While it can be overlooked sometimes, nail care routines are crucial to showing off our favorite accessory: our nails! There are loads of ways to care for your nails, but have you heard of using coconut oil for your nails and cuticles? If not, then I have a great new addition to your nails that will help transform even the worst nail scenarios.
So what is so great about using coconut oil for your nails? Here are just a few of the reasons coconut oil is helpful:
1. Strengthen
Whether you are trying to grow out your nails or just hate thin and brittle nails no matter what length, you can form stronger and more durable nails that can allow for your long polished nails to thrive by adding coconut oil into your nail regimen. This is a major plus for me, since I am the nail claw queen. While acrylics are easier to slap on and call it a day, the damage of steering away from your natural nails is hard to recover from.
Try growing your own nails and allowing them to stand strong on their own with coconut oil.
2. Rehabilitate
A part of our nails that are often neglected is our cuticles. They can be pretty damaged before we start to take notice of them. Coconut oil rehabilitates them from the dead, so our dry and painful cuticles can transform into beauties.
3. Prevent Ridges
We’ve all seen our grandmother or older relative with intense ridges on their nails. Maybe you are starting to form them. It is totally okay! This is treatable. One of the treatment options is using coconut oil. This can help you achieve even and smooth nail beds again.
3. Helps Hangnails
Hangnails are rough for everyone. No one likes to deal with the pain or looks of hangnails. Luckily, coconut oil heals and prevents them from happening. That alone is what got me hooked. My lack of self control from painfully pulling off my hangnails is an unfortunate habit I no longer have to worry about!
4. Fungus Fighter
Yes. You heard right. While it is definitely not talked about near enough, toe fungus is quite common. Surprisingly, coconut oil helps fight and treat toe fungus. So if this has been an issue or something you most definitely do not want to acquire in your lifetime, adopt coconut oil as your new best friend.
5. No Breakouts
If your skin is especially sensitive, join the club. It is a hard knock life for us over here. However, that is just another reason why coconut oil is a great option. It is anti-inflammatory and unlike loads of other nail options, most people have zero breakouts when switching. So take a breath, you have found your perfect alternative.
How to Apply Coconut Oil
So we know what the perks are, we are on board, how do we apply coconut oil to our nails? I am so glad you asked.
1. Apply in Small Amounts
Coconut oil is very condensed, so a little goes a long way. Grab a small dollop to begin. You will learn your perfect amount after a few tries, but for now, start with less and add more as needed.
2. Massage into Cuticles
First, massage the oil into each cuticle. Think of your cuticle as the roots of your hair. Everything comes from here, so if the cuticles are damaged, most likely so will our nails be. Be gentle with your cuticles, ensure the coconut oil can soak in fully.
4. Rub across the Nail Bed
Next, move up onto your actual nail. This means the bed as well and the sides of your nail. You can even add some around the bottom of your nail. There is no wrong spot to add a small bit of coconut oil when talking about our nails.
5. Use as a Moisturizer
Coconut oil is great for more than just your nails themselves. It is also a moisturizer, so while you’re at it, apply a bit onto your hands to give them such much needed moisture. The back of our hands as well as our face and neck are the areas of our body with the thinnest skin. This is why elderly people produce more wrinkles in these areas.
That being said, properly moisturizing these areas specifically is vital to anti-aging treatment, so give your heads a quick massage of coconut oil and see the results. Coconut oil is very potent, however, so if you are prone to acne, steer clear of applying it to your face to ensure you don’t get any breakout from too much oil.
