Nail Soaks Are a Nail Guru’s Best Secret for Stronger Nails

If you want longer, stronger nails, there’s one person you know you can trust: Cristine Rotenberg, A.K.A. Simplynailological, A.K.A. Holo Taco founder. A nail polish aficionado and the hand model for countless polish swatches, Rotenberg has to take nail care seriously. Ahead, her recipe for nails that grow long and strong!

Nail Soaks for Longer, Stronger Nails

“Nail soaks! If you can do them at least once a week, I think that will really help your nail game,” Rotenberg says in a YouTube short. “You take your nail oil and load it up, preferably on naked nails, and then you put on a latex glove, or a glove that will not allow the oil to seep out.”

She recommends wearing the nail soak for about thirty minutes.

“These sort of gloves trap moisture, so you don’t want to be wearing them for too long,” Rotenberg notes. “After about a half hour to an hour, you’ll see the oil is still obvious and my nails are much more flared out. That’s because the oil has thoroughly soaked into the nail plate and spread it out a little bit.”

Once the latex or rubber glove comes off, Rotenberg swaps it for a cotton glove to help wick away the excess oil while giving her nails a little longer to soak up the good stuff.

“This step is not necessary, but I find if you want to sleep with your nail soak, then cotton gloves, which are much more breathable, is smarter,” she notes.

All About Nail Oil

Nail oil or cuticle oil moisturizes the nail plate and surrounding skin. Usually powered by natural oils like coconut, avocado, grapeseed or jojoba oil, these products also commonly incorporate good-for-nails ingredients like squalane and vitamin E.

Moisturized nails are less likely to become brittle and experience breaks or tears. Using a nail soak encourages a deeper penetration of the nail oil into your nail plate. Additionally, these oils help seal in moisture and prevent transepidermal water loss, which keeps your skin and nails hydrated.

What You Need

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Jojoba oil powers this nail and cuticle oil formula, delivered in a convenient mess-free pen.

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Made in small batches in Brooklyn, New York, this cuticle oil is infused with tea tree and lavender for a gorgeous scent and powered by argan, avocado oil and vitamin E for stronger nails.

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These non-latex gloves are the perfect choice for a nail soak. Sealing in your nail oil for maximum absorption, these gloves avoid potential latex allergies.