My entire life I’ve struggled to grow healthy, sturdy, long nails. I’ve dealt with thin, brittle ends that peel and tear before they can gain any sort of length. Because of this, for years I spent an unknown amount of money on manicures to help maintain healthy nails, moving to acrylic tips and then gel nails. But once I started having kids I had to make some cuts in my vanity budget and the nails were the first things to go. 

Then, after giving birth, I was able to grow incredible nails due to the influx of hormones and other crazy levels that prove that your body undergoes drastic changes throughout pregnancy and postpartum. However, the dream nails didn’t last very long. Since about six weeks postpartum of my last pregnancy, I’ve lived with the fact that I have weak nails that won’t grow, and in the rare times when they have gained the tiniest bit of length, they would always break and snag, then rip and catch part of my cuticle to then tear until they bled. It’s been awful and downright embarrassing if I realize people notice. The only saving grace I’ve had is one week a month, around that time of the month when my hormone levels fluctuate to account for Aunt Flo to come to town. 

Along with monthly nail growth, I’ve dealt with monthly, hormonal acne. Yet another struggle I’ve dealt with my entire life. How bad? I was one of the “lucky” ones with cystic acne starting in high school, continuing into my adult years; I even was prescribed and took two full doses of Accutane - once in high school and again in college. Looking back now at all of the side effects and the risks, I wish I had never been introduced to that drug, especially since neither time resulted in a permanent solution. 

Thankfully, with age, the constant cystic acne transitioned into hormonal cystic acne that I’ve dealt with - yet again - around that time of the month. And even though the acne came only once a month with a vengeance, it always stuck around for more than a week due to my inability NOT to pick and mess with it.

I’ve been attempting to add powdered collagen into my routine with smoothies and mixing it in other drinks to chug real fast, and I finally decided it was best to do it first thing in the morning and let it easily dissolve into my coffee with no trace of taste at all.

And then one day I realized that my nails had grown. Not just a little, but a lot. I started trying to figure out what was different in my life and routine, and then it hit me. For several weeks (read: months) I’ve been consistently putting a scoop of collagen peptides into my morning coffee. I don’t ever miss a day.

Now I’ve realized that my nails have grown and stayed strong (well past my monthly cycle) and my skin - although not perfect by any means - went almost blemish-free during my last cycle. This really is an incredible feat and a downright miracle! My skin is clearer, smoother, and not quite as dull as in previous months and times.

Collagen peptides have been around for a while and as mentioned earlier, in several forms. Some people are skeptical of their ability to provide many health benefits - if any at all - and even if they can provide SOME benefits, some skeptics believe it isn’t enough to officially state that collagen is effective and that their use is of any quantifiable benefit.

However, in my personal opinion and now experience, I’d say the juice is well worth the squeeze.

From the list above and to many more bullet points in a basic search of collagen peptides, the benefits can vary based on the collagen type you’re taking. For example, a combination of type 1 and type 3 collagen as a hydrolyzed protein (like what I’ve been adding to my coffee every morning) is said to provide roughly 18 essential amino acids that aid in strengthening hair, nails, and gut, among other benefits. Hence the difference I’ve noticed in nail growth in the last few months. Type 2 collagen is known for its ability to help with bones and joints and is a great supplement for those with osteoarthritis.

With my newly minted nail growth, I do still have to be sure to take care of and maintain a healthy nail bed from filing and cuticle clean up, and I need to continue to read ingredients in the skincare products I use, but hey, that’s minuscule in commitment compared to taking out a second mortgage to cover nail salon visits and the insecurities I’ve always faced from the blemishes that stood out front and center!

Check out my GO-TO nail products: