Essential oils are concentrated volatile compounds obtained by distillation from flowers, leaves or plant bark. They have a persistent pronounced aroma and are widely used in cosmetology. Today's post will tell you which essential oils for nails are most effective and how to use them correctly.
General information
The benefits of these substances have been known since ancient times. All of them have antiseptic and wound-healing properties, which means that, to one degree or another, they struggle with the consequences of an unsuccessful manicure. In addition, each of them, to a greater or lesser extent, contributes to the acceleration of growth, whitening and giving a natural shine.
You need to choose oils based on what problem you need to fix. So, for moisturizing it is better to take eucalyptus or geranium, and to eliminate the fragility of the plate, it is recommended to use rosemary, grapefruit, bergamot or ylang-ylang. For inflammation and healingoils of lavender, sandalwood, tea tree and rosemary are effective.
Tips for choosing and using
To effectively strengthen and treat nails with essential oils, you need to know how to apply them correctly. Since they are all very concentrated, they cannot be applied in their pure form. In order not to get a serious chemical burn, they are usually mixed with base vegetable oils heated in a water bath, and then used for their intended purpose. They can also enrich ready-made hand creams. To do this, a few drops of ether are added to a jar with a purchased product. Baths, compresses and masks with the addition of oils are considered no less effective.
Having de alt with the basic methods of using such funds, you need to figure out what to look for when buying. In order not to purchase a useless counterfeit instead of high-quality essential oil for nails, it is important to know a few nuances. The volume of the bottle should not exceed 15 ml, and it should be made of dark glass. It is important that it is equipped with a special pipette and a label that contains information about the manufacturer. You should also pay attention to the composition of the proposed tool. It should contain only plant extracts. The presence of fruit oils indicates that this is a synthetic product.
Ylang-ylang ester
This popular and very effective remedy is made from the flowers of the tree of the same name, which grows in China, Indonesia, Polynesia and the Philippines. It is an almost transparent or yellowish thick liquid with a strongpronounced aroma. It contains a lot of valuable substances, including farnesol, nerol, linaool, phenols, hydrocarbons, alcohols, salicylic, valeric and formic acids. Due to this, it is endowed with a number of healing properties and is widely used by cosmetologists.
Ether of ylang-ylang has a tonic and antifungal effect. It effectively relieves irritation, which allows it to be used to care for the nail cuticle. Ylang-ylang essential oil prevents the plate from breaking and restores its he althy shine. In its pure form, it is used to polish nails, applying a few drops to a special soft buff. And to combat delamination, it is mixed in equal proportions with almond oil and carefully rubbed into the surface of the plate.
Ether of bergamot
This oil, which has a tart aroma with light citrus notes, is obtained by cold pressing the peel of the fruit or by hydrodistillation of the inflorescences and leaves of the plant of the same name. Experts have not yet been able to thoroughly study the chemical composition of bergamot ether. Various sources indicate that it contains from 300 to 500 compounds.
In the oil obtained from the peel of the fruit, substances such as limonene, linaool, linalyl acetate, camphene and citral are present. And in the composition of the product, made from the leaves of bergamot, there is also geraniol and alcohol.
This is one of the most popular essential oils for nails. It is great for slow growth.and plate thinning. It is added to hand creams and nail baths. And to enhance the effect, it is mixed with almond, apricot or peach oil.
Ether of eucalyptus
The raw material for this oil is the leaves of the tree of the same name, which grows in Australia, California, Portugal and Spain. It contains more than forty different components, including gallotonin, organic acids, cineole and tannins. Thanks to this, it has powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Regular application of this product helps to retain moisture in the nails. Eucalyptus essential oil eliminates brittleness and delamination of the plate, and also fights fungal diseases. Experts advise doing five-minute baths with this remedy before manicure. A few drops of eucalyptus oil are added to water or dissolved gelatin, and then hands are dipped into it.
Orange ether
This is a universal remedy with a well-perceived citrus aroma, widely used in cosmetologists. It has a unique composition and contains a lot of valuable substances. It contains limonene, merzen, phytoncides, as well as vitamins A, C and B.
This inexpensive, publicly available tool can solve several cosmetic problems at once. It helps to soften the cuticle, even out the color and strengthen the plate. No less effective orangeessential oil against nail fungus. A few drops are applied to the base of the plate and rubbed thoroughly without rinsing.
