How to Use Cuticle Oil for Healthier Nails

Are you looking to improve the health and appearance of your nails? Cuticle oil might just be the solution you’re looking for. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing how to use cuticle oil to achieve healthier, more moisturized cuticles and stronger nails. 

Keep reading to learn more!

How to use cuticle oil 

Applying cuticle oil is easy and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to do it:

Wash your hands

Start by washing your hands and nails thoroughly. This will help the oil absorb better.

Apply the oil

Once your hands are clean and dry, apply a small amount of oil to your cuticles.

Don’t worry about getting oil on your nails, that’s totally fine. 

To apply the oil, you can use a pen, roller, glass dropper, or brush. 

A cotton pad or cuestick works well too. 

If you don’t have a roller, dropper, or brush, simply rub the oil in using your fingers. 

You only need a tiny amount of oil – a few drops will do the trick.

Massage your cuticles

Massage the oil into your cuticles for 30-60 seconds per nail. 

Make sure you do the sides of your nails as well as the bottom. 

This step helps the oil to soak in and improves circulation around the nail beds to stimulate growth.

Push your cuticles back

push cuticles back https://nailhow.com/how-to-use-cuticle-oil-for-healthier-nails/

Once your cuticles have absorbed all that lovely oil, they should be nice and soft.

Now, if you want to, you can use a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick to gently push back your cuticles.

Remove excess oil

Finally, use a paper towel to dab or wipe away any excess oil.

That’s it! 

With regular use, you’ll have healthier, more moisturized cuticles and stronger nails.

It’s a small time investment that can make a big difference in the health and appearance of your nails.

How to use cuticle oil with nail polish

You can use cuticle oil with nail polish if you want freshly painted nails with a super shiny finish and healthy, soft cuticles.

How to use cuticle oil https://nailhow.com/how-to-use-cuticle-oil-for-healthier-nails/

Here’s how:

  1. Clean and prep your nails (file, buff and push back cuticles).
  2. Apply basecoat, 2 coats of color, and topcoat.
  3. Make sure the polish is fully dry and not soft to the touch.
  4. Apply a small drop of oil to each cuticle and gently rub it in.
  5. Wipe away an excess oil with a paper towel.

The most important thing to remember when using cuticle oil with nail polish is to apply it as a final step once you’re done painting.

Nail polish will not stick to oily nails!

Do you put cuticle oil on before or after nails? 

Ah, the great debate. Should you apply oil before or after you do your nails?

When you choose to apply your oil depends on whether you’re going to paint or not.

You can use nail oil in these 2 ways:

  • During nail prep to help soften cuticles so that they are easier to push back or remove.
  • After you’re done painting to add moisture and shine.

If you’re using oil to help push your cuticles back before you paint your nails, you’ll need to make sure that you remove all of the oil before you start applying any polish.

If there is any oil on your nail plates, the polish won’t stick.

The best way to get the oil off is to wash your hands and nails thoroughly with dish soap.

In my opinion, the best way to use cuticle oil is after you paint your nails.

This softens up the cuticles, hydrates them, and gives you a healthy and shiny look.

Can you put cuticle oil over nail polish?

Yes, you can put cuticle oil over nail polish.

If you have dry cuticles or hangnails, adding a few drops of oil will help keep your cuticles healthy and moisturized.

Can you leave cuticle oil on?

Can you leave cuticle oil on https://nailhow.com/how-to-use-cuticle-oil-for-healthier-nails/

Yes, you can leave cuticle oil on your cuticles and nails for as long as you like. 

In fact, many people find that leaving oil on overnight or throughout the day helps to deeply moisturize and nourish their cuticles and nails.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Use a small amount of nail oil to avoid any excess from getting onto your clothing or bedding.
  • Consider using an oil pen or brush to apply the oil, as these can be more precise and help to minimize mess.
  • If you’re leaving the oil on overnight, you may want to cover your hands with gloves or cotton gloves to help keep the oil in place. This can also help to prevent the oil from staining your sheets.
  • Remember to wash your hands in the morning to remove any excess oil.

Overall, leaving nail oil on for an extended period of time can be a great way to deeply moisturize and nourish your cuticles and nails.

Just be sure to use a small amount and follow the tips above to minimize mess and keep your hands and nails looking their best.

Can you put cuticle oil on your nails?

Yes, you can definitely put cuticle oil on your nails. 

It’s full of nutrients that are great for nails as well as cuticles.

Applying cuticle oil to your nails helps to strengthen and protect them, as well as adds a healthy shine.

Just make sure theres no oil on your nails if you plan to paint them because the polish will not stay on.

How do you remove cuticle oil?

There are a few different ways to remove oil from your cuticles and nails. 

Here are a few options:

Wash your hands with soap and water. 

This is the most straightforward method and can be effective at removing the majority of the cuticle oil.

Simply lather your hands with soap and rinse thoroughly with water.

Use nail polish remover.

If you’re having trouble getting all of the oil off with soap and water, you can try using nail polish remover. 

Choose a non-acetone remover for a gentler option or an acetone remover for a more effective option. 

