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Beauty & Natural Remedies · December 21, 2021 edition

Three Nourishing Nail Soaks for Common Nail Problems

From the Genius House Hacks archive.

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Your fingernails can tell you a lot about your overall health. When they become discolored or brittle, it could be as simple as overusing a product like nail polish, or there may be something else going on, like vitamin or mineral levels that shift with age. Try these nourishing soaks to target the most common nail problems.

Ragged Cuticles

Pour 1/4 cup of almond oil into a bowl, soak nails for 10 minutes, then massage in the residue. The vitamin E-rich oil moisturizes cuticles and protects them from the peeling, cracking, and drying that result in painful hangnails.

Yellow Nails

Mix the juice from half a lemon with 1 cup of warm water in a bowl, soak nails for 15 minutes, then buff them with the leftover lemon rind. The fruit's citric acid lifts stains embedded deep within nails, while its vitamin C further brightens them.

Brittle Nails

Mix 2 tablespoons of minced kale with 1/4 cup of olive oil in a bowl, microwave until warm, then soak nails for five minutes. Kale's vitamins A, C, and K and its calcium boost keratin production to strengthen nails, while the oil's vitamin E helps repair damage.

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