Eucalyptus oil is a great essential oil for keeping nails healthy. Not only does it have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, but it can also stimulate the growth of new nails. It also soothes dry, cracked skin around the nails, which helps to keep the nails looking and feeling their best.
Our top picks for strengthening nail treatments are Olive and Sweet Almond oils. A few drops of Myrrh essential oil will also do wonders for the health and appearance of your nails.
Natural oils contain minerals that are important for the health of your nails. They can strengthen your nails, make them whiter and help them grow faster in a natural way. Natural oils like, almond oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, cotton-seed oil, and coconut oil are the best for nail growth.
Biotin, a type of B vitamin, has been shown to increase nail thickness by about 25% in patients with brittle nails and "can improve nail smoothness and reduce nail splitting,” she says, ultimately supporting faster growth.
"Oil is absorbed into the nail plate to plasticize it (flexibility), but much more slowly than water. Just as oils are absorbed more slowly into the nail plate, it is also more difficult for the oils to escape.
Cracked or peeling cuticles
The area around the nail bed is very delicate. It's common for cuticles to crack or peel. You can use cuticle oil or moisturizer to hydrate them. It's safe to apply daily.
Cuticle oil promotes blood flow, in turn promoting thick, strong nails over thin and weak ones.
Can vitamin or mineral deficiencies cause ridges in nails? Certain nutritional deficiencies can cause changes to your nails. Zinc deficiency can cause Beau's lines and white spots on your nails. Iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia (spoon nails).
Summary Adequate magnesium intake is crucial to prevent vertical ridges in your nails. This mineral also helps with protein synthesis and the formation of new nails.
Vertical nail ridges are fairly common and nothing to worry about. Vertical nail ridges extend from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. With age, vertical nail ridges may become more numerous or prominent because of changes in cell turnover within the nail.
Apply cuticle oil before bedtime and leave it on overnight so it can fully absorb into the cuticles.
Lim recommends applying it twice a day, but there is not such thing as "too much" when it comes to cuticle oil: More really is better. Here, the best cuticle oils recommended by nail and beauty experts and shoppers to soften and heal dry skin, plus keep nails looking healthy and polished.
Olive oil penetrates the nail and promotes quicker and stronger nail growth. Thus, olive oil is good for dry brittle nails. Warm olive oil in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds and massage it into your nails and cuticles for five to ten minutes. After that, put on cotton gloves and leave them on overnight.
Soft or weak
Soft nails might be caused by overexposure to moisture or chemicals — think detergent, cleaning fluids, nail treatments, and nail polish remover. Weak nails might also be associated with a deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids. The fix: Avoid having chemicals around your nails.
Marton says olive oil is a great option to treat brittle nails and ragged cuticles. You can massage it on your cuticles as a moisturizing treatment. Marton also suggests trying coconut oil or mineral oil for other natural moisturizing options.
Horizontal ridges run from side to side on your nails and are often referred to as Beau's lines. Horizontal ridges can be caused by trauma to the nail and may be deep or discolored. The can also indicate malnutrition, psoriasis or a thyroid problem.
Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration. Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail.
Nail clubbing occurs when the tips of the fingers enlarge and the nails curve around the fingertips, usually over the course of years. Nail clubbing is sometimes the result of low oxygen in the blood and could be a sign of various types of lung disease.