Nick Viall and January Jones Might Be Dating and We Don’t Know How to Feel

It may have seemed like former Bachelor star Nick Viall struck out when January Jones turned down his Lip Sync Battle challenge, but now it appears he successfully sparked the actress’ interest after all, as there are new reports that they’re dating.

Buzz has been building around the two since the Mad Men star revealed on TheLate Late Show that Viall had asked her to battle him for lip-sync bragging rights. At the time, she said that she wasn’t sure if his invitation was meant to be romantic or hostile. “Is that his way of asking me out or does he have a problem with me? I don’t know what that was, but I declined because I don’t need to be humiliated,” she joked.

She also confessed, however, that she’s a Bachelor franchise super-fan and thought the season 21 star was “pretty cute.”

The feeling was apparently mutual. According to Page Six, Jones and Viall have been dating for approximately two months and even spent her 40th birthday together at LA’s Inkwell, where they were joined by some of her Mad Men costars.

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Thank you friends 🎂💃🏼

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Viall only recently started dating again after his split this past August from fiancée Vanessa Grimaldi, whom he met on The Bachelor earlier in 2017, after finishing as runner-up on Andi Dorfman’s and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s seasons of The Bachelorette. Jones, for her part, previously dated Ashton Kutcher, Josh Groban, and film producer Tommy Alastra. In recent years, though, she’s kept her love life mostly under wraps.

Not surprisingly, Twitter is abuzz over the potential pairing.

What do you think about Nick Viall and January Jones as a couple? Let us know @BritandCo!

(photos via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images + Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

The Golden Bachelorette has officially been greenlit to be released this fall, and the very first Golden Bachelorette has officially been named!

Scroll on for everything we know about the upcoming TV show, including casting announcements and premiere date details.

Who is the Golden Bachelorette?

Joan Vassos, a 61 year-old school administrator, will star in the upcoming The Golden Bachelorspinoff as the Golden Bachelorette. She was a contestant on The Golden Bachelor's first season, but chose to leave the show to be with her daughter who was experiencing a medical emergency at the time.

The Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, shared his congratulations towards Joan via an Instagram post reading:

"Dear Joan, congratulations on being named the first ever Golden Bachelorette. You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation. From one Golden to another... relax, breathe, and enjoy. Gerry."

Winner of The Golden Bachelor, Theresa Nist, spread more love via Instagram Stories. She shared a few smiley photos of her and Joan together with the caption reading: "My dear friend, Joan, I am so excited for you!!"

Who will be part of "The Golden Bachelorette"?

There haven't been any official casting announcements for the rest of the The Golden Bachelorette cast yet. What we do know is that the season will start off with Joan Vassos as the Golden Bachelorette and 22 senior men looking to steal her heart and lock down an everlasting love by the end of it. ❤️

When will "The Golden Bachelorette" air?

ABC noted that The Golden Bachelorette will air in fall 2024. Keep checking back here for the official date and time of the season 1 premiere!

Impatient for The Golden Bachelorette to air? You can still get your fix of love, laughs, and a little bit of drama very soon – ABC also announced that a new season of The Bachelorette is coming in summer 2024!

How can I watch "The Golden Bachelorette"?

According to ABC, The Golden Bachelorette will air on ABC and be available to stream on Hulu the following day. Historically, the different installments of The Bachelor have aired on Thursdays at 8pm ET.

What is the cast of "The Golden Bachelor" up to now?

It just so happens that our most beloved contestants from The Golden Bachelor, Kathy and Susan, have been working on a podcast titled Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour. They've posted tons of episodes dishing on The Golden Bachelor experience.

The pair definitely showed some real chemistry during the first-ever Golden Bachelor, and the podcast is a true testament to their friendship.

“We can finish each other's sentences,” Susan told PhillyVoice about Kathy. “We're night and day, but yet we're the same in a sense. We just roll off each other, and it's so easy.”

As far as the winners of The Golden Bachelor, Gerry and Theresa, things worked out for a bit, but they mutually decided to end their marriage in April 2024. Many speculated that they split because they had settled down in different places of the country and found it hard to relocate for love.