Tea Tree Essence
This is a thick yellow liquid, which contains more than fifty different compounds. It contains limonenes, cineoles, terpenes and other components rarely found in nature. It has powerful antiseptic, bactericidal and disinfecting properties. All this allows you to successfully use tea tree essential oil from nail fungus. It is used in the form of applications, rubbing or baths, as well as in compositions with other components. A few drops of ether are applied to the affected plate and evenly distributed over the entire surface. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the product does not get on he althy areas.
This essential oil fights toenail fungus no less effectively. In this case, it is used in the form of baths. 20 drops of tea tree essential oil are dissolved in 1 liter of warm water and combined with 1 tsp. soda, s alt and honey. The feet are immersed in the resulting liquid and kept in it for 15-20 minutes.
You can also make baths with 1 liter of hot water, 10 drops of tea tree ether, juice of one lemon and 5 tsp. hydrogen peroxide. The duration of each such procedure is 25-30 minutes.
Effective essential oils for nail fungus
Onychomycosis is a disease that requires long-term and complex treatment. In addition to pharmacy ointments and creams, many specialistsrecommend using essential oils. These funds penetrate deep into the affected plate and quickly relieve inflammation of the periungual tissues. They also help improve blood circulation and eliminate itching and pain.
One of the most popular disinfectants is fir essential oil. It helps against nail fungus due to the fact that it contains many provitamins and phytoncides that destroy pathogenic microflora and strengthen the immune system. To successfully get rid of onychomycosis, a few drops of fir ether are rubbed into the affected areas three times a day. The duration of this treatment varies from four to six weeks.
Clove essential oil fights nail fungus no less effectively. It contains high concentrations of eugenol, benzoic acid and benzyl benzoate. Thanks to this, it has the strongest antiseptic properties.
Recipes with essential oils for nails and cuticles
To make your hands look neat and well-groomed, it is not necessary to purchase expensive creams and masks. For this, with no less success, you can use budgetary folk funds, proven over the years.
To make a cuticle softener you will need:
- 1 tbsp l. wheat germ oil.
- 2 drops each of tea tree and lavender ether.
All ingredients are combined in a small bowl and stirred until smooth. The resulting product is applied to the cuticle and massaged for a minute. To achieve the desired result, the procedurespend daily before going to bed.
To make your own nail strengthener you will need:
- 1 tsp olive oil.
- 2 drops each of myrrh and lavender ether.
All components are mixed until smooth, and then applied to the nail plate with massaging movements. Do not wash your hands for one hour after this procedure.
Another simple home remedy is no less effective in strengthening nails. For its preparation you will need:
- 1 tsp jojoba oil.
- 1 Vitamin E capsule.
- 2 drops each of lemon and damask rose ether.
All components are connected together and rubbed into the nail plates once a day. The course of such treatment should not be less than a month.
Essential oil baths
Such procedures help to quickly overcome onychomycosis and restore the damaged plate. Essential oils strengthen nails and restore their natural beauty.
To get rid of a fungal infection, you need to do special baths three times a week for two months. For this you will need:
- 1 liter of warm water.
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil.
- 150 ml table vinegar (9%).
- 2-3 drops of oregano oil.
The indicated ingredients are combined in a glass container. When everything is ready, the affected areas are immersed in the resulting solution and kept there for at least twenty minutes.
Forgetting rid of the fungus and restoring the affected nails, you can do homemade baths with the addition of cream. For this you will need:
- 2 drops each of grapefruit and lemon oils.
- 600ml warm water.
- 1 tbsp l. cream.
All this is mixed in a deep container and hands are immediately immersed in it. To carry out such a procedure, the duration of which is twenty minutes, preferably twice a week for a month.
Application reviews
According to the majority of women who systematically use essential oils to strengthen nails, these products are very effective. They help eliminate several problems at once and restore the natural beauty of the plate. In addition to the unique healing properties, many of them also have a pleasant aroma. This is especially true for citrus essential oils.
Home remedies made on the basis of such components help strengthen nails, help get rid of their brittleness and delamination. They also help accelerate growth and restore the natural shine of the plate. Some women claim that the first tangible results become noticeable after two weeks of regular use of esters.
