Add 1 teaspoon (4. 9 mL) of honey to the mixture to promote healing and enhance hydration. Avoid soaking your nails in lemon if they are cut or damaged. The acid can lead to painful burning and stinging. You can use this remedy once a week to soften up your cuticles.
Vinegar is acidic and can burn and sting wounds. If your nails or fingers are cut or damaged, do not soak them in the vinegar. An added bonus if you plan to paint your fingernails after your soak: the vinegar will help your nail polish last longer. The acidic vinegar removes oil from your nails, allowing the polish to adhere better. [3] X Research source
You can use cuticle oil if you want something specifically designed for your cuticles. <[5] X Expert Source Mia RubieNail Artist Expert Interview. 23 April 2020. Do this at least once a week to keep your cuticles moisturized and strong.
Make sure you use raw honey rather than regular honey, as the regular honey tends to lose a lot of enzymes and antioxidants during the pasteurization process. [7] X Research source
Use fresh aloe vera from a plant if you have one at home. Just be sure to wash the leaf before cutting it open and scooping out the gel. If you don’t have your own aloe vera plant, you can purchase a commercial gel from your local drugstore or department store. However, it will not have as many healing properties as fresh aloe.
If you don’t have extra virgin olive oil, virgin or regular olive oil will do, but they may contain more chemicals and fewer antioxidants. [10] X Research source Olive oil even by itself works great to keep your cuticles soft and healthy.
For the best results, use this healing mixture on your cuticles 2 to 3 times per week. You should notice an improvement each time you use it. Once your cuticles are healed, use this treatment to keep your cuticles moisturized and healthy.
Put a heavy layer of lotion on your hands at night before bed, and then sleep in a pair of white cotton gloves to retain the moisture. [12] X Research source Spa gloves or even loose rubber gloves will also work. Select a thick, high-quality lotion or cream for the best results. Cheaper lotions tend to be heavily scented, but lack the elements required to help your skin retain moisture.
Take care not to press too hard, because it can be painful and/or damage your cuticle.
Look for cuticle oils that contain nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, vitamin E, and jojoba oil.
Alternatively, use a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to clean items. Rinse the item and allow it to dry completely before using or storing it. Throw away orange sticks after use and always use a new stick.
If rubber gloves are too bulky for your cleaning job, try using a pair of latex or vinyl gloves instead. Any protection is better than no protection.