“We looked at homes in South Carolina, we considered New Jersey, and we just looked at homes after home,” Theresa said during an interview on Good Morning America, “but we never got to the point where we made that decision.”

How successful was "The Golden Bachelor"?

According to Variety, the first installment of The Golden Bachelor reached about 43.4 million viewers, making it ABC’s most-watched unscripted premiere on Hulu. The finale amassed 6.1 million viewers, deeming it the biggest episode in Bachelor history in nearly 3 years.

We had so much fun watching the very first installment of The Golden Bachelor, that we just can’t wait to see the roles reversed for The Golden Bachelorette. The hype is very real!

Check back here for more updates on The Golden Bachelorette!

Images via ABC, Disney/John Fleenor.

This post has been updated.

George and Amal Clooney are one of the celebrity couples I’d personally be upset over if they ever break up. Like...my heart just wouldn’t be able to handle it because their love story is one for the books — not to mention all the power couple fashion moments we'd miss out on!

I was introduced to George Clooney’s work via Quentin Tarantino’s movieFrom Dusk ‘Til Dawn (thanks, dad) and have always found him to be a force of nature, but I didn’t take him for the ‘settling down’ type. Imagine my surprise when the man who once claimed he’d never get married eventually found himself smitten with Amal Alamuddin, an intelligent Human Rights Lawyer.

Since their fateful first meeting at George’s home years ago, the two have gone on to get married, have children, and even established the Clooney Foundation for Justice together. If you can’t get enough of their relationship either, here’s a full timeline of their love story!

George and Amal Clooney's Full Relationship Timeline

Image via Andrew Goodman/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night

July 2013: George And Amal Clooney’s First Introduction

In 2018, George sat down with David Letterman on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction to recount various moments from his life, including when he first met Amal. He remembers being at home at Lake Como when one of his friends asked if they could bring a plus one with them.

To make things even wilder, his own agent let him know his bachelor days would soon be over. “I got a call from my agent who called and said, ‘I met this woman who’s coming to your house who you’re gonna marry,’” he said.

Once he met Amal and began talking to her, it was apparent they had chemistry that resulted in them exchanging emails. George told The Hollywood Reporter, “I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart…Then she sent some pictures from when she was here, and we were writing each other, emailing, talking, mostly about what was going on in each other’s lives, and over a period of time it became clear we were more than just friends.”

I’m being dramatic, but I think this dispels the idea that it’s impossible to find love if you don’t leave home.

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images

October 2013: George and Amal Have Their First Date

George also told The Hollywood Reporter about how their first official date came to be. He was in London overseeing the music for Monuments Men and decided to invite Amal for a visit. “Then we went for dinner…and when we came out, there were 50 paparazzi there. But she handled it like a champ. And pretty quickly, things escalated once I was in London,” he said

While they dated and got to know each other, they told CBS that they wrote each other letters. While they described that courtship, Amal added that some of the letters George wrote to her came from...his dog? Talk about bringing someone into your inner world! TBH, I'm more than here for it — let your sweet, goofy flag fly, George!

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner

April 2014: George and Amal Get Engaged

I always say there’s no denying when you’ve fallen in love with someone, and that couldn’t be more true for George and Amal Clooney who got engaged after six months of dating. Seriously, the way George proposed is something out of a romantic fairytale because he planned it. Not only that, but he cooked for her and sent her on a short scavenger hunt — except she didn’t know she was supposed to be looking for a ring.

He revealed even more details about the moment during his interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I did all the stuff, got down on my knee and did all the things you’re supposed to do. I had a playlist with my Rosemary [Clooney] songs on it, and I was waiting for this song, ‘Why Shouldn’t I,’” he said.

Needless to say, Amal happily accepted his proposal! Ironically,I’m starting to realize there’s not always a set timeline for people to get engaged or married after dating. Some people only date for a few months while others date for years before deciding to get married. It’s all very personal.

Image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI

September 2014: George And Amal Clooney Get Married

It wouldn’t be right if the couple didn’t get married in Italy, the country where they first met. Of course they were free to get married wherever they wanted, but leave it to the Clooneys to keep the romance going.

People reported the lovely couple wed at the Aman Canal Grande resort and guests like Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski were in attendance.

Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images

January 2015: George and Amal Grace the Red Carpet Together

For the first time ever, George and Amal Clooney made an appearance on the red carpet at the beginning of 2015. They attended the Golden Globes together where George received the famed lifetime achievement award.

Towards the end of his speech, George praised Amal in only a way that a man truly in love with his wife could. He said, "You make every single day — every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — feel as special as tonight..."

Image via Duncan McGlynn/Getty Images

Late 2016: George and Amal Found the Clooney Foundation for Justice

By 2016, George and Amal Clooney decided to found the Clooney Foundation for Justice — an organization that aims to shed light around social injustices found across the globe. They've prioritized spending their own money to help those in need without a second thought and have even donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Image via Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

February 2017: PEOPLE confirms George and Amal are expecting twins

Almost three years after getting married, a source close to George and Amal Clooney revealed the two were expecting a baby together. They told People, "They’re all very happy," referring to the couple's family.

George later revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was shocked when he discovered the couple would actually become parents to twins. He recalled their experience in the ultrasound room. "He goes, 'Well, there's one.' And I said, 'Great.' And then he goes, 'And there's the second one.' And I was like, 'What?' We just sat there, staring at that piece of paper they give you, and I kept thinking there was a mistake," he said of the exchange between the doctor and the couple.

Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

June 2017: George and Amal Clooney Welcome Their Twins

People also reported the birth of George and Amal Clooney's twins — Alexander and Ella — during the summer of 2017. "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine. George is sedated and should recover in a few days," they revealed in lighthearted joint statement.

September 2017: George and Amal Clooney Make Their First Appearance After Becoming Parents

Later that year, George and Amal Clooney graced the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in support of George's film Suburbicon. George — an ever dapper gentleman — wore a classic black tuxedo while Amal wore a lilac Versace gown.

Image via Gareth Fuller - WPA Pool/Getty Images

May 2018: George and Amal attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

Things were quiet for the couple until the spring of 2018. They attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly publicized wedding. They were just a few of the celebrities that were seen in the crowd.

Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

February 2022: George and Amal accept the Catalyst Award together

A couple of years later, George and Amal Clooney were the proud recipients of the joint Catalyst Award from the Elevate Prize Foundation. The amazing work they'd been doing in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice hadn't gone unnoticed and they were praised for their amazing philanthropic work.

While accepting the award, George gave a moving speech about their foundation's purpose. "One of the Elevate Prize Foundation's core values is human safety and freedom...Our goal at the foundation is to free the innocent and punish the guilty. I think we're both inspired by the young people out there challenging injustice in their communities, a new generation that won't accept the status quo," he said.

Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images

September 2022: George and Amal attend London premiere of Ticket to Paradise

The couple then attended the London premiere of Ticket to Paradise where they looked refreshed and glowy. This is my attempt to be appropriate, but they truly looked smoking h-o-t!This time George wore a three-piece suit while Amal stunned in beautiful slip dress.

Image via Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

October 17, 2022: George and Amal attend Ticket to Paradise Los Angeles premiere

They then attended the L.A. premiere of Ticket to Paradise where George looked debonair in a grey suit. Amal wore a gorgeous Alexander McQueen number that was an appropriate nod to the film's paradise theme.

Image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images

December 3, 2022: George and Amal Attend The Kennedy Center Honors

George and Amal Clooney attended the Kennedy Center Honors where he, along with honorees, received a nod for lifetime achievements. They were a picture of perfection on the red carpet, especially Amal. She dazzled in a lovely Valentino gown that looked amazing on her frame.

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images


August 31, 2023: The Couple Attend The DVF Awards in Venice

While attending the DVF Awards in Venice, Amal received the DVF Leadership Award. During her acceptance speech, Amal thanked George for being by her side. People reports she said, "Venice is the place where almost nine years ago we were married. I just wanted to say, you, my love, like this city, take my breath away, and you make our lives magical. It is sometimes hard to believe you exist, so thank you for being the brightest light in my life.”

September 28, 2023: George and Amal host The Albies

Before the end of 2023, People reported George and Amal Clooney hosted their foundation's second annual Albies at the New York Public Library to continue highlighting the importance of securing human rights for all.

