In the microwave, warm up a bowl of 1⁄3 cup (79 mL) hand cream, a few glugs of olive oil (or grape seed oil, if you have it), and 3-4 drops of lavender oil (found in the health food store) to a temperature that is warm but not too hot to touch. Apply a generous amount to each fingernail and gently massage into the nail, cuticle, and surrounding skin, spending a minute or two on each. The cream is extremely good for your hands (and feet!) and will keep your cuticles soft. You can keep and re-warm this homemade cream for up to 3 days in your fridge if you store it in a dark glass bottle.
You can use the same olive oil you use for cooking.
During a hot wax treatment, the technician will apply a cream or oil to your hands. Then, they’ll coat your hands in melted paraffin wax. Immediately after, you will put on a pair of plastic gloves and place your hands in a mitt. After 10 to 15 minutes, you will remove your hands from the mitt, and the technician will remove the wax, leaving the skin of your hands and cuticles feeling soft and supple. [1] X Research source It is also possible to buy paraffin wax treatment kits online, which you can use at home.
Although petroleum jelly is best used with another product, it is a cheap alternative. You can get a giant tub at a low cost.
In most cases, you’ll need to dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil, as they’re too concentrated to be used directly on your skin. Great carrier oils include olive, grapeseed, or coconut oil.
An orange stick is a small wooden or metal stick used to push back cuticles and clean under the nails. They can be purchased cheaply at the drug store, beauty supply store, or online. Use the flat end of the orange stick to push back the cuticle. Try to do this very gently—if you push too hard you might hurt yourself and make your cuticles worse! Push the cuticles back until you can see the white half-moon shape (called the lunula) at the bottom of each fingernail. Don’t do this more than once or twice a month, as the cuticles are quite sensitive. Metal or plastic orange sticks need to be sterilized after each use, while wooden orange sticks should be thrown away. [3] X Research source
Cutting your cuticles removes this protective layer and exposes your nails to infection. It also makes the skin of the cuticles harder and more prone to splitting and peeling. Don’t worry about your cuticles growing back faster once you stop cutting them—this is a myth. Their rate of growth will remain the same even if you stop cutting. [4] X Research source
Don’t forget that your cuticles are made out of skin (despite their thicker texture), and all skin needs to be moisturized in order to stay hydrated and prevent peeling and flaking. During the day you can use a moisturizing hand lotion that soaks in quickly and doesn’t leave your hands feeling greasy. At night, however, you might opt for a thicker cream or cuticle ointment for more intense hydration. After you moisturize your hands and cuticles at night, it is a good idea to wear a pair of cotton or wool gloves to bed. This prevents the cream or ointment from rubbing off on the bed sheets, while the extra heat will help your skin to really absorb the moisturizer. You will wake up in the morning with really soft hands and cuticles!
You can do this by applying a generous layer of topical antibacterial ointment (such as Neosporin) to the cuticles. Once you have applied the antibacterial ointment (which is more effective than the cream version), wrap a band-aid around each affected nail. Leave the band-aid on overnight and in the morning, you will find your cuticles looking and feeling a lot better!
Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to protecting your hands in wintertime, or whenever you are experiencing very cold weather. Always wear gloves when you are outdoors and remember to carry hand cream in your bag or pocket that you can apply at regular intervals.
You are also at risk of developing an infection, as your mouth contains bacteria that can easily transfer to your nails. Saliva also contains enzymes that break down the skin, leading to further dryness. Therefore, one of the most effective measures you can take to prevent dry, peeling cuticles is to stop biting and keep your hands away from your mouth. To help you, you can purchase special foul-tasting ointments for your nails. They make your fingers taste so bad that you’ll think twice before biting again!
Frequently washing the dishes in hot, soapy water can be very drying for your hands, so protect them by wearing rubber gloves every time you do the washing up. If you don’t like wearing the gloves, then at least invest in a more moisturizing dish soap designed to hydrate your hands as you wash. When your nails get wet, make sure they dry thoroughly. Steer clear of acetone-based nail polish removers, as these sap moisture from your nails like nobody’s business. You should also try to keep hand washing to a minimum, as frequent washing removes important natural oils from the surface of the skin and nails.
To strengthen your nails, eat more eggs, almonds, strawberries, chicken, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, lentils, watermelon, bell peppers, and whole grains. [6] X Research source
If you are very active, drink more water! Carry around a reusable water bottle to make it easier for you to drink water on the go.
Some nail technicians can be very rough with your nails and cuticles, which can result in peeling, cracking, and soreness. If your nail technician tries to cut your cuticles, or tries to push your cuticles back too far, politely ask her to stop. They’re your nails, so you get to decide what happens to them. If your nail technician cuts your cuticles and you end up with soreness or an infection, this could be the result of improperly sterilized equipment. If this happens, you should consider switching to a different nail salon.
