Miracle Oil Manicure
How to have stronger, healthier and hydrated nails by using the versatile and beneficial Macadamia nut oil
by Melissa Collins
It takes only three to five seconds to make a first impression, and a greeting almost always involves a handshake. That’s where having cared-for hands and well-manicured nails are of vital importance for men and women alike. Remember: Your hands are always on display.
Stop and think for a moment about your hands, all they do for you in a day. You are constantly using them, and most of us manage to neglect the very simple nail care that not only makes an impact socially but, more importantly, neglecting them can cause some mildly painful issues such as hang nails to more serious problems like nail fungus.
Common nail problems can be prevented or reversed by taking just a few extra minutes once a week. Your hands and nails will thank you for the extra attention, and in no time they will be stronger, healthier and hydrated.
There are many great things about living in Guatemala, one of them being that we have an abundance of what I like to call the “miracle oil.” You may know it by its common name — macadamia nut oil. This oil can be used for many things, although I mainly use it for its skin and hair-care benefits. Macadamia nut oil is almost perfect in its composition; it contains the highest amount of palmitoleic acid (an Omega 7 fatty acid) of any plant that research has proven helps skin retain its youthful appearance. When we are young palmitoleic acid is plentiful in our skin, but as we age it decreases. Also, because of its high count of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, the oil is able to mimic our skin’s natural sebum, which allows for easy absorption and can even provide relief for sunburn, wounds and irritations. Our hands are one area where we begin to show the signs of aging first, therefore this light, non-greasy oil is your ideal choice for replacing lost vital oils and increasing suppleness.
Give yourself a mini “miracle” manicure at home by following these simple steps.
- Begin by removing any old nail polish; in corners you may use an orangewood stick with a bit of cotton soaked in polish remover.
- Clip your nails straight across to the length you prefer then file in one direction, gently rounding the corners.
- Prepare a small bowl of warm water with a few drops of macadamia nut oil and soak your hands for five minutes.
- Using the angled side of your orangewood stick, gently push back your cuticles. There is no need to cut your cuticles. Clean under the nail with the pointy side of the stick.
- Apply a small drop of macadamia nut oil to each finger at the cuticle, gently massaging into the whole nail area, moving up the fingers to the hand. (If applying nail polish, be sure to remove the oil of the nail bed with a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover.)
If you like, you can apply nail polish to your nails, making sure always to use a base coat to protect your nails from discoloration, followed by two coats of your chosen color and a top coat. If you find your nail polish just doesn’t last, then try a gel polish manicure; you can have perfect nails for up to 20 days. It’s great for those who have soft or brittle nails, giving the nails extra strength allowing the nails to grow longer.
Be confident the next time you shake hands, pick up that glass or wave hello. You will know that your hands look great and are healthy too.
Contact Melissa at Golden Studio at 4937-0244 or email: info@goldenstudioantigua.com
Direct contact for macadamia nut oil: exvalhalla@gmail.com or tels: 7831-5799, 5671-9530