Natural Nail Care for Moms & Girls

Strong and healthy nails are often a reflection of good self-care. However, pretty nails can be hard to achieve when life is busy. Try these natural nail care tips to help your nails look beautiful, no matter where life takes you. In this post, we’ll explore easy and effective ways to take care of your fingernails and toenails.

As a mom to three girls, I’ve had plenty of experience with at-home manicures and pedicures. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate nail care and beauty brands that prioritize healthy ingredients. More and more nail polish brands are avoiding harsh chemicals, making it easier to choose safer options. Even cuticle oils often have nourishing ingredients such as coconut and safflower oil. Opting for products with natural ingredients is a simple yet effective way to keep nails healthy and strong!

Natural Moisturizer

Of course, maintaining soft and healthy skin is the first step of a nice manicure. To care for my hands and cuticles, I like to use a few drops of natural oil. Moisturizers with ingredients such as coconut oil, safflower oil, or shea butter can provide deep hydration. Alternately, I often check labels to avoid fillers like petrolatum and mineral oil. A bit of natural nail care goes a long way towards keeping hands smooth and nourished.

One of my favorite moisturizers for hands is Java Skin Care hand serum. It’s packed with nourishing ingredients such as safflower oil, organic green coffee, and essential oils. To use, I apply a drop to each fingertip, gently massaging it into my cuticles and nails. If needed, I first push back my cuticles with an orange stick for a polished look. Keeping my cuticles healthy makes such a difference in how my nails look! I love teaching my daughters the same simple nail care routine.

Homemade Cuticle Balm

Try this nourishing homemade cuticle balm to give your nails the care they deserve. Dry, cracked cuticles can make nails look unhealthy, but a moisturizing balm helps keep them soft and hydrated. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, this DIY cuticle balm a great way to soothe dry cuticles.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. shea butter
• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. jojoba oil
• 1 tsp. beeswax pellets

Instructions

To make homemade cuticle balm, combine the shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and beeswax pellets in a ramakin. Melt the ingredients in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Once the beeswax pellets are fully liquified, give the cuticle balm one last stir and pour it into a small container with a lid. Allow the homemade cuticle balm to fully set before screwing on the lid.

To use, dab a bit of the homemade cuticle balm onto each fingertip, massaging it into your cuticles. For extra care, you can soften dry cuticles and gently push them back with an orange stick. Your nails will look and feel healthier in no time.

Buffing Nails

Alternately, buffing your fingernails is an easy and natural way to improve their appearance. A nail buffer is convenient to bring in your purse or cosmetic bag, whether you’re running errands or traveling.

Gently buffing each nail helps increase the blood circulation to the nail bed. Because of this, buffing can encourage fingernails to grow longer. Additionally, buffing your nails smooths out ridges and gives polish a smoother surface to stick to. If you prefer a more natural look, buffing can give your nails a beautiful, glossy shine without the need for polish!

Natural Nail Care Products

As mentioned, many nail care brands are offering more and more non-toxic products. The polishes are often described as 3-free, 9-free, and 15-free. These numbers refer to excluding the harshest chemicals commonly found in nail polish formulas. I’ve tried several different brands of chemical free nail polish over the years.

Olive & June

Olive & June is one of my favorite nail care brands, which offers a complete system for beautiful, healthy nails. I especially love their 15-free nail polish. It comes in a stunning variety of colors. I’ve tried both the quick-dry and long-lasting formulas. Each one delivers a smooth, gorgeous finish!

I also purchased the Olive & June Mani System for salon-perfect nails at home. It’s been a game-changer! Each item in the set is incredibly useful for nail care. The Poppy provides a steady grip for precise polish application, after you perfect the edges of your nails with the clipper, nail file, and cuticle serum. Use the nail buffer to smooth the surface of your nails, creating the perfect base for polish, and tidy any mistakes with the clean-up brush. The remover pot makes polish removal a breeze. This system includes everything you need for a flawless, at-home manicure!

Piggy Paint

This next brand on our list was developed for little girls. Piggy Paint nail polish comes in a variety of bright colors and even scents! Piggy Paint’s SOPHi line of polish offers more sophisticated hues and shimmers. Created by a mom, Piggy Paint nail polish offers little girls all the fun of painting their nails, without the chemicals. Tweens and teens will also enjoy using these eco-friendly, water-based, non-toxic polishes.

Piggy Paint is easy to apply and remove, making it perfect for kids to practice painting their own nails. The only downside is its lack of durability — it comes off quickly. However, for little girls who love switching their nail colors often, this can actually be a fun feature! For longer-lasting wear, simply add a top coat of clear polish.

When my daughter Kiera was three, she loved painting her nails with Piggy Paint. Kiera had so much fun picking out shades of pink, purple, and blue. She often matched her nails to her dresses, hair bows, and accessories.

Overall, Piggy Paint offers a variety of bright and sparkly nail polish colors, perfect for little girls who love to express themselves. Made in the USA, this kid-friendly nail polish is water-based, non-toxic, and free from harsh chemicals. It dries quickly, although it takes a bit longer to fully cure. Safe, colorful, and fun natural nail care — Piggy Paint is as natural as mud!

I hope these natural nail care tips help you achieve beautiful nails! If you have any manicure or pedicure tips of your own, please share them in the comments!

Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!