Got dry nails and ragged cuticles? No worries; you can heal dry cuticles naturally with these ultra-simple tips to quickly moisturize dry cuticles and create healthier nails.
Got dry nails and ragged cuticles? Same, friend! But there are super simple ways to heal dry cuticles naturally.
I’m always digging in the dirt, brushing out horse hair, stacking bales of hay, and washing endless piles of dishes. So, if I’m not careful, my hands look really sad and ragged.
Which is a problem whenever I see a client and have to do a skin analysis. Who wants yucky-looking hands on their face? I don’t want them on my face, and they’re my hands.
Now don’t get the wrong idea–I’m fastidious about keeping them scrubbed clean (these little soap scrub cubes are amazing at keeping hands soft and lovely.) But my cuticles tend to be dry and look raggedy.
Lotions are OK for hands, but cuticles need a more emollient treatment to keep them soft and moisturized. That’s where these tips to heal dry cuticles will help.
Here are three easy ways to heal dry cuticles naturally and keep your hands and nails looking nice:
1. Do a Weekly Olive Oil Soak
Soaking your nails and cuticles in olive oil helps to replenish the natural oils that are stripped from your nails by dish soap, shampoo, and hand sanitizer. Not only will this make your cuticles soft and lovely, but it will help strengthen your nails and make them less brittle.
I got this tip from a nail tech at the salon I used to work for and let me tell you, it makes a huge difference when done regularly.
Put a few tablespoons of olive oil into a small bowl (you can use the cheap stuff, it still works great), dip in your fingertips, and soak for for 5 to 10 minutes. Wipe the excess oil off your nails with a soft cloth and massage in the rest. Don’t wash off!
This works best right afterr a shower because your skin is still soft, and hydrated, so it allows for deeper penetration of the oil. You can also do this right before bed so the oil has all night to really soak in.
Simple olive oil is quite a lovely DIY skincare ingredient, actually. Take a peek at this post for 10 more ways to incorporate olive oil into your beautycare routine.
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2. Make a DIY Cuticle Cream
For day-to-day treatment to heal dry cuticles naturally, I love this DIY Lavender Coconut Cuticle Balm. It just takes a few minutes to make, lasts a long time, and smells amazing!
Massage a small amount of this into your cuticles whenever you need. It will instantly make them softer and less ragged-looking. I like to keep a small container next to the sink, and use a bit after every hand washing.
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Another easy DIY option is to use shea butter straight-up on the cuticles. There are two options when purchasing shea butter: refined and unrefined. Unrefined shea butter contains more vitamins, but it has a distinctive scent. It smells a bit like burnt crayons–fair warning.
Refined shea butter has little to no scent, but it isn’t quite as rich in vitamins. Either one is fine for this application, so use whichever you prefer.
If you’re feeling frisky you could whip essential oil into your shea butter. Good options for nails include:
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3. Lip Balm To the Rescue
If you’re not really into making your own cuticle cream, this is the next best thing. It’s easy, inexpensive, and works wonders–lip balm!
Buy an unflavored, uncolored, unmedicated variety like the original Burt’s Bees lip balm. Rub the balm directly onto your cuticles and massage in.
This is a perfect mess-less, on-the-go treatment to carry in your purse. You can easily use it while you’re out and about.
Just make sure you buy a balm that is solely for your cuticles. Don’t use the same tube on your lips too. The nails are little germ magnets, and you don’t want to transfer germs from your hands to your mouth.