Acetone does dry out your nails and cuticles, so keep that in mind.

Simply apply a small amount of remover to a cotton pad and gently rub it over your cuticles and nails to remove the oil.

Use a paper towel

This method will remove any excess oil but it won’t get rid of the oil completely.

How many times a day should you use cuticle oil?

How many times a day should you use cuticle oil https://nailhow.com/how-to-use-cuticle-oil-for-healthier-nails/

How often you should use cuticle oil will depend on your individual needs and preferences. 

Once a day is fine for some people to keep their cuticles and nails healthy and moisturized.

While others may need to apply it more frequently. Like once in the morning and again at night for instance.

Here are a few things to consider when determining how often to use nail oil:

The state of your cuticles and nails:

If your cuticles and nails are particularly dry or damaged, you may want to use nail oil more often to help nourish and repair them. 

It takes around 2 to 3 hours for the oil to fully penetrate, so you should top up every couple of hours if you feel you need that.

If your cuticles and nails are already healthy, using cuticle oil once daily is enough.

The type of cuticle oil you’re using: 

Some cuticle oils are more nourishing and moisturizing than others, so you may find that you need to use them less frequently to see results.

Your personal preferences: 

Ultimately, how often you use cuticle oil will depend on your personal preferences and what works best for you. 

Some people like to apply oil every day or twice a day as part of their daily nail care routine.

Or you may prefer to use it every few days or once a week.

In general, it’s a good idea to start by using cuticle oil once a day and see how your cuticles and nails respond. 

You can then adjust the frequency as needed based on your individual needs and preferences.

How long should you leave cuticle oil on your nails? 

How long should you leave curicle oil on https://nailhow.com/how-to-use-cuticle-oil-for-healthier-nails/

You don’t have to worry about leaving cuticle oil on your nails for a specific amount of time.

The great thing about cuticle oil is that you can just put it on and forget about it.

Simply apply a small amount of cuticle oil to your cuticles, massage it in, and allow it to be absorbed into the skin. 

It will absorb in just a couple of minutes.

If there’s any excess, give your nails a quick wipe with a paper towel.

The only reason to remove the oil after a set length of time is if you are going to apply nail polish, in which case wash your hands after around 15 minutes.

How long does it take to sink in?

How long it takes for the oil to sink into your nails depends on the specific oil you are using and your individual nails. 

Some oils, such as coconut oil or castor oil, are thicker and may take longer to sink in. 

Other oils, such as olive oil or argan oil, are thinner and may sink in more quickly. 

In general, it is a good idea to massage the oil into your nails and cuticles for a few minutes to help stimulate circulation and encourage absorption. 

This can help the oil sink in more effectively. 

You can then wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth or a paper towel. 

If you find that an oil is not sinking in as well as you’d like, you may want to try a different oil or adjust the frequency of your oil application.

Can you over oil nails?

It isn’t really possible to overdo it with cuticle oil.

Using too much oil isn’t going to harm your nails or cuticles in any way.

Your skin will soak in as much as it needs and the rest will need to be wiped away.

A little bit goes a long way – you only need to apply a small amount of oil to your cuticles in order to see the benefits. 

FAQ’s

What does cuticle oil do?

Cuticle oil is a product used to moisturize and nourish the cuticles and nails.

It is typically made from a blend of nourishing oils and can help to strengthen and protect the nails, as well as prevent hangnails and promote nail growth. 

Many people find that using cuticle oil regularly helps to improve the health and appearance of their cuticles and nails, making them softer, smoother, and more hydrated.

Do nails grow faster with cuticle oil?

Some people claim that using cuticle oil can help to promote nail growth and make nails grow faster. 

However, there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim. 

While cuticle oil can help to moisturize and nourish the nails, ultimately, the rate of nail growth is largely determined by genetics and other factors such as diet and overall health.

Massaging cuticle oil into your nails does help to stimulate the blood flow in that area, which can help nails to grow.

Is cuticle oil better than lotion?

Both cuticle oil and lotion do a good job of moisturizing and nourishing the skin and nails. 

However, there are a few key differences between the two products:

Cuticle oil is specifically formulated for use on cuticles and nails, and is typically made from a blend of nourishing oils.

It is designed to penetrate the nails and cuticles more deeply, providing intense hydration and nourishment.

Cuticle oil also often contains ingredients like keratin, vitamins A and E, and zinc to nourish the nails.

Lotion, on the other hand, is a general-purpose moisturizer that is meant for use on the entire body. 

It is typically made from a combination of water, oils, and emulsifiers, and is designed to moisturize the skin on a surface level.

Are you supposed to wash off cuticle oil?

You don’t need to wash off cuticle oil once you’ve applied it.

Once you’ve massaged it into the cuticles, you should wipe away any excess oil with a paper towel and then leave it on.

The only exception would be if you want to paint your nails, in which case you should wash your hands with dish soap.

Author

  • Phoebe Meadows

    Phoebe Meadows is a self-proclaimed nail addict, always on the lookout for the latest trends and techniques. When she's not creating stunning nail designs, you can find her researching the latest nail care products or experimenting with new techniques.