With the rising trends of nail arts and manicure treatments, the health of nails becomes a key consideration. Constant filing, lacquering, and aggressive removal techniques may turn your strong, pearly-white nails weak, bumpy, and brittle. Due to this, your soft, smooth, and clean cuticles may also become dry and raggedy. So, taking good care of nails is crucial, just like caring for other body parts. A soothing hot oil manicure treatment can offer luxurious pampering to your nails so they never look unhealthy. Let us talk about it here. We have also compiled the benefits of hot oil manicures, making them a huge favorite of women worldwide.
Facts You Should Know About Nails
Before we start discussing hot oil manicures, here is a glance at a few facts you should know about your nails:
- The growth of your nails starts underneath your skin, and their visible parts contain dead cells only. However, the layer called ‘dermis’ below it has sensory nerve endings to sense the pain upon applying pressure (1).
- Nail tissues are made of keratin protein (2), strengthening nails and protecting them from damage. There are also blood capillaries under the nail beds, which supply blood for the healthy growth of nails.
- Cuticles are tiny slivers of skin at the bases of nails, which create a strong barrier between freshly grown nails and germs to prevent them from infections (3).
- No matter how much you take care of your nails, the average growth rate of nails per month in healthy adults is limited. It is 3.5 millimeters for fingernails and about 1.5 millimeters for toenails.
- The regular growth of nails depends on several factors, including gender, activity, pregnancy, season, stress, and so on. Similarly, the characteristics of nails depend on genetics, age, health, status, etc.
Not only nails but keratin protein also makes up the cells of our hair and skin. It even forms many glands in our body as well as the inner linings of internal organs.
Read Also – Simple Nail Art Hacks to Give Yourself the Best Manicure Ever
What is a Hot Oil Manicure?
The popularity of hot oil manicures has sky-rocketed in the last decade, and it truly lives up to its claims. But what is it all about? A hot oil manicure is the most luxurious, relaxing, and expensive nail treatment you can ever opt for. However, it does not use traditional manicure ingredients, such as acrylic powders, nail polishes, etc., which may not always be nail-friendly. Instead, it uses a heated mixture of nourishing natural oils for soaking the fingers up. This rich blend can again be customized based on the unique nail requirements of the individuals. However, the best thing about a hot oil manicure is that it treats dry, flaky, and ribbed nails and works on damaged cuticles. By choosing this treatment, you can clean your nails, soften your cuticles, and provide deep nourishment to both. It also imparts a natural shine to the nails without a single scrap of polish.
How do you do a hot oil manicure at home?
While the hot oil manicure treatment at salons provides professional services and various products, it can be pricey, making it uncomfortable for some to splurge on. If you prefer a more budget-friendly option, try doing it at home. Begin with the regular manicure procedure, halting just before immersing your fingers in a water-filled bowl. At this point, introduce the hot oil mixture with the following steps:
What Do You Need:
- Almond oil – 1(1/2) cups
- Sunflower oil – (1/2) cup
- Castor oil – (1/4) cup
- Olive oil – (1/2) cup
- Tea tree essential oil – 10-15 drops
- Vitamin E capsule – 1
What Should You Do:
- Take a large microwave-safe bowl and pour almond oil into it.
- Add the sunflower oil and castor oil to it.
- Also, pour olive oil and tea tree essential oil into the bowl.
- Puncture the vitamin E capsule and add its content to the oils. You may replace it with one tablespoon of pure vitamin E oil.
- Mix all the ingredients very well to form a smooth, uniform blend.
- Microwave the oil blend for 30 seconds to become warm and thin enough to penetrate the skin. Ensure that the mixture’s temperature remains bearable instead of being too hot.
- Remove the bowl from the microwave and gently dip your fingers in the warm oil blend. Soak them up until the oil cools off. The oil mixture might take 4 to 5 minutes to cool down completely. You can reheat it once more for 20 seconds if you enjoy the dipping session.
- After the oil blend cools down, thoroughly massage your fingers (including the nail beds, edges, cuticles, and wrist areas) with more oil. Continue it for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Finally, finish the procedure by washing both hands with plain, tepid water and drying them with a clean towel.
You can also include shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, mineral oil, beeswax, glycerine, etc. in the recipe as per your choice.
Tips and Precautions to Follow
It would be best to remember a few things while giving the hot oil manicure a shot at your home. We have listed them down:
- Apply a light moisturizer all over your hands right after going through the hot oil manicure.
