Using Essential Oil for Nail Care

To naturally promote healthy, beautiful fingernails, you can use essential oil for nail care. Enjoy the following aromatherapy nail recipes:

• Conditioning Soak
• Nail Fungus Relief
• Nail Growth
• Nail Care Butter
• Nail Strengthening
• Cuticle Oils

Lavender Essential Oil for Nail Conditioning

Use this soak for dry or torn cuticles.

• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) essential oil
• 2 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil or neem oil

Blend oils. Soak nails in the mixture for 10 minutes. Optionally, buff your nails after the soak to improve circulation and create a healthy shine.

Essential Oils for Nail Fungus

To use essential oils to help get rid of nail fungus, blend the following ingredients in a small, dark bottle:

• 5 drops tea tree or geranium essential oil
• 1 drop cinnamon bark essential oil
• 1 tablespoon neem oil or calendula-infused oil

Apply the oil blend around and under nails 2 or 3 times a day.

Note: As an alternative, you can use 6 drops of tea tree oil in the carrier oil. Most people can also apply undiluted tea tree oil to their skin.

Source: Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

Essential Oil for Nail Growth

To make an essential oil blend that supports nail growth, combine the following ingredients in a small, dark bottle:

• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops myrrh essential oil
• 10 drops frankincense essential oil
• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon carrier oil, depending on how strong you want the blend

Rub a little of the oil blend into bare nails twice a day.

Nail Growth Soak

• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw honey

1. Blend ingredients in a microwavable bowl.
2. Microwave the blend for 20 seconds.
3. Soak your nails for about 15 minutes.

Repeat twice a week.
Source: The Big Book Of Essential Oil Recipes For Beauty

Natural Nail Care Butter

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 3 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 2 tablespoons beeswax
• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 4 drops carrot seed essential oil
• 4 drops rose essential oil
  
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 4 drops geranium essential oil
  
• 4 drops sandalwood essential oil

1. Combine grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter in a double boiler. 
2. Heat on low setting, stirring until beeswax and cocoa butter melt. 
3. Remove the double boiler from the heat.
4. Stir in the essential oils. 
5. Let the mixture cool slightly.
6. Pour the mixture into a dark glass jar. Let cool. Place lid on jar.

To use: Using a cotton swab, remove a small amount of nail butter from the jar. Use the swab to apply the butter to your nails, and then use your fingers to massage the butter into the nails.

Source: The Very Essence

Nail Strengthening Blends

To strengthen nails and help prevent splitting or flaking, Massage & Aromatherapy suggests this blend:

• Five 100 mg lecithin capsules
• 1 tablespoon castor oil
• 1 tablespoon wheatgerm oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil

1. Puncture lecithin capsules and squeeze contents into a bowl.
2. Add the other oils and stir.
3. Pour mixture into a small, dark glass jar.

To use: Massage a few drops into clean nails twice a day. Then to add shine and improve circulation, buff nails.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy recommends the following essential oils to strengthen nails: cistus, clary sage, cypress, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, rosemary, sweet orange, ylang ylang.

Suggested blend:

• 2 teaspoons rice bran oil
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
• 10 drops evening primrose oil
• 1 teaspoon moringa oil
• 8 drops lemon essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil

Also see essential oils for hand cream.

Cuticle Oils

Rose Cuticle Soak

• 2 tablespoons almond oil
• 1 teaspoon apricot kernel oil
• 3 drops geranium essential oil
• 2 drops rose essential oil
• Small, dark glass bottle

Blend the oils in the bottle. To use, massage a little of the blend into nails every day. Alternately, add a few drops to a dish of warm water and soak for 10 minutes to encourage healthy growth.

Olive Oil Cuticle Oil

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 10 drops essential oil(s) of choice (Good options include tea tree (useful for fungus or inflammation relief), carrot seed (anti-aging), and lavender (calming).)
• Small, dark glass bottle

Blend the oils in the bottle. To use, massage a little of the blend into cuticles.

Adapted from Organic Beauty With Essential Oil.

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