If you want to make your own cuticle oil at home then follow this guide. To make cuticle oil at home you need few essential oil sas ingredients and apart from that there is process of mixing them and preparing it.Learn how you cna prepare your own DIY cuticle oil here.
Cuticles are “there for a reason, like a shield for the nail matrix.” says Richard Scher, a Cornell University, dermatology professor.
Your cuticle is part of your skin and sits atop your nail’s growth matrix. Give them the best moisturizing product that is Cuticle oil.
Table of Contents
What Is Cuticle Oil?
Cuticle oil is an oil based product used to moisturize and strengthen the nails and the cuticles.Cuticle oils are oil-based formulations to be used at the end of a manicure session.
Though you may only think about your cuticles when you get a manicure, they’re not just hanging out on your hands. They do serve a purpose! They help to deal with a range of common nail problems like cracked nails, excess cuticles, fungal infections, and even ingrown nail.
The main task of cuticle oil is to moisturize your nail and keep them soft. Many times, you find that your nails become hard, brittle and unmanageable.
You often find them hard to cut or apply nail polish. Cuticle oil is made up of select natural oils acting as powerful emollients.There being a lot of such oils, you can use them in various combinations for different purposes.
DIY Cuticle Oil Recipe Ingredients
This oil product is usually made from pure oils with added fragrance.It can be easily made commercial and sold by retail stores or made at home.
Here’s what this oil contains:
1. Sunflower Oil
A healthier alternative to traditional cooking oil, this derived seed oil is widely being used in markets
It’s also a skin conditioning emollient that softens and soothes your skin. This oil is found to contain more Vitamin E than any other vegetable oil.
2. Jojoba Oil
Derived from the Jojoba seed oil, this oil has both natural and synthetic varieties, which are indistinguishable in their chemical composition.If you want a moisturized and hydrated skin, Jojoba oil is the way out for you.
It is deemed acceptable for use and processing in cosmetics by the Cosmetics Ingredient Review (CIR).Experts conclude that it is made up of 97% wax esters and is more similar to sebum than other oils.
3. Vitamin E
Vitamin E acts as an anti- oxidant that fights free radical damage on your skin.
It also conditions your skin and helps guard it against photo aging. If you have a swelled or wrinkled skin, Vitamin E is the solution.
4. Olive Oil
When it comes to emollients, olive oil comes on the top.
This oil helps soften and smoothen your skin on the surface, making it appear healthier and younger.Several studies have also shown that olive oil has UVB protection for the skin.
5. Sweet Almond Oil
You might not be aware of this precious oil, but believe me, this is used in a wide variety of personal care products.
The CIR expert panel has also assessed it as safe for cosmetic purpose applications. This oil is made from expressing oil from the ripened seed kernels of the almond.
Almond oil has such other benefits too that can amaze you.
How To Make DIY Cuticle Oil At Home
Why search for this oil in markets when you can plan your recipe at home! You can quickly plan a cuticle oil recipe with some ingredients.
These ingredients have therapeutic effects on your skin and give certain health benefits for your nails as well.
Sesame oil: This oil is an exfoliating moisturizer for the nails and the nail and the nail bed.
Lemon juice: It makes your nail bed soft and thus helps in alleviating the ingrown toenail.
Avocado oil: Avocados taste exceptionally well and are equally beneficial. It is a light oil which does not make your nails and cuticle too oily.
Cocoa Butter/ Shea butter: They soothe the irritated and inflamed skin. If your skin around the nails has cracked, these butter are quite soothing.
Aloe- Vera gel : You all use aloe vera face washes and masks, right? But, this gel also relieves inflammation magically. If you have reddishness around your nails, try this gel. It gives instant relief.
Wheat germ oil: This oil is highly rich in Vitamin E. It protects the delicate skin around your nails from radical damage.
Tea tree oil :Tea tree oil is a great fungal disinfectant. Even a few drops of it prevents infections like toenail fungus.
Besides these common oils, essential oils work in tandem with them to provide the necessary support to your nails. But, you should only be needing it in small touches.
The oils mentioned above only act as a carrier oil to provide the nutrients from essential oils to your skin.
Following are the essential oils which are used for nails-
- Lemon essential oil
- Myrrh essential oil
- Frankincense essential oil
- Balsam fir oil
- Wintergreen essential oil
Here’s How You Can Make Essential Oil At Home
Just add tiny amounts of base oils, i.e., Avocado oil or olive oil in a small bottle. Now, add about 1-2 drops of essential oils of your choice to about 5 ml of base oil.
Like if you have taken 100 ml base oil, then you should add 20 drops of each essential oil.
Why, When And How Should You Use Cuticle Oil?
Cuticle oil is certainly the go- to the product if your cuticles are looking a little damaged.
If your cuticles are a bit cracked, dry or broken, it’s probably high time you started nourishing your nails with this oil.
You should not be using it as the first line of defence against dryness, but rather to fix extremely dry, cracked nails.
This is what it helps in:
1.Protect And Repair
This oil can help protect and repair the damage due to the cuticles. Do you know why these cuticles become dry in the first place?
When they are exposed to excessive cold, sun, salt or soapy water or other environmental conditions that lead to dry and chapped skin, the cuticles also tend to become dry and chapped.
