Dry Nail Remedies: A Mini Guide

You don’t have to be a hand model to want manicured, presentable nails. And while many of us turn to polishes and buffers to help shape our nails and add a pop of colour to a complete outfit or look, for those suffering from dry nails and cracked cuticles, a little more TLC may be required to leave their hands and fingernails looking their best.

In this mini guide, we’re sharing advice, tips, and some of the best remedies for those suffering from dry nails and cracked cuticles – alongside more information on exactly what your cuticles are (you wouldn’t believe how many people get this wrong!), and what could be causing your nails to look and feel so dry.

What you may not know about nails and cuticles…

First up for a little myth buster – your cuticles are not actually part of your nail. Your cuticles are the bits of skin which surround your nail bed, which can often become dry and cracked if you don’t care for them with adequate moisturising and care. The whole point of the cuticle is to protect the nail bed and prevent bacteria from getting in and under the nail – thus making it as much of a barrier as it is a part of your fingernail foundation.

What’s causing your dry nails?

There are a series of things which can cause your nails and cuticles to dry out, from excessive hand washing to cold weather, picking, and chewing your nails and the surrounding skin, and even certain dietary deficiencies.

For the most part, dry nails and cuticles become visually evident when not enough attention is paid to nurturing and caring for them – with the following section of this guide dedicated to sharing our pick of the best dry nail remedies and solutions that can make your next manicure the best yet.

Our pick of the best dry nail remedies

Pick your favourite nourishing oil

There are a wide range of oils and specific products that are targeted at nourishing and moisturising the nails and cuticles. These include but are not limited to:

• Shea butter
• Argan oil
• Vitamin E oil
• Cuticle oil / serum
• Coconut oil

All of these boast their own unique benefits, for example coconut oil is known for its high saturated fatty acid content which promotes and improves the moisture barrier, while Vitamin E oil helps to repair cracked cuticles more quickly and cuticle oils are specifically designed to stop the cuticles from drying out in the first place.

For a rich and intensive treatment, try soaking your hands and then dipping the nails in argan oil which is absorbed more quickly when your hands are wet. This oil is particularly effective in the face of very dry skin and nails and will help to nourish and treat both the nails and cuticles.

Avoid biting and picking at your cuticles

This one isn’t so much of a remedy as an instruction, focussed on preventing the issue rather than curing it. The less you pick at and manipulate the skin around your nails and cuticles, the better protected they will be and the healthier they will look and feel.

The problem with biting your nails and cuticles is that it become a vicious cycle – indulging in the habit only makes the issue worse and makes it more likely that you will continue to do it. Find ways to distract yourself if you feel the urge to chew or pick or try out the DIY remedies and solutions that taste horrid and are applied to the nails to prevent chewing.

Use a buffer to smooth the cuticles

If you find yourself drawn to picking the edges of a dry cuticle, then using a buffer can help to smooth out those rough edges and take away the ability to pick or chew. Take care when buffing the cuticles as this skin can be thin and quite sensitive, and always follow up with a hand cream or moisturiser.

Treat yourself to a little hand-based TLC

Look down at your hands and fingernails – do they look like they could do with a little TLC? If the answer is yes, we’ve got just the solution, in the form of the nail packages and treatments available at Boilerhouse.

From dry nail treatments to full manicures, we will send you home with nails that look and feel better than ever, so that you can reach out, shake hands, and stare at your own hands in pride.