How to strengthen your nails: 8 effective natural remedies
The fingernails and toenails are a very fragile and exposed area of the body, therefore it is not uncommon for them to flake and have a weak and unhealthy appearance.
Deficiencies in food substances, such as minerals, proteins and vitamins, frequent washing, unhappy climatic conditions, repeated invasive treatments and the use of non-quality nail polishes and products are just some of the possible causes of brittle and debilitated nails.
The good news is that with small daily tricks and effective natural remedies that are easy to implement, you can easily intervene on the health of the nails, guaranteeing them hydration, nourishment and a healthy, strong and resistant appearance.
If proper nail care remains the essential step to show off healthy nails, it must be said that a well-done manicure is a non-negligible detail that gives our hands charm, style and femininity. In the following video you can find all the tips to make it perfect.
Good nail care rules for healthy and strong nails
Before focusing on natural remedies to strengthen nails, here are some beauty routine rules and good lifestyle habits that we should always adopt to take proper care of our nails and protect them from fragility and weakness.
- Apply a good hand cream often to moisturize and nourish nails, cuticles and the area around the nail, especially after washing them. A tip: for a flawless result, you can opt for a cream containing highly nourishing ingredients such as olive or castor oil. , aloe vera gel or shea butter.
- Use a good protective base before applying the nail polish.
- Choose quality glazes and minimize the use of chemical solvents.
- Take a break from nail polish from time to time, especially colored ones. You can limit yourself to applying a coat of a transparent or nude nail polish with hardening properties to give the nail breath and a little nourishment.
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- Use gloves when washing dishes or using detergents and chemicals.
- Ensure a "healthy and balanced diet, rich in vitamins, in particular A, C and those of group B, proteins and mineral salts, including iron, calcium and zinc. The latter in particular, facilitates the synthesis of keratin," a natural hardener for nails, and can be easily found in dried fruit, especially in almond, hazelnuts and walnuts, along with iron, calcium and vitamin B12, in legumes and whole grains. Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce and broccoli, and vegetables, such as tomatoes and courgettes, are instead an "excellent source of calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. The latter are then guaranteed in large quantities by fruit, especially oranges. , strawberries and grapefruits. You can also rely on the help of specific supplements to strengthen nails and hair and make them stronger and more resistant.
Now let's see specifically eight simple do-it-yourself remedies for damaged brittle nails.
1. Oil packs
Olive oil and lemon juice
It is undoubtedly the most effective natural remedy for our nails. It can be used in different ways: alone, together with other oils to enrich its properties, as a pack, as a fortifying enamel or diffused in water for a nourishing and soothing hand bath.
The most satisfactory result is obtained from its action combined with that of lemon, an ingredient with an extraordinary detox power, which also helps to remove yellowed nails or nails damaged by the use of too aggressive nail polishes. Take two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and add a spoon of lemon juice, sprinkle everything on your hands, also performing a gentle massage on nails and cuticles, then cover your hands with cotton or silk gloves and let it act for at least 20-30 minutes. You can also keep the pack for the whole the night.
As anticipated, you can also add it to a basin of water and then immerse your hands for about ten minutes; alternatively, fill a bottle of nail polish, emptied and well cleaned, and add a few drops of lemon essential oil, then pass it on the nails. and wait for it to dry.
Castor oil
This ingredient is a natural tonic and strengthener for nails and, combined with olive oil, creates a miraculous mix. You can also use it as nail polish, filling a bottle half with castor oil and the other half with olive oil. Your nails will receive a highly effective nourishing treatment.
Coconut oil and lemon
Coconut oil has extraordinary virtues in the beauty field, especially for the beauty of the hair, and can also be considered a valid alternative for the well-being of the nails. Apply it as a pack or as nail polish together with lemon drops and you will get a result flawless.
Tea tree oil
The essential oil of tea tree or tea tree is one of the most used products to strengthen nails and protect cuticles; in fact it has an effective antifungal and antiseptic action. Apply it on your nails or add it to a little water to make a regenerating and soothing hand bath.
2. Hand bath made from green tea
It seems that green tea is a real cure-all for strengthening nails and cuticles. Soak your hands for about 10 minutes. At the end of the treatment, you can also use it in the form of essential oil to massage the nail and give it a pleasant feeling of well-being.
3. Egg and honey nail mask
These two ingredients together carry out a strongly nourishing and emollient action. Pour a spoonful of each of these into a bowl and add a spoonful of olive oil, mix everything until you get a homogeneous mixture and then apply it on each nail, letting it act. for about half an hour.
4. Aloe vera mask
Take a tablespoon of aloe vera gel and dilute it with drops of olive oil. The compound obtained, with its detoxifying, moisturizing and regenerating action, can be spread as a pack or soaked in a cotton pad and passed on each nail like acetone.
5. Shea butter mask
Shea butter also has extraordinary calming and nourishing virtues. Use it together with a few drops of lemon essential oil and a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil: you will get a compound with guaranteed efficacy, capable of nourishing the nails, strengthening them in a natural way.
6. Avocado mask
Mash the avocado, obtaining a rich and oily pulp, then add an egg yolk and a few drops of lemon: now apply the mixture, making gentle circular massages, and let it act for about 15-20 minutes.
7. Bicarbonate packs for weakened and yellowed nails
If your nails also have a yellowed appearance, the mix of baking soda and water is a real cure-all. Even the lemon has a powerful anti-yellow action, alternatively, you can then use the latter.
8. Garlic and lemon
Garlic is to be considered a true natural antibiotic thanks to its anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. You can rub it directly on nails and cuticles or chop it and combine it with lemon drops.