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Header image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

We can't believe that the first season of The Golden Bachelor and the subsequent wedding are over! Where did the time go?! We thought Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, and winner of the show, Theresa Nist, would've drifted off into happily ever after, but we guess life had other plans for them since they're now getting divorced. It's certainly heartbreaking given how much they enjoyed spending time together, but only they know what's best for them!

Here's everything we know about their divorce following their publicized The Golden Bachelor wedding!

Theresa Nist Speaks Out About The End Of "The Golden Bachelor" Marriage

Image via John Fleenor/Disney

Theresa Nist took to Instagram to share her thoughts about the end of her marriage to Gerry Turner. She's aware that everyone has opinions about what happened, but she's asking for people to be considerate as they navigate a new process. She partially wrote, "For everyone else who is confused and angry and who does not understand, please try to find it in your heart to understand and to try a little kindness...Sometimes things don’t go the way you planned and that’s okay."

It seems like she's doing her best to remain positive in light of everything that's happened. We can only imagine how scary it is to open yourself up to love in the public eye and become the topic of everyone's conversation.

"The Golden Bachelor" Couple Are Ending Their Marriage

Image via Disney/John Fleenor

Just when we thought things were working well for "The Golden Bachelor" couple, they decided to announce the end of their short-lived marriage on Good Morning America. Gerry Turner told host Juju Chang, "Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations, and we’ve looked closely at our situation, our living situation, so forth and -- and we’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to -- dissolve our marriage."

Theresa Nist clarified that she doesn't want the people who rooted for them to believe love and marriage are hopeless. "We want none of that to change for anybody," she said.

We're sure that they truly had a connection, but it's not easy trying to navigate merging your life with someone no matter how old you are. It seems that Gerry and Theresa couldn't bear the thought of one of them being separated from their families, ultimately resulting in the tough decision that getting married may not have been the best thing to do.

We hope that they take as much time as they need to continue navigating their decision to end their public marriage.

"The Golden Bachelor" Blended Family Went On "Celebrity Family Feud"

Disney / John Fleenor

Gerry and Theresa's newly-blended family revealed that they filmed an episode of Celebrity Family Feud in early April – and their opposing team wasn't that unfamiliar!

Theresa's daughter Jen posted some behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram, noting that the family went up against more Bachelor Nation members like Joey Graziadei, Kelsey Anderson, Charity Lawson, Dotun Olubeko, Zach Shallcross, and Kaity Biggar for their episode of Celebrity Family Feud.

Jen also gave us loose details about when the episode would officially air, writing in the caption of her Instagram post: "you’ll have to watch to see how it went down but no I’m not really sure when it’s going to be on… August?!"

Gerry posted a little preview too, saying that he "had a GREAT time at Celebrity Family Feud with the blended family."

Gerry's daughter Angie seemed super excited about being on Celebrity Family Feud as well, writing in her Instagram post that her dreams were fulfilled being on the show.

"Since I was little I wanted to be on family feud," she wrote. "I would dream about it and assemble my team in my mind. Yesterday…it happened!!!! We played celebrity family feud!!! It was so much fun."

A Recap Of "The Golden Bachelor" Wedding

Disney / John & Joseph Photography

Gerry and Theresa got married during a live taping of The Golden Wedding, and there were hardly any dry eyes during their sweet ceremony. To help them celebrate their new nuptials, former The Golden Bachelor contestant Susan Noles was their officiant. It felt like a full circle moment for Bachelor Nation, because more familiar faces could be seen in the audience, like Trista and Ryan Sutter.

Peoplereports that Gerry and Theresa's respective daughters gave heartfelt speeches that touched everyone. Gerry's daughters Angie and Jenny shared how proud they are of their dad before turning their attention to Theresa. Jenny said, "he found a fantastic woman that is beautiful inside and out to spend the rest of his life with."

Theresa's daughter Jen echoed their sentiments. She said, "we're beyond thrilled that you’ve brought us together as family."

Towards the end of the ceremony, Gerry could be heard telling guests, "I have a whole new outlook on life because of this journey and because of this woman." So cute!

