Here’s a not-so-fun fact about me. My natural nails suffer every time I get a gel or acrylic manicure. Case in point? I once had a set of acrylics that left my nails so thin and weak that they became bendy and peeled for weeks afterward. And I can’t blame it on the manicures themselves. Most of the damage occurred upon removal (the sound and sensation of an aggressive nail file haunt me to this day). The sorry state of my nails wasn’t subtle. They were basically screaming at me to stop with the nail polish, gel extensions, and acrylics. So I did. I decided to give some long-overdue TLC to my natural nails to return them to their former strength and shine. And now that they’re happy again, I’m in no rush to revisit the salon. I’ve committed myself to showing my natural nails more often. Ahead, see all the products I have in my at-home manicure kit for perfecting my natural nails.
Nail tools might not be the most exciting products to shop for, but they’re certainly the most practical. Seriously, without the right tools, my natural nails are nothing. It should come as no surprise that the first and most important tool is a good pair of nail clippers. I find that cutting off excess length and damage is the first step toward rehabilitating my natural nails.
Then comes the time to file my nails. I’m always sure to do this gently. My nail-tech friend instructed me to file in one direction rather than using the see-saw motion we’re all used to. This will help keep nails intact and prevent extra damage from occurring.
Once my nails are filed into a smooth, even shape, I reach for a cuticle pusher. It’s not cool to say, and I know I’m probably making multiple dermatologists and nail experts cringe, but I hate my cuticles. I want them gone. Whatever I can do to minimize their appearance or remove them entirely, I’ll do. It just makes my natural nails look so much more polished and purposeful.
It’s likely no surprise that I also use cuticle scissors. I know you’re not supposed to remove your cuticles entirely, but you know my stance on that. I’m always careful to trim them back without getting too overzealous and accidentally snipping my skin.
Once my nails are perfectly prepped, I move into stage two, which is all about strengthening them using nail-hardening products. This is one of my favorites from Olive & June. I used it every night for a week, and I swear my thin, bendy nails were totally transformed into sturdy and strong ones.
Here’s another nail-strengthening product I love. It’s from one of my favorite nail brands, Jinsoon.
I don’t care what anyone says. This is a classic for a reason. It costs less than a latte, and strengthens my nails faster than I can book an appointment at the nail salon.
Here’s where things really kick into gear. When I’m on a mission to rehabilitate my natural nails, I stock up on moisturizing products. To start, I’ll use cuticle oil every night before bed to soak my nail beds in moisture while I sleep. I’m obsessed with this one, which uses argan and pomegranate oils to provide essential fatty acids and rosemary and rose geranium oils to help stimulate nail growth. Plus, the little rollerball applicator makes it mess-free.
I love this cuticle oil. It uses avocado, cottonseed, apricot, acai, and pomegranate seed oils to keep my nails and cuticles looking soft, smooth, and good as new.
I also like this oil from Deborah Lippmann. It soaks my nails in jojoba and coconut oils, but absorbs pretty quickly.
Whenever I’m at Target, I feel a powerful and all-encompassing need to buy one of these (even though I already have multiple at home). I love that this cuticle oil is infused with rose flower oil to even texture and a blend of jojoba, argan, pomegranate, sweet almond, and hemp seed oils to moisturize.
Once my cuticle oil is on, I like to seal in the moisture with a deeply hydrating hand cream. It’s an extra step that always pays off since it makes my hands look polished and perfected, even when my nails are bare. This one uses pre-, pro-, and postbiotics to nourish skin and lock in moisture. Plus, it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on my hands. It’s one of my favorites.
Another hand cream I love, this one is the perfect no-frills formula. I like that it contains peptides to keep my skin plump over time. I also like that it’s fragrance-free, so I can use it constantly without fear of irritation.
Don’t sleep on Gold Bond. This little tube has been sitting squarely on my nightstand for months. It’s my go-to when my hands (and nails) are dry and splitting. It instantly softens and strengthens with seven moisturizing ingredients plus vitamins A, C, and E.
Last but certainly not least, I want to talk about the at-home natural nail care kit I’ve used for the last couple of weeks. I think it’s the perfect investment if you want to have the basics covered without making multiple purchases. It includes cuticle pushers, a polisher, and cuticle oil to hydrate and add natural shine to nails. The former uses a glass and mineral blend to gently bind to keratin cells in the nail. The latter uses jojoba, grapeseed, castor, and sea buckthorn oils to moisturize without greasy residue. Everything is wrapped up in a chic vegan leather case for perfect portability. I’m kind of obsessed with it.
