Essential Oils For Nails: Pamper Your Nails

It's so easy to get caught up in life and neglect your fingernails. Some of us chew our nails. Some of us shred them rather than cut them when they get too long. (That would be me!) Some of us ignore them and let them be abused by the kind of work we do. No matter how you currently care for your nails, it just may be time to add essential oils to this beauty routine. The following are ways to use essential oils to make your nails much healthier. You can also refer to the article on how to Pamper Your Hands with Essential Oils for some more wonderful recipes for your hands. There are great recipes in the Pamper Your Feet with Essential Oils as well. Many of these recipes are interchangeable.

Best Essential Oils for Nails

• Essential oils: Myrrh, Lemon, Lavender, Eucalyptus globulus, Carrot Seed, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Cypress, Balsam of Peru, Roman Chamomile
• Carrier oils: Jojoba, Borage, Apricot Kernel, Grapeseed, Almond, Avocado

Points of Interest

• The best oil for your nails is Myrrh. Massage a drop or two into your nails and cuticles 3 times a week. Don't do it more often than that because it will turn your nails yellow.
• Never use your nails as tools. You know what I'm talking about! I know I have frequently ruined my nails because I can't find my screwdriver. Don't do that.
• Keep moisturizer by every sink in your house.
• There are various carrier oils that help to increase your nail health, such as coconut, jojoba, and tamanu oils.
• Wear gloves when you garden. I don't like fabric gloves because I can't feel the dirt as easily so I use nitrile or latex gloves. It keeps my nails protected and I can still feel the soil.
• Never cut your cuticles. Push back your cuticles every time you wash your hands. They seal off the opening between nail and skin and keep bacteria out. When you cut them, you open them up for infection. You also make it easier to have an ingrown nail..
• Nails are very porous and we don't often remember to keep them hydrated. Drink plenty of water during the day and use good moisturizers.
• Many people use parraffin wax treatments can help to soften and moisturize the nails. The Parrafin wax is usually infused with various essential oils and other natural substances like aloe vera.

Recipes

Always test on a small part of your skin first before using all over your hands. Please be sure your skin can handle the blend before being covered in it.

Nourish-Your-Nails Oil

• 15 drops Lavender
• 10 drops Lemon
• 4 drops Myrrh
• 1 tablespoon Almond oil
• 1 tablespoon Jojoba oil

Add the oils to a dark colored, 2-ounce glass storage bottle with a dropper top. Screw on the bottle's dropper top, wrap your hand around the bottle, and shake the formula vigorously for 2 minutes to completely blend all ingredients and gently warm to body temperature. Place the bottle in a dark location that's between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize. Apply 1 drop to each nail and massage in with a soft flannel cloth for approximately 1 minute. Use nightly. Follow with a moisturizer.

Clean Nail Oil

• 5 drops Tea Tree
• 1 drop Cinnamon Bark
• 2 drops Lavender
• 1/2 ounce Calendula Infused oil

Apply around and under the nail 2 or 3 times per day to nail beds.

Aromatic Nail-Conditioning Soak

• 4 drops Lavender
• 2 drops Bay Leaf
• 3 drops Sandalwood
• 1/2 ounce Jojoba

Soak nails in formula for 10 minutes. Buff to stimulate circulation and bring out a healthy shine. Follow with a moisturizer. Great for torn or dry cuticles.

Nail Rescue

• 3 drops Lemon
• 1 tablespoon Beeswax
• 1/2 teaspoon Castor oil
• 3 tablespoons Sweet Almond oil

Heat the beeswax in a small glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. When it becomes runny, remove from heat and add the lemon oil and stir thoroughly. Add the almond oil and Castor oil a little at a time, stirring constantly. As the beeswax cools, it will become solid but pliable. If it is too hard, reheat and add more almond oil, drop by drop. Apply the wax to the fingers every night. Wear 100% cotton gloves to bed to allow the wax to absorb completely. When they are in good shape, apply once a week for maintenance.

Nail Strengthener

• 2 teaspoons Grapeseed oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Jojoba
• 3 drops Carrot Seed
• 8 drops Lemon
• 2 drops Rosemary
• 3 drops Myrrh

Store blend in a dark colored, glass bottle. To use, add 10 drops to 1 teaspoon Avocado oil and massage well into nails and cuticles. Do this after a manicure but don't put on nail polish for 24 hours.

A Last Thought

How do you like to treat your nails? What recipes do you use for essential oils for nails? After you go pamper your nails, let us know how it went in the comment section below.