Peeling cuticles are no joke. They can be painful and look awful. Luckily for us, it’s totally a solvable problem with a little time and effort. All you need it is to give you hard a little bit of extra love.
First of all, what causes cracked cuticles in the first place? There could be a number of causes, like:
- Dehydration
- Excessive hand washing
- Nail polish remover
- Harsh weather
- Malnutrition
- Medications
- Poor nail care
So, how do you prevent your cuticles from peeling? Here are some of our best tips!
Moisturize your cuticles
Even though they might not feel like it, your cuticles are composed of skin. Keeping them hydrated is important. There are plenty of ways to keep them hydrated. Drink plenty of water and use your favorite hydrating hand cream before bed. If you need a little extra hydration, here’s a DIY recipe for a nourishing cuticle cream!
- 15 drops of lavender essential oil
- 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
- 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
- 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
- Fractionated coconut oil
Get a hot wax treatment
A hot wax treatment is very relaxing and has some great benefits for your hands. Make an appointment at your local salon and let the technician pamper you a bot. They will apply some oils to your hands and coat them with paraffin wax. They’ll place your hands in mitts for about 10 to 15 minutes and then remove the wax. You’ll immediately be able to tell the difference! Your hands will be so soft and supple. If you don’t want to book a salon appointment, you can get your very own Paraffin bath from Amazon. It’s a great tool to add to your occasional in-home spa day.
Learn how to care for them
Your cuticles do need some attention every now and then. Getting a routine that helps you take care of them properly will prevent cracking and peeling entirely. Soaking them in hot, not boiling, water can help soften your skin. Add in some lemon juice or vinegar to the water to remove any dead skin. Use an orange stick every now and then to push your cuticles back. Be gentle and only do it about once or twice a month. Try to avoid cutting your cuticles. They are meant to protect your nails growth matrix by preventing all sorts of dirt and bacteria from entering. Stick to pushing them back instead.
