Hand and Nail Care

Try a few of these recipes for soft and beautiful hands. Daily moisturizing and a weekly manicure is essential to keep hands looking their best!

Basic Manicure Instructions

Remove any old nail polish.
Shape nails. Remember to only file in one direction towards the center of the nail.
Soften cuticle. Soak nails in a cleansing bath made from a 1/4 teaspoon of liquid castile soap and warm water.
Dry fingertips.
Apply cuticle remover.
Loosen cuticle. Use a cuticle pusher to remove any dead cuticle on the nail without scratching the nail plate. Push the cuticle back with a wet wash cloth.
Clean under free edge of nail. Use an orange wood stick or cuticle pusher. Wrap a small amount of cotton from a cotton ball onto the end. Dip it into the cleansing bath and clean under the nail.
Bleach under free edges of nails. With a cotton tipped orangewood stick. apply hydrogen peroxide under nails.
Apply cuticle oil or cream around the sides and base of the nail-massage in gently.
Cleanse nails again, using a nail brush and dry thoroughly.
If desired, polish. Apply one coat of base, two coats of polish, and top coat.
After nail polish is dry or if not used, apply hand lotion from fingertips to wrist.

With practice, your hands and nails will be as good as any professional manicurist could do for you.

	1 tablespoon beeswax
	1 tablespoon shea butter
	1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
	1 tablespoon honey
	1/2 teaspoon rosehip seed oil (or contents of liquid vitamin c capsules)
	5 capsules of vitamin E (contents of capsules)
	2 drops lemon essential oil
	2 drops sandalwood essential oil
	2 drops rose geranium essential oil

Instructions: Melt beeswax, shea butter, and wheat germ oil in double boiler. Remove from heat and whisk in honey, rosehiip seed oil, and vitamin E. Continue to whisk until cool. When almost set stir in essential oils. Store in widemouthed jar.

Cocoa butter can be used in place of shea butter.

	1 teaspoon coconut oil
	1/2 teaspoon wheat germ oil
	1 tablespoon shea butter
	1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
	15 drops grapefruit seed extract
	2 capsules of vitamin E or 1/2 teaspoon
	6 drops lavender essential oil
	6 drops rose geranium essential oil

Instructions: Melt coconut and wheat germ oils with shea butter and remove from the heat. Mix glycerin and grapefruit seed extract and set aside. Whisk vitamin E into glycerin mixture. Whisk all ingredients together until cooled.

Mango butter can be used in place of Shea butter.

	2 ounces (56.7 g) grated soap
	8 ounces (227 g) water
	20 drops tangerine essential oil

Instructions: Melt soap in water, stirring gently. Cool and add essential oil. Put in container-shake occasionally.

	1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
	1 cup warm water
	2 drops fragrance or essential oil of choice

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Dangle nails in solution for 15 minutes and pat dry. Use this twice a week until nails are white, then once a week for maintenance.

	1/2 cup distilled water
	1/8 teaspoon borax
	1/3 sweet almond oil
	1 tablespoon liquid lanolin
	1 teaspoon coconut oil
	1 tablespoon beeswax
	15 drops raspberry fragrance oil

Instructions: Melt borax in heated distilled water. Separately melt the beeswax and add the oils and lanolin. Stir this mixture until well blended. Add water mixture to oil mixture, one teaspoon at a time. Stir constantly until creamy and room temperature. Add the fragrance oil and put into desired container.

	2 tablespoons beeswax
	3 teaspoons cocoa butter
	2 teaspoons coconut oil
	2 tablespoons liquid paraffin
	2 teaspoons glycerin
	1/2 teaspoon borax
	2 tablespoons boiling water
	essential oil with desired fragrance or other properties (lavender, rose, peppermint...)

Instructions: Put wax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil into the three heatproof containers (glass custard cups would work). Cover bottom of pan with a shallow amount of water and bring to a boil. Put the containers into same and lower heat. Simmer for 5 minutes until melted.; Pour these ingredients into the mixing bowl. Simmer in water also. Add the parafin and glycerin. Stir until creamy.; Mix the borax into the two tablespoons of boiling water to dissolve. Add this to the creamy mixture and stir.; Remove from heat and stir in 4 drops of essential oil.; Push mixture through sieve for smoother texture. Cool.; Spoon into the glass jar.

Store in a wide mouth jar for easier access to the cream.

	1/4 teaspoon borax
	1/4 cup rosewater (or calendula infusion)
	1/4 cup glycerin
	2 tablespoons witch hazel
	1 tablespoon almond oil

Instructions: Melt borax in the rosewater or infusion over low heat. Put the remaining ingredients into a bottle, add the liquid solution, and shake until blended.

	1/4 cup pineapple
	1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
	2 teaspoons canola oil
	2 teaspoons honey
	1 egg yolk

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in blender. Immediately apply to hands, especially on nails and cuticles. Put on plastic gloves for 15 minutes. Rinse hands with warm water.

This recipe makes a 1/2 cup. Any leftover mixture can be remixed and used the next day.

Instructions: Mix all ingredients. Soak nails in warm water for 10 minutes and dry. Massage treatment lotion into hands and feet, concentrating on nails and cuticles.

If you don't have vitamin E oil, try opening some capsules. About four should do it.