Want the perfect recipe for shiny, healthy nails? Though you can certainly find nail strengtheners in drugstore aisles,don't overlook what's hiding in your kitchen —or on the shelves of your local health food store. Ahead, spa experts, nail polish formulators, and a medical pedicurist share the ingredients for D.I.Y. nail strengtheners you can whip up at home. Bonus: These are so easy to formulate, you'll nail them all in five minutes or less.
Meet the Expert
- Marcela Correa is a medical pedicurist and owner of Medi Pedi NYC.
- Daisy Kalnina is a former celebrity nail artist and founder of The GelBottle Inc. and Peacci, a vegan polish line that makes an at-home nail nutrition kit.
- Shel Pink is the author ofSlow Beautyand founder of SpaRitual.
- Sara Trabazini is the spa manager at the award-winning The Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany.
Benefits of Nail Strengthener
There are so many ways that nails can become damaged. Medical pedicurist Marcela Correa points out that silk wraps, acrylics, and gel nail polish often end up wreaking havoc on the nails. Even common household chores, such as washing dishes, can dry out the cuticles. Picking, biting, and peeling your nails can also take a toll. And don't forget the toenails: Correra notes that running, hockey, tennis, or wearing shoes that are too tight can all cause damage. But don't despair!
"With a small amount of care, you can keep your nails strong and healthy very easily," says nail-polish formulator Daisy Kalnina. You'll see results quickly, too. You can start seeing stronger nails within just two weeks of using nail strengthener, and usually much sooner.
Nail strengtheners can restore nails to optimal health while "replenishing lost nutrients and restoring the keratin needed to keep your nails growing and healthy," says Corre.
How to Apply Nail Strengtheners
If you're used to using over-the-counter nail strengtheners, Correa explains, "they are applied as the first coat to any polish. Some [people] skip polish altogether and opt for nail strengthener alone." Be sure to use non-acetone remover if you decide to remove a commercial strengthener —but most people opt to leave it on.
For the recipes below, leave on as directed. Kalnina adds to apply strengtheners to "clean, prepped nails on a regular basis." She recommends using strengtheners in conjunction with a cuticle oil, which will further support nail health.
DIY Nail Strengthener Recipe
This recipe comes from Sara Trabazini, the spa manager at The Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany, with an add-in provided by Correa.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 Tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 Teaspoon of chopped garlic (optional add-in)
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Soak your nails in the mixture for about 10 minutes. "The nails will be deeply nourished due to the moisturizing and strengthening properties of the olive oil and the disinfecting power of lemon," says Trabazini. Correa likes to add a teaspoon of chopped garlic to the recipe and make a paste. "The garlic contains selenium which promotes nail growth and strength as well as vitamin E." Repeat two to three times per week.
Byrdie Tip
A quick and easy nail strengthener is castor oil, which you can massage daily into the nail bed when you're on the go.
DIY Nail Strengthening Intensive Mask
This recipe comes from Trabazini at The Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons of shea butter
- 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 drops of rose essential oil
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Apply the mask on the hands and nails, massaging for a few seconds. Then cover the hands with cotton gloves and leave on for 20 minutes. Trabazini recommends doing the treatment once a week.
Byrdie Tip
The key to strong nails is a healthy cuticle. "The cuticle protects new nail growth," says Shel Pink, the founder of SpaRitual. "If you nourish the cuticle you are creating a healthy environment for the newest part of the nail to help it to grow out healthy and strong."
DIY Cuticle Oil Recipe
This recipe comes from Pink who says, "Jojoba oil nourishes the skin, promotes nail growth, and helps repair the strength of the nail bed. Tea tree oil is an antiseptic and helps keep fungus at bay."
Ingredients:
- 1/2 oz jojoba oil
- 1 to 2 drops tea tree oil
Instructions:
Pour the jojoba oil and tea tree oil into an ultraviolet glass pipette dropper bottle, swish together, and seal the bottle. (FYI: the bottle may have a fancy name, but it's easily found on Amazon.) In the evening just before bedtime, place one drop of the oil onto each fingernail and toenail and it massage into cuticles.
DIY Nail Strengthening Soak
This recipe comes The Food Network —and it sounds rather tasty.
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
Whisk the ingredients together in a shallow bowl. Soak your nails in the mixture for about fifteen minutes. Then —considering the raw eggs — be sure to rinse your hands thoroughly.
