If you’re like most people, you put your hands through a lot. We’re constantly washing our hands and prying open lids with our fingernails. These things take a toll on our hands and nails. Even simply typing on a keyboard can harm brittle fingernails.
Have you ever thought of using cocoa butter for nails? Cocoa butter isn’t just moisturizing for the skin. It works wonders for softening our cuticles and strengthening weak nails.
In this guide, I’ll discuss the benefits of using cocoa butter on your nails. I’ll also share my recipe using cocoa butter for nail health!
What Is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is a type of plant fat that comes from the beans of the cocoa tree. The cocoa tree grows in parts of West Africa, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
The tree produces large green fruit which can contain up to five beans. The beans go through a process of roasting, stripping, and pressing to extract the butter.
When buying cocoa butter, keep in mind that there are two kinds: refined and unrefined. You should stick with unrefined cocoa butter because it’s pure and retains all its nutrients. Refined cocoa butter goes through harsh processing. This causes it to lose most of its nutrients.
Is Cocoa Butter Good For Nails?
Cocoa butter isn’t just great for the skin. It can also soften your cuticles and make your nails stronger.
If you struggle with dry, brittle nails, you might want to try cocoa butter. Moisturizing cocoa butter is amazing for strengthening nails. It will make them less likely to crack or break.
But why does cocoa butter work just as well for the nails as it does for the skin?
Benefits Of Cocoa Butter For Nails
The skin and nails share many of the same properties, so they receive the same benefits from cocoa butter.
Nails & Skin Consist Of The Same Proteins
Nails and skin consist of the same proteins. So, just as your skin can lose moisture and become dry, so can your nails. The less moisturized your nails are, the more likely it is that they’ll break.
Cocoa Butter Is Moisturizing
The skin and nails consist of the same proteins. So, they will reap the same benefits from cocoa butter.
People love cocoa butter because of its moisturizing properties. It is one of the most moisturizing products on the market and can have your nails and cuticles hydrated in no time.
Cocoa butter is a thicker substance than most other natural products available. Its thickness allows it to penetrate the nails and sink deep within the nails. So, cocoa butter moisturizes the nail bed and cuticles better than other products are able to.
The thickness of cocoa butter also makes it the perfect protectant. Cocoa butter forms a barrier over the nails and cuticles that locks in moisture. So, not only does cocoa butter moisturize the nails, but it keeps them hydrated for longer.
The protective barrier also protects the nails and cuticles against outside forces. It helps keep your skin free from dirt, chemicals, and other pollutants.
Check out this article to see how cocoa butter benefits your feet.
Cocoa Butter Is Healing
Breaking your nails is inevitable, everyone does it at some point in their life. Still, cocoa butter will make your nails stronger so they’re less likely to break. It will also repair damaged cells in your nails and cuticles so that they’ll grow back stronger.
Here are some of the wonderful healing properties that cocoa butter contains:
- Lauric acid: kills bacteria and fungus
- Stearic acid: moisturizes and protects the nails
- Vitamin E: protects cells from damage and helps to heal cells that are already damaged
- Vitamin K: heals wounds and swelling
- Palmitoleic acid: promotes healthy nails and moisturization
Exactly How To Use Cocoa Butter For Nails
There are a few different options you can choose for using cocoa butter on your nails. The easiest thing you can do is to apply 100% pure unrefined cocoa butter directly to your nails. Cocoa butter is full of nutrients that make it perfect for use on its own.
You can also buy a product that already has cocoa butter as an ingredient. This is a good option if you want to combine cocoa butter with other ingredients. Be sure to check the ingredients list. Make sure that the product uses unrefined rather than refined cocoa butter.
Lastly, you can create your own cocoa butter concoction. This is my favorite option because you can choose whichever ingredients you like.
I’ve included two of my favorite recipes below.
[mv_create key=”102″ type=”recipe” title=”Cocoa Butter Cuticle Cream” thumbnail=”null”]
It’s recommended that you use this nail cream at least once a day. If you do that, the circulation in your nails will improve, and you should begin to see nail growth.
To use, simply massage a small amount into your cuticles once a day. For best results, do this before bed.
This next recipe is a bit more difficult to create, but the extra steps ensure that it’s super hydrating.
[mv_create key=”103″ type=”recipe” title=”Cocoa Butter Hand Cream” thumbnail=”null”]
To start use, simply moisturize the cream into your hands as you would any moisturizer. You can use this cream as often as needed. For best results, apply this hand cream before bed, and wear gloves to lock in moisture.
Conclusion
No matter what you put your hands through, cocoa butter is likely to help. Weak, brittle fingernails can be frustrating at best, and painful at worst.
Cocoa butter works wonders on the nails. It softens the cuticles and strengthens the nail itself. With regular use, your nails will become stronger and less likely to break or crack.
Discover more wonderful ways to use cocoa butter for feet, face, lips and other skin issues such as dry skin, discoloration, sunburn and wrinkles. You can also find all our cocoa butter guides here.
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