party tested
Everything You Need to Know:
Can vitamins really help your nails?
Fazio notes that vitamins can help your nail health if you’re deficient in key nutrients. But if your diet is already well balanced, supplements may have minimal impact. “Supplements can help replenish nutrients your body is actually low in—like biotin, zinc, or iron—and that’s when you’re most likely to see noticeable results when it comes to nail health,” Fazio says.
There’s other reasons your nails could be suffering too. “Thyroid issues, age, circulation issues, frequent manicures, fungal infections, psoriasis, Reyaud’s Syndrome, and more could all contribute to poor nail health,” Dr. Nussbaum says. It could also be weather, chemical exposure, and other environmental contributors. “It’s crucial to work with a professional to determine the root cause of nail issues in order to treat it properly and thoroughly,” Dr. Nussbaum says.
Which vitamin is best for nails?
To find the best vitamins for nails, you need a more comprehensive look at your overall health, especially to check for vitamin deficiencies. “Deficiencies in vitamins like iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin B can all show up on your nails,” Dr. Nussbaum says. A look at the ingredients you should consider below.
Perhaps the most popular ingredient known for its hair and nail health support, biotin, a.k.a. vitamin B7, is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps convert nutrients into energy in the body. “It supports keratin production, a key structural protein in nails,” Fazio says. “Low levels of biotin, while rare, are linked to brittle nails.” While biotin supplements are generally considered safe, it’s important to know that they can affect the results of blood tests, especially lab testing for thyroid issues. “While many nail experts used to recommend biotin for brittle nails, there has been a reanalysis of a lot of the data and we are now questioning the efficacy of this vitamin B coenzyme for nail health,” Dr. Stern says. The FDA issued a warning in 2017 that excessively high biotin consumption can cause incorrect lab results.
Protein is essential for overall nail health. “Nails are largely composed of protein, so if you are consuming adequate protein it is highly unlikely that a specific diet will benefit your nails,” Dr. Stern says. To boost nails, Dr. Stern recommends generally focusing on protein intake because “keratin, which is what your nails are composed of, is protein-derived.”
“Collagen is a protein that gives shape and strength to tissues,” Dr. Nussbaum says. “It’s a building block of nails, hair, and teeth.” Fazio recommends hydrolyzed collagen peptides (types I and III) as the most effective form for supplementation. “Your body needs a full range of amino acids to build nails, and collagen works best when your overall protein intake is sufficient.”
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress and damage. “It’s essential for collagen synthesis, which helps maintain skin elasticity, hair structure, and nail strength,” Fazio says. “It also helps with iron absorption.”
An essential micronutrient and trace mineral, zinc is “used in over 300 metalloenzymatic reactions and over 2,000 transcription factors that are needed for regulation of lipid, protein, and nucleic acid metabolism and gene transcription,” says Dr. Stern. That means it’s key for cell repair, growth, and inflammation control. “Inadequate zinc intake can cause degeneration of the nail plate or something called Beau’s lines, which are horizontal grooves across the nail,” Dr. Nussbaum says.
Iron is an essential mineral. “It supports red blood cell production and oxygen delivery to tissues, including nails,” Fazio says. “Iron deficiency is a common cause of hair shedding, dull skin, and pale or discolored nails.” Iron deficiency or anemia is common, and your nails could be a sign. “Iron deficiency may contribute to vertical ridges, brittle, or spoon-shaped nails,” Dr. Nussbaum adds.
Meet The Experts
- Dr. Dana Stern, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in nail health.
- Taylor Fazio is a New York registered dietitian and wellness advisor for The Lanby.
- Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.