With the end of the year fast approaching and winter temperatures already making an appearance, it might be time to switch up some of your cosmetic routines to combat the dryer weather. We've got plenty of tips for using essential oils for nails and dry cuticles, in particular.
Hair, skin and nails often suffer from a lack of moisture in the winter months, so adding more moisturizing ingredients to the products you use daily can keep you glowing like you're used to! Regardless of the weather, a lot of people have trouble with cracked nails and torn cuticles but certain essential oils are known to strengthen nail beds and prevent breakage.
Continue reading for everything you need to know about essential oils for your nails and how best to use them.
WHAT CAUSES DRY CUTICLES
Here are some of the main culprits to consider if you're finding yourself with dry or cracked cuticles:
Frequent Hand-washing
2020 has been a year full of enhanced public hygiene and frequent hand washing and sanitizing, thanks to the novel coronavirus. While this is necessary and effective as the pandemic continues globally, it comes with a couple drawbacks including drying out your hands.
Lack of moisturizing
Your hands are one of the most exposed parts of your body to weather, surfaces, other people, etc. All of this can strip them of their natural oils so adding a little moisture back in with lotions and/or oils is super important to do regularly.
Nail Polish Remover and Acrylics
We all love to pamper ourselves a little by going to the salon for a manicure or even maintaining them yourself at home. Making sure to trim, shape, and soak your hands goes a long way toward ensuring the health of your nails and cuticles, however, some common manicure practices can also cause damage.
Things like harsh acetone-based nail polish removers as well as acrylic and gel additions can not only dry you out, but almost always lead to breakage, peeling layers off the nail, or hangnails. This makes them weaker, flaky, and prone to even more damage.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR NAILS AND CUTICLES
Luckily, essential oils can save the day with a simple and natural solution.
With the huge variety of essential oils out there, each with their own distinct uses and benefits, it's no surprise that there are plenty of oils great for moisturizing and strengthening your nails.
Before we delve into the best ones to use, we have to reiterate that these oils should never be used on the skin without diluting. Always (always, always) dilute pure essential oils in a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba before applying to the skin as they're very concentrated and can cause irritation if applied directly.
That said, these oils will give you the best results:
- Lavender. Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory properties that could help relieve swelling and irritation of damaged cuticles, especially for those that often bite or pick at their nail beds and hangnails. More than a few of us are guilty there!
- Myrrh. This oil has been used for centuries in holistic medicine to heal skin wounds. Its strong antimicrobial properties help keep cuts and sores from worsening so your cracked cuticles heal faster. It's also been shown to help nail growth by keeping the nail bed healthy and increasing nail strength.
- Frankincense is well known for its skin rejuvenating qualities. It can help to smooth and moisturize dry and damaged skin.
- Geranium, much like frankincense, can be a great moisturizer and is good for all skin types as it helps to balance the skin's natural oils. Breastfeeding mothers often use geranium leaves to soothe dry and cracked nipples.
MAKE YOUR OWN CUTICLE OIL
Making your own cuticle oil is as easy as mixing a few ingredients, most of which you probably already have, and pouring it into an easy to use roll-on bottle or empty nail polish bottle.
Here's a simple formula for a great DIY cuticle oil:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Jojoba Oil
- 1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
- 3 drops Lavender Oil
- 3 drops Frankincense Oil
- 3 drops Myrrh Oil
- 3 drops Geranium Oil
Directions
- In a small cup or bowl, mix oils in the proper ratios.
- Bottle in a prepared roller bottle or empty nail polish bottle. You can find these at cosmetic stores or online!
- Apply 2-3 times a week for best results.
- Remember to always perform a patch test with any new products applied to your skin by applying a small amount to a part of your arm or thigh and monitoring for 24 hours. If you notice any irritation during the patch test or with normal use, stop using and consult your healthcare provider.
For added benefits, make sure the soaps, moisturizers and sanitizers you're using have beneficial ingredients to limit dryness as well.
Choose soaps with ingredients that re-introduce moisture while cleaning, like aloe and coconut oil.
Shop premium hand sanitizers with vitamin E and essential oils.
CONCLUSION
Dry or damaged nails are not only often painful, but can be visually unappealing and stressful. Luckily, essential oils for nails and dry cuticles provide a great solution for getting your hands soft and nails strong again.
Be sure to follow-up with moisturizing soaps and lotions that won't strip your natural oils to keep your hands looking and feeling their best.
ABOUT MOXĒ
MOXĒ is a manufacturer of innovative health and wellness products focused on complementing any lifestyle. With our holistic approach, we add custom essential oil blends in everything we create and ensure every product is made with the highest quality ingredients to support clean living and peace of mind.
Visit MOXĒ at https://bemoxe.com/ or follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @bemoxe