- Give your nails a standing time between your hot oil manicure and applying the nail polish.
- Stay away from soapy products for at least 5-6 hours.
- Practice this manicure twice every week before going to bed to ensure the maximum benefits.
Excellent Benefits of Hot Oil Manicure
As said before, the hot oil manicure treatment provides a plethora of benefits to us, and here is a comprehensive list for you:
- Deeply hydrates the nails and cuticles damaged by regular gel and acrylic sessions.
- Exfoliates and detoxifies the nails and the cuticles to help them grow faster.
- Gives cleaner, whiter, and stronger nails with more delicate and healthy cuticles.
- It makes the skin on the fingers and around the nails softer, smoother, and more pliable.
- It improves the skin texture on the hands and makes it glow over time.
- Nourishes the skin and nails from the inside, thereby slowing down the process of aging.
- Promotes blood circulation throughout the hands.
- Keeps all problems related to the skin on the hands at bay, especially in the long run.
- It makes the removal of hangnails much easier.
- Increases the flexibility of fingers and wrists considerably.
- It adds a beautiful shine to the nails that last for weeks.
- It helps the nails, as well as the hands, exude beauty and elegance.
- As no polish is involved, it can be done at home without expert precision.
Read Also – The Easy DIY Rainbow Manicure
How to Care for Your Nails?
While a hot oil manicure can restore the health of your damaged nails and cuticles naturally, grooming them rightly and regularly is also essential. Following are the ways that can help you take the best care of your nails:
- Ensure your diet contains enough biotin through sources like whole grains, bananas, soy, beans, cauliflower, mushrooms, eggs, nuts, brewer’s yeast, sardines, etc. It will strengthen your nails and prevent breakage. (4)
- Stop using glue on artificial nails and toxic nail polish frequently, as it may weaken your nails and make them brittle (5).
- Switch to water-based nail polish formulations containing little to no toxic chemicals (toluene formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, DBP, etc.).
- Keep your nails as dry and clean as possible to avoid bacterial growth underneath them.
- Keep your nail beds and cuticles well-moisturized by applying a lotion every day.
- Avoid habits like biting or tearing your nails, cutting them too short, pulling on hangnails, etc.
- Always use nail clippers or sharp manicure scissors to trim your nails correctly. Also, do it right after the bath, as the nails remain soft.
Summary:
Hot oil manicure is the most luxurious, relaxing, and expensive nail treatment that you can ever try for cleaning your nails, softening your cuticles, and providing deep nourishment. Instead of traditional manicure ingredients like acrylic powders, nail polishes, etc., it uses a heated mixture of natural oils. This rich blend can again be customized based on the unique nail requirements of the individuals. Getting the hot oil manicure treatment at salons or spas is an expensive affair. Hence, do it yourself at home by using affordable and readily available ingredients like almond oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower oil, tea tree essential oil, and vitamin E oil. Hot oil manicure exfoliates, detoxifies, and deeply hydrates the nails and the cuticles so that they become stronger, look whiter, and grow faster. It also imparts a natural shine to the nails without a single scrap of polish. In short, the procedure helps the nails as well as the hands exude beauty and elegance. However, grooming your nails rightly and regularly is also important to keep them healthy and pretty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Function of a Cuticle Remover?
A cuticle remover removes the layer of dead skin around the nails, allowing the nails to breathe and preventing the skin from growing with them.
What is a Paraffin Manicure?
It is a type of manicure in which colorless and odorless paraffin wax (obtained from petroleum and beeswax) is used instead of heated natural oils.
What is a Spa Manicure?
It is another type of manicure that is more intense and time-consuming than a regular one. Mostly practiced at salons or spas, the manicure is often finished with an additional nail treatment.
Can I Get a Hot Oil Manicure with Short Nails?
As a hot oil manicure is about the health of nails and cuticles, you can get it with short nails to grow them longer and faster.
How Long Does a Manicure Last?
A regular manicure typically lasts anywhere between 5 and 7 days.
References:
- “Clinical Evidence for the Relationship between Nail Configuration and Mechanical Forces,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Keratin“, GHR.nlm.nih.gov
- “Nail Hygiene“, CDC.gov
- “Supplements for Brittle Nails,” ConsumerLab.com
- “Side Effects of Nail Cosmetics,” Onlinelibrary.Wiley.com
