Getting started · Enzyme Nail Serum
Your first six months, pen by pen.
One pen is a two-month supply. Here is how to apply it, what is normal, and what to expect as your nails grow over the next three pens.
01 · How to apply
Once a day. About a minute.
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01
Start clean
Right after a shower or after washing your feet, ideally before bed. Pat the nail completely dry.
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02
Apply a thin layer
Brush the serum onto the nail, under the free edge and around the cuticle. One thin pass is enough.
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03
Let it absorb
Do not rinse. Leave it on overnight. Socks help keep it on the nail and off your sheets.
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04
Repeat daily
Once a day, every day. Consistency matters more than quantity.
02 · What is normal
Three things people ask about in week one.
Color
Black by design
From black castor seed oil and activated charcoal. Every pen ships this color. Wipe excess off the skin with a tissue.
Pace
No overnight change
Nails grow slowly, so the first weeks are about the routine, not the mirror. The timeline below shows why.
Amount
Less than you think
One thin layer. More serum does not do more; it just ends up on your socks.
03 · Six-month timeline
Why this takes months, not days.
A toenail grows about 1.6 mm a month, roughly half the speed of a fingernail, and a big toenail takes 12 to 18 months to replace itself completely.1 The nail you see today formed months ago. What your routine reaches first is the new nail growing out from the base, so that is where to look.
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Build the routine
Under 1 mm of new nail
Nothing about the nail changes in two weeks, and that is expected. The goal right now is the habit: same time, same place, every night. Tie it to something you already do, like brushing your teeth.
- Take a day-one photo of each nail you are caring for
- Set a daily reminder on your phone
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Consistency
About 3 mm of new nail by week 8
New nail is forming at the base, under the cuticle, and starting to push forward. It is still too little to see clearly. Keep nails trimmed short and straight across, and apply to bare nails: polish sits between the serum and the nail.
- Photo at week 4 and week 8, same light, same angle
- Around week 6, order your next pen so there is no gap
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Watch the base
About 5–6 mm of new nail by month 4
This is usually when new growth becomes easy to measure. Compare the area closest to the cuticle with your day-one photo. Any change in how a nail looks shows up there first and moves forward as the nail grows. The tip is the oldest part of the nail and changes last.
- Monthly photo
- Keep the routine daily, including under the free edge
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The long game
About 8–10 mm of new nail by month 6
A big toenail takes 12 to 18 months to replace itself completely, so at six months a third to half of it is nail that has grown in during your routine. Lay your photos side by side. Many people keep daily care going through a full nail cycle.
- Six-month photo set, side by side
- Decide on your next supply
How to take progress photos
Same spot, same light, straight down from above, nails trimmed and bare. Daylight by a window works better than a flash. Photograph every nail you are caring for, once a month, and keep them in one album so you can compare them side by side.
04 · Plan your supply
Six months is three pens.
Order your next pen around week six so it arrives before this one runs out. US orders ship free. The 3-pack covers six months at a lower price per pen.
Questions
I missed a day. What now?
Pick it back up that night. Do not apply extra to make up for it; one thin layer a day is the routine.
Is the black color normal?
Yes. The serum is black by design, from organic black castor seed oil and coconut-shell activated charcoal, a functional part of the formula. Every pen ships that way. Wipe any excess off the surrounding skin with a tissue.
How long does one pen last?
About 60 days at once-daily use. Six months is three pens.
Can I wear nail polish?
Apply to bare nails. Polish creates a layer between the serum and the nail.
How should I store it?
At room temperature with the cap closed, away from direct sunlight and heat.
What if my skin gets irritated?
Stop using it. It is for external use only; keep it away from your eyes and out of reach of children. If you have a medical concern about your nails, see a podiatrist or dermatologist.
Something else? Contact us or email discover@sporestrike.co. The research behind the formula is on The Science.
1. Yaemsiri S, Hou N, Slining MM, He K. Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(4):420–423. PubMed
SPORESTRIKE® is a registered trademark of Kaptagon Corporation.
Sporestrike is a cosmetic product. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.