An Inside Look At The Golden Wedding

Disney / John & Joseph Photography

Jen Woolston, Amanda Nist

Gerry and Theresa's daughters were all smiles as they walked down the aisle.

Disney / John & Joseph Photography

Rob Young, Matt Woolston

Gerry and Theresa's son-in-laws also walked down the aisle in tailored navy blue suits.

Disney / John & Joseph Photography

Joey Graziadei, Faith Martin, Natascha Hardee, Brayden Bowers, and Christina Mandrell

The guests couldn't take their eyes off Gerry and Theresa! We love to see it!

Disney / John & Joseph Photography

A final look at the newlyweds!

Everything Gerry And Theresa Said About "The Golden Bachelor" Wedding

Disney / John Fleenor

After a long season, Gerry finally found his sweetheart. Theresa Nist, a financier from New Jersey, won the show with the ultimate gesture of love: a darling proposal from Gerry at the season finale! Despite the joyous ending, picking a final woman wasn't an easy decision for Gerry:

“I met some of the women and recognized they were beautiful and gracious and intelligent, but they weren't the right woman for me,” Gerry told People. “I had to find the right person.”

The lovely couple couldn't stop gushing about how thrilled they were as their big day approached. Their respective families are also over the moon, with Theresa's daughter and Gerry's granddaughters jumping on the opportunity to help celebrate.

“My daughter, she's seen a million weddings and she is incredible," Theresa said of her daughter, Jen. "She's put together the vision board. She's asking me, ‘Do you like this? Do you like this?’ And I go, ‘Wow, okay, I don't even have to do this. This is awesome.’ She's handling it pretty much.”

Gerry's daughters and granddaughters also attended the wedding.

“They're all involved,” he said. “There's a spot for every family member in the wedding party. We wouldn't have it any other way. It’s going to be spectacular.”

"The Golden Bachelor" Fantasy Suites Recap

Disney / John Fleenor

The Golden Bachelor fantasy suites episode followed Gerry and the last two contestants, Leslie and Theresa all the way to Costa Rica, where they were given the opportunity to get... closer.

Sure, the fantasy suites provides massive potential for physical connection (or "knocking boots," as Gerry put it), but the Golden Bach was focused on emotions more than anything this time around:

“[To] ask the difficult questions that are strictly between two people, and also have the opportunity to be physically intimate with each other,” he said on the show. “At this age, it’s more gentle, it’s slow, it’s something you can savor, because it’s something that’s the most special [thing] you can have.”

Before he could elicit official invites for the fantasty suites, Gerry took both women on some *quite* adventurous individual dates. He rappelled down a waterfall with Leslie, and rode horses through the wilderness with Theresa. At the end of each date, he asked each woman to join him in the fantasty suite.

Whether boots were knocked or not, it was hard to narrow down who Gerry was really into after the fantasy suites episode. He told both Leslie and Theresa "I love you," but Gerry ultimately made a decision about who won his heart over.

“I headed towards the end, I was really in conflict about several of the women,” Gerry told People. “As very specific events occurred, it really helped me gain clarity on what I wanted to do.”

When and where can I watch "The Golden Bachelor"?

www.youtube.com

Meet The Golden Bachelor - Coming to ABC This Fall

Since the series' first season is officially over, you can stream allThe Golden Bachelor episodes on Hulu.

Who's the first Golden Bachelor?

ABC / Brian Bowen Smith

71-year-old Gerry Turner is the leading man on the spin-off series. Describing himself as "71 years young," the Indiana-based widower, father of two, grandfather, and retired restauranteur believes that it's "never too late to fall in love again."

Gerry was previously married to his high school sweetheart, Toni, who died in 2017 after becoming ill just six weeks after she retired. In an interview with Good Morning America, Gerry said that in her last weeks, all Toni wanted for him was happiness.

"For a while, I was having a hard time figuring out if she was okay... but we always told each other, when one of us goes, we want the other to be happy. She's up there rooting. She's saying, 'Yeah, Gerry, do this!'"

What is "The Golden Bachelor" about?

ABC / John Fleenor

The Golden Bachelor gives seniors another shot at love, following one hopeless romantic in search of a partner to share their sunset years with. Promising to “showcase a whole new kind of love story,” the show carves out space for women who have a whole lifetime of experience living through love, loss, and laughter to meet their forever.

