This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.
Are you struggling with weak nails that constantly peel and crack? Tired of seeing your nails break? Then below, I’ll be breaking down 2 easy DIY nail growth serums to help you grow beautiful nails that stand out. These recipes use natural ingredients.
What Causes Nails to be Dry and Brittle?
There are several factors that can cause dry cuticles and brittle nails: nail care, nail health, and nail lifestyle. However, I’m going to focus on nail care in this post. One of the biggest reasons your nails break is because they are dry.
When you wash your hands and clean them throughout the day, your nails are drying out. When the weather gets cooler, the air is drying out your nails. That is why it is incredibly important that you incorporate oils into your nail care routine. Doing nail oil soaks in particular, is a deep moisturizing treatment that leads to stronger nails.
Dryness will affect the overall health of your natural nails. That is why it is so important to use oils to moisturize your. nails and to promote healthy growth.
If you are interested in learning how underlying health factors affect your nails, check out this post I did about how your thyroid affects your nails for more helpful tips.
Classic Olive Oil Soak
The classic olive oil soak is my go-to nail serum for beginners who have brittle and dry nails that constantly break. This is a super easy recipe that will strengthen your nails. Remember strong nails lead to long nails.
Who Is This For?
- Nails that are Brittle
- Nails that Are Peeling
- Nails that Are Weak
Key Ingredients
Olive Oil- An amazing universal oil that adds both strength and flexibility to your nails.
Lemon Juice- Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C which is a great antioxidant. Antioxidants are great at protecting the health of your nails from damage from free radicals.
Steps
1. Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a bowl.
2. Squeeze a slice of lemon juice.
3.Mix theses ingredients
4.Optional. You can put this oil bowl in a bath of warm water. This will warm up the oil which can create a relaxing experience.
5. Soak your nails in the mixture for 10 minutes and rinse with water.
Note: You can use lemon juice from a bottle, you just need to make sure it is on the natural side. If it’s lemon juice with a lot of artificial ingredients, it may not be as effective.
The Restorative Soak
The restorative soak is ideal if you have nails that are thin or have been damaged through rough nail enhancement application or removal. The oils in this soak have great restorative properties.
Who Is This For?
- Nails that Have Been Damaged from Acrylics
- Nail Damage from Rough Gel Removal
- Thin nails
Key Ingredients
Jojoba Oil- This oil is similar to the oils found in your body. As a result, it can penetrate nails the deepest.
Jojoba Oil Recommendation on Amazon
Avocado Oil- This is a great healing oil and boosts collagen production. It is a great oil, especially for repairing nail damage.
Avocado Oil Recommendation on Amazon
Coconut Oil– It is a great moisturizing oil and can help reduce hangnails and nail ridges.
Coconut Oil Recommendation on Amazon
Optional– tea tree oil has great antibacterial properties which is a good choice if you want to lower your risk of nail infections:)
Steps
1. Pour 1 tablespoon of each oil into a bowl. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil if you would like.
2. Mix these oils in a bowl.
3. Optional. You can put this oil bowl in a bath of warm water. This will warm up the oil which can create a relaxing experience.
4. Soak Your Nails in this mixture for 10 minutes and rinse with water once you are finished.
Note: You want to make sure your nails are clean when you do nail oil soaks. The last thing you want is for dirt to be floating in these oils when you are soaking your nails in them.
Doing 1 of the nail oil soak recipes will give you healthy nails that grow. Pick the recipe that fits your needs so that you can get healthier nails.
FAQs
How often do you do these soaks?
For best results 2-3 times per week. This is not something I recommend just doing once and then forgetting about it. People usually have the best results when they do it a few times.
Can you reuse the oil?
You can reuse this oil. There are just 2 things that I recommend you keep in mind. Number 1, keep the oil stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week. Number 2, make sure your nails are clean before using the oil. You don’t want to soak your nails in oil that has dirt floating around.
Does this actually work?
Yes, it does. This is not just another DIY recipe that I’m putting out there. Several members of my audience have added these recipes to their nail care routine and have experienced strong nails and healthy nail growth. If you want proof, please look at the comments below.
What are other great nail oils?
Almond oil and vitamin E oil(or a vitamin e capsule). Castor oil is a great oil for DIY use because it is rich in fatty acids, but I think it is too heavy for nails. Castor oil works much better for hair.
Can you just use nail strengtheners?
I generally don’t recommend using nail strengtheners. In order for your nails to grow, they need both strength and flexibility. Nail strengtheners just make your nails hard. So, you’ll see some initial success, and then your nails will just snap over time.
Can you add a fragrance?
You can add lavender essential oil to give your nail oil a nice floral scent if you like.
Can you use hand cream?
Hand cream is great when used with oil. It’s great at softening the skin around your nails but doesn’t actually strengthen your nails on its own.
Does this make your nail beds longer?
You can not make your nail beds longer. You can grow out the white part of your nails or push the skin on your nail back to create more space on your nail plate.
