Just like taking care of your general health is important, you must not forget that your nails also deserve as much care as you can afford to give them. Having healthy looking nails will no doubt raise your confidence in yourself, because when you look at them and see shiny, beautiful nails that will surely heighten your level of happiness.
You might think the easiest way to do this is just to get regular manicures, but not everyone can afford to get regular manicures as they are expensive. Furthermore, repeated manicures over a period of time will damage your nails.
So if you are looking for easy, inexpensive, ways to give your nails a strong and vibrant look then you are in luck. In this article I have compiled 16 ways for you to attain the best looking nails at home and you wouldn’t have to get an expensive manicure.
Olive oil
When you treat your nails with love and care they will reflect that. So using natural remedies to take care of them will do a much better job compared to let’s say a top coat for your nails. Added bonus is that there are no harmful side effects. If your nails are damaged then olive oil will help heal them and give them a great shine. This effect is due to olive oil containing linoleic acid, which locks in moisture to keep them looking healthy. Olive oil also helps nourish your cuticles.
So here is what you need to do. First warm some olive oil in a small bowl, then place your nails in and soak for roughly 5 minutes. After this is done, take them out and massage your nails and cuticles for several minutes. Now wipe the olive oil on your fingertips with a clean towel. Remember to repeat this every day, so that you can see great results in your nails.
Baby oil
Many of us use baby oil on our children, as it is a safe moisturizer for them but it is also great for adults to use. It has many benefits but the biggest one, for me at least, is how well it hydrates. Baby oil protects by forming a barrier of sorts against the environment, so that is why its use for nails is also exceptional in terms of benefits.
For example, when your nails are exposed excessively to water, they tend to dry out. So to avoid this, you can put baby oil on your fingernails and massage the oil to protect them from drying out and becoming frail. You can also apply it with a cotton ear bud if you find it easier to do.
Rose water
Rose water is very beneficial for both the skin and nails, but we will focus on the nails part of the benefits. With regular application will aid in giving your nails a healthy shine. If you apply it daily on your nails, it will help preserve their pink tint. If your nails show damage then you can make a mixture of rosewater with lemon juice and soak them for 5 minutes. Repeat this 3 times a week, to give your nails a healthy glow and keep them clean.
Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly is amazing and works wonders in restoring the gleam of your nails. What causes most of the damage is loss of moisture. This solution is optimal in terms of preserving moisture in your nails and keeping them supple.
Also, it is considered a very good at home remedy for nail fungus if you have it. To gain the benefits, you just need to apply daily and massage gently for a few minutes. Best times to use it are after you wash your hands, after a shower, and at bedtime.
Avocado
Avocado is known to be rich in various nutrients, and in fats and proteins. The mixture of these nutrients combined help a lot in bringing back the natural shine of your nails. Avocado oil contains antioxidants, vitamins A, B, D, E, and potassium. All of these will keep your nails shiny and healthy. On its own, it is a very good moisturizer but if you desire a stronger effect you mix it with other seed oils, such as jojoba oil or vitamin E for example.
Get a ripe avocado and take half of it and mash it up in a bowl. Then add rose water to the mash, and mix it until you have a fine paste. Apply this mixture to your nails and gently massage it all over your nails for 3-5 minutes. After applying, leave it for roughly 15 minutes to give it time for maximum benefit and then wash it off.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is not only a delicious drink, but also is very rich in vitamin C making it very beneficial for us to consume. However, its benefits extend past drinking. It acts as a natural bleaching agent to give a shine to your nails and not only that it also is a good at home remedy for nail growth. Additionally, lemon juice can remove chemicals, dust, and pollutants from your nails.
Put lemon juice in a bowl, and soak your fingertips in it for a few minutes for brighter and healthier nails. Then add some warm water and vinegar to the lemon juice, and rub the mixture gently on your nails while they are soaking. After a few minutes, wash your hands with some warm water and apply a moisturizing cream. You can repeat this treatment once a week.
Cucumber
Cucumber is abundant in minerals, especially silica so it can help prevent your nails from splitting. While cutting up vegetables to make a salad, you put aside a slice of cucumber to rub it onto your nails after, or you can collect some of its juice and apply it on your nails for added shine. An additional recipe you can try is mix lemon juice with cucumber juice and dab it with a cotton ball to strengthen your nails.
Butter
Oftentimes, people tend to avoid consuming butter entirely when trying to lose weight, however you will be delighted to know that you can use it to enhance the beauty of your nails. Butter has many benefits that are wonderful for your nails, it contains potassium, calcium, zinc, and vitamins A, B, and E.
Milk
Milk can be used as a cleanser and can even be used to moisturize your nails. It is loaded with both calcium and vitamin, making it crucial for establishing strong and healthy nails to withstand the daily abuse they go through.
Pour some warm milk into a bowl and let your nails soak for around 10 minutes. After, rinse and dry your nails and apply moisturizer. Make sure to repeat this twice a week to gain a healthy shine to your nails.
Water
There are two ways for water to make your nails shinier. First way is to use warm water regularly to clean your nails. Doing this will also remove the surface, dull, layer on your nails to increase their shininess. And the second way to go about it is to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep both your body and your nails healthy.
Coconut Oil
High in essential nutrients, minerals, and healthy fats coconut oil has many benefits for nails, skin, and hair. Not only does it give a shine to your nails, it also helps in protecting them from nasty fungal infections. Furthermore, a very good at home remedy you can use is to put coconut oil on your nails to support nail growth and prevent hardening.
Fish oil
It is widely known that fish oil or Omega-3 fatty acids are very healthy for us to consume, but not only for our general health. It has many benefits, some of which include strengthening your nails and making sure they have a shiny look to them. Moreso fish oil is important for your nails, especially in harsh, cold weather. On top of that, fish oil contains vitamin A, which nourishes your nails as well as cuticles and helps in protecting them from damage.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in many foods, such as corn, cucumber, nuts, avocados, eggs, and many more. Generally, vitamin E enhances blood circulation to your nail beds and this way helps keep your nails healthy. But you do not have to consume vitamin E rich foods if they are not available or not to your liking, you can simply prick a vitamin E capsule and apply the leaking oil to your nails. You should apply before you sleep and when you wake up in the morning for optimal results.
Primrose oil
Another name for primrose oil is night willow herb, and mostly grows in North America and Europe. Evening primrose contains an important vitamin for nail strength, which is biotin. Now biotin deficiency can lead ro frail and easy to break nails, so making sure you intake enough of it daily is important.
You can take a primrose oil capsule twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening. Other than biotin, it also contains Omega-6 fatty acids that further aids in making your nails stronger.
Hydrochloric acid containing foods
If your body is deficient in hydrochloric acid nutrients will not be absorbed as easily since it aids in digesting your food. So it is recommended that you consume foods high in this acid, for example lemon juice, celery, black olives, and apple cider vinegar. For that last one make sure you dilute it with some juice, to mask the burning sensation when drinking it.
Whiten with toothpaste
Just like how your skin requires exfoliation to retain its beautiful glow, so do your nails as well. This can be easily achieved by using both a soft toothbrush with whitening toothpaste. Doing this will not just give your nails a fresh feeling, but will also clean out the dirt gathered on them.
In just about 10 minutes you can have fabulous looking nails, this is especially true for whitening toothpaste containing baking soda. Apply the toothpaste after removing your nail polish, and leave it for 15 minutes. When the time is up, get the soft toothbrush and scrub gently under some warm water. You can do this for several days in case of severe stains.
