Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! The long and short of it...

Your nails need to be hydrated! Aside from injury, the primary reason behind most nail problems can be attributed to nails being overly dry and dehydrated.  Dry nails and cuticles attribute to cracks, peeling, and/or breaks. Not only is this unattractive, but dry and damaged cuticles can be painful and lead to infection.

I can’t express enough how important it is to keep your hands, nails, and cuticles moisturized.  Whether you have short nails or long, keeping them moisturized is vital.  Over the past several months that I have been blogging about nails and nail care and visiting Make-Up Alley, I have seen one question being asked time and time again, How to take care of dry and damaged cuticles.  I have previously blogged about my cuticle oil mix and my nail regimen. The key components of my cuticle oil are Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E Oil and several essential oils (Lavender, Rosemary, Tea Tree and Lemon).  

Each of these components have their own benefits and contribute to the health of my nails. 

·    Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Essential Oil both have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties

·    Rosemary Essential Oil helps to moisturize and strengthen dry and brittle nails

·    Lemon Essential Oil helps to strengthen weak nails

·    Jojoba, Sweet Almond, and Vitamin E are each excellent moisturizers and conditioners

Nails are like sponges; they are very porous. Just look at the last time you removed your polish and found stained nails.  Your nails soaked in the pigment from the polish.  Just as they can absorb polish pigment, they can absorb beneficial components.  Another way in which nails are like sponges is that they will only absorb what they can hold, so I always apply my cuticle oil before washing my hands.  If your nails have absorbed their fill of water, they are less likely to absorb the benefits of the cuticle oil.  So you ask, “Will the cuticle oil soak through my nail polish?” I am no scientist but believe that the answer is “No”, but to circumvent the polish, I apply the cuticle oil to the underside of my nails’ free edge and massage it into my cuticles.  Also, when time allows, after I have removed my nail polish, I do apply and massage the cuticle oil to the topside of my nails and allow it to sit for at least an hour, if not overnight (with gloves).

In addition to my cuticle oil, a good hand moisturizer is essential.  My holy grail hand cream is Gold Bond Ultimate Softening Skin Therapy Lotion with Shea Butter (a review blog forthcoming).  One of the qualities of a good moisturizer is that it is thick, almost butter-like.   A rich moisturizer helps to replace the natural oils washed away with normal washings.  I apply my hand moisturizer after each washing and with each application of cuticle oil.  As a part of the application of the hand cream, I also push back my cuticles.

So in addition to a healthy diet, proper water intake, and daily supplements (a multivitamin & Biotin-5000mcg), with a good cuticle oil, premade or self made, and a good hand cream, you are on the road to healthy nails, and cuticles…

Remember, treat your nails as Jewels, not tools.  Grace and Peace.