How to Make Nail Soak

Many people suffer with unsightly cuticles or nails because they are dry or cracked. During manicures, the nails are often placed into a bowl of warm water to soften the cuticles but this can actually dry out the nails and cuticles even further. Water makes the nails become soft and brittle while they are wet, making them weak. When the nails are being filed, they can break or become cracked, which is not only bad for the nail, but also for the manicure when it's dry and finished. Papaya juice is a great ingredient that can be found in a variety of spa treatments. Perfect for dry cuticles, the papaya has an enzyme that softens and removes unwanted cuticles. This nail soak can be done at home as often as necessary for moisturized and healthy nails and cuticles.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons papaya juice
• Orange stick
• Cuticle scissors

1. Place the papaya juice in a small bowl. Add the olive oil to a separate small bowl and set aside.

2. Soak the nails in the papaya juice for 5 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

3. Use the orange stick to push back and remove any unwanted cuticle made soft by the papaya juice.

4. Use a cuticle scissors to remove any excess cuticle, but be careful not to cut to close to the cuticle bed. Most often, simply pushing back the cuticle with an orange stick is enough, but a small nippers can remove any hangnails or dry cuticles.

5. Massage the nail and cuticle bed with the olive oil from the separate bowl. Allow it to soak in and then rinse the hands if necessary. There are a variety of cuticle salves on the market that can be used to keep the cuticles moisturized at all times.

Resources

• Sephora cuticle conditioning pen