Cuticle oil is the way out for all.
2.Moisturize And Pamper
Cuticle oil moisturizes your cuticles deeply, but additionally, they treat the skin and the surrounding nail area as well.
Cuticle oil increases the circulation in the nail bed and stimulates new nail growth as well. You might be surprised to know that cuticle oil provides quick repair when the cuticles are at the verge of separation of the nail area.
This oil deeply moisturizes that area, repairs it, stops the cracking and eventually attaches the nail.
You can also try manicure and pedicure at home to fix your issues related to nail.
Coming back to the point,
When Should You Be Using This Oil?
Cuticle oil should be applied every night to keep your nails and cuticles nourished and protected against drying and splitting. You will see some surprising results on using this on a regular basis.
You just need persistence and consistency!
There are some specific ways to apply the oil, as follows:
- Firstly, pre- soak your nails in warm water for about 5 minutes. You can also add a bit of lemon juice if you have brittle nails.
- Take some cuticle oil on a cotton ball. Apply it on your nails and around the nail skin near the cuticles. Now, gently massage the area for about 4-5 minutes.
- Now, wait for about 5-10 minutes for the nutrients of the oil to percolate into the nail skin.
- Wipe off the wetted nail with cotton again.
- Try and remove the excess cuticle skin using the cotton ball.
- You may also want to try a cuticle polisher if the excess skin is not getting removed by rubbing.
- Never cut off the cuticle completely. This skin is very important as it prevents the nail bed from fungal infections.
Specific Applications Of Cuticle Oil
This oil improves the appearance of nails right? Besides this, cuticle oil is used for complete nail care:
1.Nail Psoriasis
If you have red, itchy, scaly patches on your nails, prepare cuticle oil with some coconut oil and aloe vera in it.
2.Weak Nails
If you have weak, brittle nails, use sulfur-rich horsetail root to strengthen them. The spoon-shaped weak nails can be treated naturally.
3.Painful Nails
Use wintergreen or clove essential oil in the preparation with a base oil to numb the pain in your nails.
4.Swollen Nails
Does it hurt the nail skin?
The inflamed skin around the nails can be dealt with aloe vera gel in a base of beeswax and olive oil. These hangnails may be painful. You can also read home remedies to cure hangnails on our site.
5.Ridges And Splitting
Such common nail conditions like this disappear in a few days by regular treatment with cuticle oil. If it persists, then it may be a sign of vitamin deficiency in your body.
How To Take Advantage Of Cuticle Oil
There are different brands of cuticle oil found in the market which come in the form of a cream, liquid and stick.
Manicurists and professional nail salon owners use this oil to moisturize the cuticles. Here’s how you can take advantage of the benefits of this oil:
Tip#1: Have Clean Hands And Nails
First and the foremost, remove any nail polish left on your nails using a nail polish remover. Then, wash your hands with warm, soapy water and rinse well.
Dry thoroughly and make sure both nails and cuticles are completely dry.
Tip#2: Apply The Cuticle Oil Properly
Prepare a clean flat surface and then open the cuticle oil on a small towel. Place one hand on the towel and apply 1-2 drops of the oil on your thumb.
Using a finger, rub the oil gently into your cuticle until the oil is completely absorbed onto both the cuticles and nail. Repeat this with other fingers working the oil into each finger.
Tip#3: Know The Benefits And Features Of Cuticle Oil
Don’t wash your hands for an hour after applying the oil. It would be better if you apply it at night before bedtime.
Cuticle oils with cuticle cream are considered the quickest remedies to repair damaged cuticles.
Specifically, because cuticle oil is made of organic oil and designed to be easily perforated into the skin. Essential and base oils are often fortified with citric acid and vitamins.
Tip#4: Try The Easy Application
Just to make the application easier, you can use a brush like that of a nail polish or a cuticle pen. This will also make the whole process look less messy.
Tip#5: Take Into Account Some Considerations
You just need a small amount to experience its efficiency and power. Use it sparingly as the cuticles and nails can adapt to the oils easily making them less potent.
Always read the instructions on the oil bottle before using it. Manufacturers recommend the application of this oil two times a day or 2 times a week.
Before applying nail polish, remove any oil residue by washing your hands with warm water and mild soap. You just need to take some considerations into account, to reap fthe ull benefits of this oil.
Some FAQs On Cuticle Oil And Its Applications
I’m sure there might be many questions pondering in your head regarding this oil. Keep scrolling down and you’ll find some convincing answers.
a. Does Cuticle Oil Keep Polish Color Stable?
Nail polish is a heavy liquid material, and it evaporates over time.
The polish coating can become brittle. Cuticle oil acts as a plasticizer and keeps the polish from becoming brittle. In short, the oil prevents evaporation and makes the polish last longer.
b. How Does The Cuticle Oil Penetrate The Nail Bed?
As I mentioned earlier, cuticle oil is a blend of oils of varying molecular size.
Smaller molecules like jojoba oil penetrate between the nail layers and go deeper into the nail to provide proper conditioning.
Larger molecules like sweet almond, stay closer to the surface and aid in conditioning the upper layers. So, the molecules penetrate and get entrapped within the nail and skin layers.
