What Is a Nail Soak? Everything You Need To Know

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Besides getting regular manicures during spa days, most of us often overlook caring for our nails.

So if you want to do more to maintain your nails’ health, you can do so with nail soaks!

The good news is that nail soaking is simple and provides many benefits for your nails.

This process helps replenish the lost moisture, nourishment, and hydration your nails lose from everyday activities and harsh nail treatments.

But can you do this treatment at home, or do you need to go to a nail salon to get it?

Luckily, nail soaks are accessible and DIY-friendly!

Curious as to how to do nail soaks yourself? Read on because we’ll discuss everything you need to know about them!

What Is a Nail Soak?

Nourishing nail soaks are treatments that are used to keep your nails and the skin around them healthy. 

This process involves dipping your nails and fingers into a nail soak solution that contains many hydrating and nourishing natural ingredients, including natural oils and pantry staples.

They usually moisturize the skin or reinforce your nail’s strength.

They also promote healthy nail growth and help repair damage from harsh nail treatments.

While it mostly benefits people with brittle nails, everyone can reap the positive effects of a fingernail soak. 

Benefits of a Nail Soak

If you want healthy and great-looking nails, you must take good care of them. 

Other than trimming them regularly and applying nail moisturizers, a regular nail soak will work wonders in improving the overall health and appearance of your nails.

Here are some benefits of nail soaking:

Hydrates and Strengthens the Nails

The primary goal of a nail soak is to hydrate your nails.

While we may take our nails for granted, they’re actually exposed to different environmental elements, such as hot weather in the summer or cold weather in the winter, that make them dry and brittle.

On top of this, manicures that involve the use of traditional nail polish, gel polish, or acrylics use chemicals that may dry out the skin. 

The subsequent removal of these products may also require the use of acetone, which can likewise be drying.  

With a nail soak, you can replenish the hydration and moisture your nails lose after getting frequent manicures. By hydrating your nails, a nail soak can restore their natural strength. 

You also use a nail soak for cuticle hydration, keeping them soft and healthy. 

Cleanses the Nail Beds

Yes, nail soaks don’t just hydrate and nourish; they also help you cleanse your nail beds.

Dirt, dead skin cells, and impurities may build up on your nail beds and cuticles. Even if you wash your hands regularly, you may not be able to remove all the gunk from your nails. 

With a nail soak, you can help get rid of such impurities, helping maintain hygiene and the health of your nails. 

This process also helps soften the cuticles, making it easier to push them back for grooming purposes with minimal damage. 

Promotes Better Nail Health

One of the most important benefits of nail soaks is that they help keep your nails in perfect health. 

How? Since regular soaking can keep your nails clean, it can help fight or prevent fungal infections that may occur on your nails. 

Using nail soaks with antifungal and antimicrobial ingredients can also help you get rid of existing infections and prevent them from coming back.

Because fungal infections cause inflammation and discoloration, nail soaks can help prevent these issues as well and keep your nails looking and feeling their best. 

Helps Relieve Stress

Did you know that nail soaks can also help get rid of stress? In a way, nail soaking is a form of pampering, and you can use it to unwind. 

You can soak your nails with essential oils and Epsom salts in warm water. This can help relax your hands and release tension. 

Improves Nail Polish Application

A nail soak does not only improve your nail health, but it can also positively affect the way your future manicures will end up looking.

Doing a nail soak before a manicure can help cleanse your nails, removing dirt and oils that can prevent your nail polish from adhering to the surface of your nails.  

So it helps your polish stick to your nails better, improving the longevity of your mani. 

The Best DIY Nail Soak Recipes To Try

Looking to try a nail soak at home but don’t know where to start? Luckily, homemade nail soaks are easy to create, and the ingredients are not too hard to find. 

Here are some of the best nail soak recipes that you can try out for yourself:

Milk, Eggs, and Honey Nail Soak

If you have weak nails, this nail soak is for you. Brittle nails can be caused by a calcium deficiency, so soaking them in milk that’s rich in calcium can help strengthen them. 

The protein from the egg yolks can help reinforce your nails’ strength, while honey has moisturizing effects that can hydrate your dry and weak nails. 

So all in all, it’s a superb DIY nail soak for stronger nails. 

For this recipe, you will need the following:

• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1 tablespoon of honey

You can simply mix the three ingredients in a bowl for your nail soak, then submerge your nails in this concoction for 10 minutes.

Olive Oil Nail Soak

Another nail soak for strong nails that you can do at home is a warm oil nail soak using olive oil. This one is straightforward, as you only have one ingredient. 

This oil is known to moisturize the skin and nails, and many say it helps the nails retain more moisture, making them stronger and less prone to breaking off. 

To do this DIY nail oil soak, you’ll need to warm up some olive oil, then soak your nails in it for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse well afterward.

