Nail brittleness, discoloration, or yellowing is a reality among many. Sometimes, these can be symptoms of underlying health conditions and require diagnosis for further treatment by a health caregiver. If not, they can be easily treated jhatphat with some homemade DIY recipes and application processes. You often tend to forget that nails do not solely refer to those of your ungli. They also include those on your pair. Hence, you usually end up restricting your nail care to finger nails only.
After your skin and hair care routine, your nails are probably one of those body parts that are often overlooked and often do not feature in your beauty routine. However, they are really easy to take care of, provided you can give it some time. Applying oils is a great way to take care of your precious nails. One of them is olive oil.
So here are 3 benefits of olive oil and beauty hacks for you to #BeALittleMore caring towards your nails.
3 Benefits Of Olive Oil For Nails
1. Moisturises Nails
Olive oil, especially warm olive oil, imparts nails with moisturisation that they need to stay hydrated. Olive oil gets soaked by the nails and the skin around it, promoting nail growth and development. It also strengthens nails, ensuring good health.
2. Soften Cuticles
Sirf nails hi nahi, olive oil proves to be an effective hack for the cuticles around nails as well.
3. Adds Shine
When olive oil moisturises nails, can shine be far behind? Well hydrated nails manifest themselves through natural shine on their surface, which is a sign of good health. Aftrall, the glow that you can see is always a clear indication of the beauty within.
Read: Nail Care101 – Desi Nuskhe, Tips, Tricks for Longer, Stronger Nails
6 Olive Oil Recipes & Application Processes For Nails
1. Dip Nails In Warm Olive Oil
If you’re short of time and/or have no other essential kitchen ingredients in place, olive oil is all you need to begin with your nail care regime. Warm olive oil speeds up the process of its absorption by your nails and cuticles, proving to be a quick and easy moisturising nuskhe.
Ingredient
- Olive oil
Steps
- Warm olive oil. Warm it up just enough for you to be comfortable with dipping your nails in it.
- Soak the nails in it for 15 minutes to 30 minutes, as your time permits.
- Don’t wipe it off. Instead, wear gloves to let the oil get entirely absorbed by the nails and cuticles, stimulating your nails and boosting its growth.
- Leave this overnight.
- Try doing this twice a week for best results.
Note: Take care to clean gloves every time you use them. Wash them after every use, so that remnants of olive oil do not cling to the gloves. You may opt for non-absorbent gloves to reduce the chances of the olive oil rubbing off from your fingers onto the gloves.
2. Olive Oil Massage
Massaging your nails with olive oil is an effective way to ensure that the oil reaches every corner of your nails and cuticles. It also locks in moisture quicker.
Ingredient
- Olive oil
Steps
- Dip your finger nails into a bowl of olive oil. Apply it on the nails of your other hand or toenails with your fingertips.
- Massage the oil into the nails and cuticles in small, circular motions till it has been completely absorbed.
- Instead of washing it off with water or rubbing off with a cloth, wait till it gets absorbed completely.
- Next, leave it overnight to enhance its effectiveness. Wear gloves overnight to prevent the oil from staining your clothes and bed linen.
- If leaving it overnight sounds cumbersome to you, eke out some time during the day when you can devote some time to this beauty routine.
Read: 10 Home Remedies For Yellow Nails
3. Buffering With Olive Oil
Time hi kahan milta hai yaar? When this sounds so you, buffering your nails and cuticles is the way to go when you want to flaunt clean, strong, and healthy nails. Apart from demanding less time, it is also one of the quickest fixes for your nails at home.
Ingredient
- Olive oil
Steps
- Dip your nails in olive oil.
- Then wipe it off with a piece of clean cloth as a buffer. You can also use a soft, dry sponge slowly on the nails and cuticles to prevent skin lesions. Remember the slower you are, the shinier, cleaner and healthier your nails will be.
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Lemon
While the olive oil will offer all its benefits for your nails and cuticles, leaving it nourished, the lemon juice will remove stains left from your nail colour.
Ingredients:
- 50ml of extra virgin olive oil
- 5-10 drops of fresh nimbu (lemon) juice
Steps
- Take the ingredients in a bowl and stir it well.
- Use a cotton bud to apply this mixture on your nails and cuticles. Alternatively, you can dip your nails in the mixture for 5 minutes to 10 minutes, or as long as you can.
- Give your nails and cuticles a good massage with your fingertips for 5 minutes before you hit the bed at night.
- Don’t rub it off with a cloth or wash it off with water. Leave it on overnight.
- You can store this mixture in your fridge and use it every day for best results.
5. Olive Oil, Nimbu Juice & Lavender Oil
Ingredients
- 50ml of extra virgin olive oil
- 10 drops of nimbu (lemon) juice
- 2 drops of lavender essential oil
Steps
- Pour all the ingredients in a bowl and give it a good stir to mix them well.
- Pour this mixture into a stray bottle with the help of a funnel.
- Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and shake it well before every use.
- Spray the mixture on your nails and cuticle, or use a cotton pad or brush to apply it.
- Use your fingertips to massage the mixture on your nails and cuticles for 5 minutes to 10 minutes.
- Leave the mixture on overnight to reap the maximum benefits.
6. Olive Oil & Orange Juice
Ingredients
- 4 spoons of olive oil
- Half cup orange juice
- 5-6 garlic pods
- 1 spoon of white salt
- 2 Vitamin E capsules
Steps
- Take half cup orange juice in a bowl. Add 5 to 6 crushed garlic pods to the same bowl. Next, add the salt and leave this mixture for 5 minutes.
- Dip your fingers into this mixture for 5 minutes to 10 minutes.
- Remove your fingers and then wash your hands off with water before proceeding to the next step – moisturising.
- Take another bowl and add olive oil and vitamin E capsule serum into it.
- Microwave this mixture for a few seconds to warm it up.
- Keep your fingers dipped in this mixture for 5 minutes.
- Next, massage your fingers gently for a few minutes before wiping off the excess oil with a clean towel.
You can follow the above nail care recipes and application processes as per the time available at your disposal and ingredients available at home. And healthy nails will not be far away!
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