Moisturizing, in general, does a lot of good to our nails than just helping to keep the health of our toenails intact. As important as it is to our nails (finger and toe), it breaks my heart each time when I’m confronted with issues with dry toenails and fingernails.
In fact, When it comes to the science of moisturizing nails, it is always a rule of thumb to moisturize them daily. While that might not be true for some people, one thing is sure, which is, it does go a long way in protecting your nails from brittleness.
It doesn’t just end there; it also helps to keep the overall look of your nails healthy and sparkly.
Now you may be thinking that you’ve been doing that for quite some time now yet, you still suffer from dry nails. Well, if that’s what you came here for or you probably want to know the way out of the predicament, this article might be what you need.
Facts About Toenails You Should Know Today
- Toenails give us balance: If not for our toes, movement and balancing would have been a different story entirely. Don’t you think so?
- They act as a breeding environment for fungal infection.
- Toenails are the second dirtiest part of the body because they harbor microbes more than any other region.
- They are a modernized form of claws in humans.
- If you lost a toenail, it would take approximately 6 months for them to grow back.
- Ingrown nails are the primary cause of toenails fungus.
- If you happen to lose a toenail, it will take approximately 12 – 18 months to grow back fully, unlike a fingernail which takes 3 – 6 months.
- The keratinous material that makes up human nails is 2x thicker in toenails than in fingernails.
- Toenails fall off on two occasions, one, when you have an injury and the second, during a fungal infection.
What Causes Dry Toenails?
Although there are lots of reasons why your toenails which were in good health suddenly become dry.
The apparent reason here is a result of fungal infection. When this happens, the toenails thicken and become hard and dry.
Having said that, we can now dive in and discuss our subject matter.
How To Moisturize Dry Toenails
1. Soak your nails
The first approach to take when planning on giving your toenails some treats is to start with a soak.
Yeah, you heard me right, a soak is that which should be done first before every other thing. Soaking the toes helps to keep them soft and ready to be moisturized.
Here’s how to do it
- Fill a bowl that is big enough to accommodate your toes with warm water.
- Add a few salts to it depending on the size of your bowl
- Insert your toes on it. Let them sit comfortably for 15 minutes
- After which, you can then trim your nails out.
Trimming your toenails properly is an essential requirement to prevent ingrown toenails. Ingrown nails, when not adequately trimmed, can become an avenue for fungal infection.
2. Massage it in
The first step to take is to decide on the choice of moisturizer you intend to use. When choosing a moisturizer, you should always look for moisturizers that contain at least 50 % fats or lipids.
To moisturize;
- Take a little quantity of the oil and then place them over your cuticles and toenails.
- Using your finger, run the oil through starting from the cuticle and then, down to your nails.
- Do this for 5 minutes then finally, leave some oil on them.
Doing this regularly will not only take your annoying dry toenails to a beautiful sight of attraction, but it will also keep them healthier.
Treatment For Dry Nails
If your nails are dry or brittle, you’re likely suffering from a nutrient deficiency, or you don’t moisturize them often. Either way, the best way we’ve found helpful is to try as much as possible to avoid overexposure to water. Overexposure of nails to water causes nails to go dry. The best way to remedy this is to moisturize more.
If you’re looking for the best oil for your dry toenails or essential oil for your nails, then you should consider using any of the below
1. Olive oil
The usefulness of this oil – USDA Certified Organic Olive Oil from the olive seed is such that can’t be overemphasized. Aside from cooking, this oil is a perfect emollient for the skin. Olive oil does not only give moisture to dry nails, but consistent use of it can also help lengthens one’s fingernails in no distance time.
2. Jojoba oil
If you’re looking for a perfect oil with dual functionality, then you should consider using Jojoba Oil by Leven Rose . This jojoba oil not only helps to restore dry peeling or cracked nails but also, aids or promotes healthy nail growth. Another great thing about this oil is the fact that the antifungal and antibacterial properties in it can help cure nail fungus.
3. Argan oil
PURA D’OR Moroccan Argan Oil is another amazing oil that can help you restore your dry nails. Also, using argan oil on your weak, brittle nails will add the strength they need to grow strong and healthy.
4. Vitamin E oil
Have you been looking for an oil that is efficient enough for your dry skin, nails, or cuticles? Then search no further because this oil has it all. A drop of Vitamin E oil is what you need to revamp and give life to that ugly-looking dry nails of yours.
5. Almond oil
A coat of this oil from Almond seed on your nails will give your nails the strength needed for it to grow out healthy, prevent them from extreme dryness from cold weather, and ultimately prevent them from breaking. Also, applying this oil to your skin can as well help to prevent your skin from future dryness and keep them glowing.
All of the above oils are great for your nails plus they also help to fight against fungal infection.
How Can I Make My Toenails Look Better?
There are various ways you can keep your toenails in shape, and the good news is, they’re inexpensive, and almost everyone can do it. What you need is a proper nail care routine. Cut or trim your nails across when they’ve grown too long, File rough edges after trimming, and most importantly, moisturize them often.
You can also;
- Always keep in-between your toes and feet dry. Keeping them dry will prevent them from infection.
- Avoid walking barefoot in a wet environment, especially in public places.
- Take out time to massage your feet at least once a day. This enables blood to flow to your nails.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are way too tight. Your toe deserves to breathe.
- The best way to trim toenails is to cut them across and be gentle.
- Wear socks made of wool. This is the best because they can absorb sweat. Aside from that, avoid wearing dirty socks.
How To Heal Damaged Nails
The first step to healing damaged nails is to identify the kind of damage done to the nails. Knowing this will not only save you from worsening the situation, but it will also save you from spending unnecessarily.
Also, once you’ve figured out the kind of damage done, invariably, you’ve solved half of the problem already. For example, if they’re greenish or yellowish coloration after examining your nails, then it’s a fungal infection. To solve fungal infections, you’ll need a lot of patience as they can be a bit stubborn. Here’s a post on How to treat nail fungus with tea tree oil.
Then if it’s a cut probably across the nail bed, all you need are some quick DIY
Here’s what you should do.
- First, Soak the affected nails in a solution containing warm water and salt.
- This helps to soothe the pain and prevent them from getting infected.
- Rub some anti-fungal cream on it. If after about 3 days and there is no sign of improvement, see your doctor immediately.
Wrapping Up
At this point, you ought to have read that moisturizing dry toenails helps in several ways if done correctly. During moisturizing, be sure you’re using the right essential oil as not all oil do well for our toes. Simply put, the choice of oil indeed matters a lot when planning on giving your dry toenails the best treat ever – to keep them healthy always.
When gunning for the right oil, you should consider things like, how easy it is to get, how expensive it is, and most importantly, if it contains 50% lipids. The most recommended within our arsenal is coconut oil. This wonder oil does not only keep the toe healthy it also prevents it from getting dry.
You can as well opt in for some quick DIY using either Jojoba, coconut, or Argan oil. These oils are an excellent choice too for extremely dry toenails. For this reason, you should make them a part of your life. Now that you’ve learned the right way to give your toenails the proper treatment, we hope you’ll start doing that right away.
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