This Sesame Oil, Myrrh, and Lavender Bath Will Revive Your Nails

In the discussion of hair, skin, and nails, it’s been my experience that “nails” are often the first of the beauty trifecta to be neglected. The cultural expression “bad hair day” exists for a reason, after all– people are obsessed with having strong, healthy hair and perfect skin to match (that’s why sitcoms and films always make it seem like having a blemish is the worse thing that can happen to you before a first date…)

Nails, however, are a different story. No one talks about having a “bad cuticle day” while freaking out that their nails aren’t up to snuff for a big event– yet all day we bombard our nails with abrasion by exposing them to the cold, difficult-to-open containers, tape, dish soap, and other substances that we feel compelled to scratch, peel, and pick. As a result, most of our nail beds could use some affection– and not the toxic kind of affection that comes in the form of a manicure, which is often as damaging as it is pretty (especially when it comes to gel manicures; aestheticians should also never file the top of your nail beds to get a smoother finish– this is very damaging to the cuticle).

This homemade DIY nail bath is a recipe that blends Ayurvedic principles with holistic herbalism to enrich the nails and leave them feeling renewed. We use sesame oil, myrrh, and lavender for our mix, but you can adjust the proportions according to preference.

Sesame oil is is known as “the queen of oils”– it’s mentioned in the Vedas (the most ancient Hindu scriptures) and can be used by all three doshas (or “energies”– meaning that no matter if your skin tends to be dry, oily, or combination, this oil will suit you well). As such, we use it as the base for our nail soak and add 2-3 drops of myrrh essential oil (which actively moisturizes nails beds and cuticles to help strengthen, protect and prevent nails from splitting), as well as 2-5 drops of lavender essential oil (lavender is is soothing to the senses and has been shown to prevent fungal infection in nails beds, which is an ideal treatment if you’ve just trimmed your cuticles.)

Simply mix about 1/4 cup sesame oil with (2-3) and (2-5) drops of myrrh and lavender oils, respectively to create a “nail bath”. Wash your hands, using a nail brush to remove any excess dirt from under your cuticles, and soak nails in the mixture for 10-15 minutes. (We recommending watching a youtube video or doing a meditation of this length while you soak.)

After the time has passed, avoid washing hands directly and thoroughly dry fingers with a warm, damp towel (try not to excessively rub your nails, however, as this will remove some excess oil that may continue to absorb). Repeat this soak at least once a week for maximum benefit, and in about 3-4 weeks you’ll notice visibly stronger, shinier nails (to match your perfect hair and skin).