Apple Cider Vinegar Nail Soak

If you have a mild fungal nail infection, you can use a nail soak with apple cider vinegar to remedy it.

This is because it has potent antifungal properties that can combat nail fungus effectively. 

To create this DIY nail soak, all you have to do is create a solution made of apple cider vinegar and warm water in a 1:1 ratio.

Soak your nails in this solution for around 10 to 15 minutes. If you have an active fungal nail infection, soak your nails in this solution twice daily until the infection clears up.

Orange and Garlic Nail Soak

Now you may be intimidated by the name of this nail soak, but it’s one of the best homemade nail soaks for nail growth.

It involves the use of two ingredients that can contribute to better and healthier nail growth: orange juice and garlic. 

Orange juice is a rich source of vitamin C, a nutrient that boosts collagen production.

Studies show that increased amounts of collagen in the body can increase the nails’ strength, prevent breakage, and promote nail growth.  

Plus, orange juice is rich in folic acid, which is vital to nail growth because it contributes to red blood cell formation.

These supply oxygen and nutrients to the nails, allowing them to grow stronger. 

Meanwhile, garlic has long been used as a natural nail strengthener thanks to its high selenium content, a mineral crucial to maintaining nail health and supporting nail growth. 

For this nail soak, you’ll need the following:

• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 clove of crushed garlic 

You simply need to mix the two ingredients in a bowl and soak your nails in it.

Keep your nails submerged in the solution for 10 minutes. Let it dry on your skin and nails for another 15 minutes, then rinse it off. 

Apply cuticle oil or moisturizer afterward.

Lemon Juice Nail Soak

Want a DIY nail soak for your cuticles that also nourishes your nails?

Create a nail soak with the juice of a lemon!

Diluted lemon juice is used for its nourishing, cuticle-softening, and nail-whitening effects.

While no studies currently support its ability to soften the cuticles, many believe that its acidity allows it to soften thick, hard cuticles, making them easier to groom. 

Because it contains citric acid, a known bleaching agent, some also claim that lemon juice can dissolve nail stains and brighten the nails. 

For a simple lemon soak, simply mix the following:

• 1 lemon
• 1 warm cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of honey (optional)

Dip your nails into the mixture for around 10 minutes. 

White Vinegar Nail Soak

You can use white vinegar as a nail soak as it provides multiple benefits. 

Like lemon juice, white vinegar is acidic. So it can also help soften your cuticles. 

Additionally, white vinegar is a star when it comes to disinfecting your nails. Many studies have established white vinegar’s potent antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Given such properties, you can use white vinegar nail soaks to aid in fighting fungal or bacterial nail infections and preventing them too. 

To create a white vinegar soak, you need to mix the following:

• 1 part of vinegar
• 1 part water

Because white vinegar is quite acidic, the soak time for this solution is only five minutes. 

However, if you need to use it as a treatment for nail fungus, more commonly toenail fungus, you can soak your nails in diluted white vinegar for around 10 to 15 minutes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are a Nail Soak and a Nail Soak-Off the Same?

No, a nourishing nail and a nail soak-off are not the same. 

A nourishing nail soak aims to help moisturize and nourish the nail and the skin around it. 

On the other hand, nail soak-offs remove acrylic nails, which don’t budge easily. 

So if you want to remove or change them, you’ll need to soak your nails in chemicals like acetone that would lift them off your nails. 

What Other Products Can I Use for Healthier Nails?

Cuticle oils are commonly used to help nails become healthier as they work well to replenish the moisture in your nails. 

They’re directly applied onto the nails, usually during a manicure or after removing nail polish, gel, and acrylics.

You can also take supplements for healthier nails. The most common ones people take include collagen and biotin.

How Long Should You Soak Your Nails?

This depends on the nail soak solution you’re using. 

For most nail soaks, you can submerge your nails in them anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes. If the solution is notably acidic, like white vinegar, the best time is 5 minutes.

However, remember not to soak your nails beyond 20 minutes.

Too much water can make your nails swell. When they dry back up, they’ll shrink and even become brittle.  

Pamper Your Nails With Nail Soaks

We take our nails and fingers for granted. With this, it might be time to start paying more attention to it and give them more tender love and care.

You can start at home to do this by regularly treating your nails to a wonderful nail soak. 

These nourishing solutions can provide the much-needed rehydration and added nutrition your nails need.

So what are you waiting for? Try out one of these incredible homemade nail soaks and see the difference it can make for your nail health. 

Want To Learn More About Healthier Products for Your Nails?

Check out these articles:

• 5 Best Alternatives to Acrylic Nails (Healthier + Less Damaging)
• Water-Based Nail Polish: The Healthier Alternative
• 7 Best Peel-Off Nail Polish Products + Tips and Tricks for Use