Track nail growth. At a fixed distance.
Nails grow a few millimetres a month, which is invisible day to day and obvious across a quarter. Journae keeps every hand photographed the same way so the difference is measurable by eye.
Why a camera roll is not enough
Distance is the whole trick
At a few millimetres a month, a small change in camera distance swamps the real change. The overlay helps you place your hand the same way each time.
Monthly is the right rhythm
A full nail replaces itself over roughly six months. Monthly photos are enough to see growth without checking obsessively.
Routines get a fair trial
Note oils, strengtheners and any filing or gel schedule so a change in condition has a plausible explanation attached.
Three steps, then just keep showing up
Set up your frame
Hand flat on a plain surface, phone directly above, fingers spread the same way.
Photograph monthly
Bare nails in daylight, both hands, in the same order.
Compare a quarter
Three months apart shows growth and condition change clearly.
The free plan tracks one journey. Upgrade only if you want to track more.
A repeatable nail photo
- Rest your hand flat on the same plain surface and shoot from directly above rather than at an angle.
- Keep something of a fixed size in frame — the edge of a card or a ring — so scale stays honest.
- Photograph bare nails in daylight; polish and gel hide exactly the thing you are tracking.
- Do both hands each time and keep the order the same.
What to record alongside
- Filing, gel or acrylic dates, since these affect condition more than most products do.
- Oils, creams and supplements, with a start date, introduced one at a time.
- Any breakage or peeling and roughly when it happened.
- Persistent discolouration, separation or pain is a reason to see a GP or dermatologist — a photo record is not an assessment.
Journae records and compares what your photos show. It does not diagnose conditions, assess healing, evaluate treatment or give medical advice. If something worries you, please speak to a qualified professional.
Worth reading before your first photo
The guided photography guide
Angle, distance, light and background — the four things that decide whether two photos can be compared at all.
How often should you take progress photos?
Why weekly usually beats daily, and how cadence changes with how fast something actually moves.
Why consistent photos make better comparisons
The small setup choices that turn a camera roll into a comparable series.
Building a progress tracking habit
Cues, reminders and low-friction routines that survive a busy week.
Other things people track
A quarter from now, the difference will be plain.
Start with one photo of each hand today.