Each of the 22 women invited to the show hopes for a spark that ignites a future full of possibilities. In the end, the Golden Bachelor is set to find everlasting love in just one of them.

www.youtube.com

71-year-old Gerry Turner announced as 1st 'Golden Bachelor' l GMA

Angie and Jenny, Gerry's two daughters, were "very excited" about their dad's role on The Golden Bachelor. When asked about what he was looking for in a future Mrs. Turner, he says he's looking for someone with "high energy," who might even play pickleball and golf. Even now, there's no slowing down Gerry!

How many women are a part of "The Golden Bachelor"?

www.youtube.com

Meet the 22 Women Competing for the Golden Bachelor's Heart

The Golden Bachelor started with a total of 22 women who are 60+ years of age. We love that the series was intentional about featuring a cast who's near the same age group as Gerry.

Which contestants stood out the most?

www.youtube.com

The Ladies Move Into the Mansion - The Golden Bachelor

Every season, there’s always a handful of contestants who make unforgettable first impressions, and this time was no different.

Some of the most noteworthy ladies from the show included Sandra, a 75-year-old retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia. The most seasoned of the bunch kicked her first interaction with Gerry off with a sensual meditation session where she proclaimed her love for the “F” and “S” words. Same girl, same.

Theresa, a 70-year-old financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, bared it all on her first meeting with Gerry. It was her cake day after all, and she figured there was no better time to show off her birthday suit than the show's first episode. LOL.

Faith, a 60-year-old high school teacher from Benton City, Washington, exuded cool-girl energy with a head-turning stunt. Riding in on a motorcycle with hair whipping, and even shocking audiences with a guitar solo, there’s no surprise that she walked away with a little kiss (and the first impression rose).

One of our favorite step-outs of the first night was Leslie, 64, who left the limo in a gray wig, a muumuu nightgown, and a walker to boot. But – after pulling off the guise to reveal a show-stopping sparklingly dress, the retired dancer proved that she’s anything but geriatric. And also, apparently Prince ( yes, *the* Prince) wrong a song about her?! Talk about an “it" girl.

Stay updated on the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co!

Lead photo via Disney / John Fleenor.

This post has been updated. Previous reporting by Olivia Taylorand Kaitlyn Ingram.

Nails breaking constantly? Wishing you didn't have to rely on tips at the salon? Desperate for that long nail look? You’re not alone. Despite it being used as an annoying and vapid phrase women would say in TV shows, breaking a nail is very painful and can ruin a (usually expensive) manicure. But don’t fret — we’ve rounded up five simple ways to get your nails to grow longer and stronger.

What causes weak fingernails?

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

  • Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
  • Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
  • Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
  • Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

  • Cuticle oil
  • Biotin
  • Diet
  • Nail protection
  • Avoid picking and peeling
Here's why each factor is important, plus how you can go about successfully achieving them.

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

Photo via Cora Pursley/Dupe

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Photo via Daniella Cappellari/Dupe

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Photo via Sash Gabriel/Dupe

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.

Looking for more beauty tips and inspo? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more!

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Header image via Laura Walt/Dupe

I've got a thing for Reese Witherspoon's book club which is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story. Chosen as Reese's Book Club's May Pick, it features a romance that almost shouldn't make sense. I mean, when's the last time you realized you trauma bonded with someone? Except Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard's character arcs as well as the entire plot of How to End a Love Story doesn't even feel like that.

Instead, Yulin uncannily peels back the layers of what it means to be a layered human being who happens to be carrying trauma, talent, success, imposter syndrome, and burning desire in their hearts. Even that doesn't scratch the surface of who Helen and Grant are. Trying to capture their essence feels like I'm stumbling over my words which points to how great this novel is and that means Yulin's goal has been accomplished.

Though she loves perfectly executed rom-coms and is fortunate to be working on them in the filmmaking space, she doesn't consider How to End a Love Story as one. "...I was searching for something more aligned with the Brontë sensibility of romance in the writing of this book. Less warmth and charm, more id-level storytelling and unchecked carnal desire," she explains.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Image via Zach Wallnau

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!

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