Last Updated on January 8, 2023 by Diane Hoffmaster

Tired of hiding your hands from people because of ugly nails and cracked cuticles? This DIY cuticle butter is just what you need! My nails take a beating just about every day. Whether it’s washing the dishes or gardening, I’m busy and have very little time to deal with keeping my nails pretty. I don’t tend to wear nail polish except on my toes but I still want healthy fingernails. The trick to keeping your nails and cuticles healthy is to pamper them with moisture-rich ingredients.

This DIY cuticle balm with essential oil is simple to make and nourishing for your nails and cuticles. Sure, you could just rub them with straight coconut oil or jojoba oil but the rich ingredients in this cuticle balm will make your spa nail day even more amazing!

Table of Contents

Cuticle Care Tips

Before you start rubbing in this homemade cuticle butter, you need to realize that it isn’t some miracle cream. You need to follow a few basic cuticle care tips regularly if you want truly healthy cuticles. Here are a few tips for taking care of that sensitive part of your fingernails!

Don’t Cut Your Cuticles! This could lead to infection!
Push your cuticles back gently with a wooden orange stick
Avoid Rough Manicurists. Be very careful who you choose to do your nails!
Avoid harsh chemicals. Wear gloves when you wash dishes and look for a gentle nail polish remover.
Moisturize with cuticle cream or butter

Dry Cuticles and Vitamin Deficiency

If your cuticles are in very bad shape, you may want to have a talk with your doctor. Severely dry and damaged cuticles may indicate a vitamin deficiency. Both vitamin A and zinc deficiency can result in xerosis (severely dry skin, cuticles included). Biotin deficiency can increase the risk of fungal nail infections and subsequent nail plate discoloration. Talk to your doctor if you think your nails look particularly unhealthy.

How to Make Cuticle Balm

This homemade cuticle cream is incredibly inexpensive to make but goes for a small fortune if you buy it online. With only a few simple ingredients and about 15 minutes, you can pamper your nails at home and save your pennies for nail polish to put on them!

Once your homemade cuticle butter has hardened, just scoop up a tiny bit and massage it into the cuticle and surrounding area. It is great for the nails themselves as well as the surrounding skin so be as liberal with your application as you want.

Put it on every night at bedtime and you will soon have beautiful nails and cuticles.

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Store your DIY cuticle butter in a cool, dark place and it should last for at least a year. The recipe makes only a small amount but it will last quite a while.

I doubled the recipe below and got enough to keep one in the medicine cabinet, put one in my purse, and even give one to my daughter. It was perfect for a fun nail day together. Check out our fun nail art for more nail inspiration.

DIY Cuticle Butter for Nails You’ll Love to Show Off

Supplies Needed

1 tbsp beeswax
2 tbsp shea butter
5 drops of orange essential oil*
2 to 3 drops cinnamon or clove oil*
3 drops of Vitamin E oil
small glass jars (You can re-purpose things you have at home as well. Mint tins, etc.)

(NOTE: You can leave off the essential oils or replace them with whatever scents you personally enjoy. They are really just to make it smell pretty.

If you are having problems with nail fungus, add a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. It is a great anti-fungal and will help clear up your nail infection)

Directions:

In a small pan, heat a few inches of water to boiling and remove it from the heat
Add the beeswax and shea butter into a small mason jar and place in the hot water. Swirl occasionally until the ingredients melt.
Add the essential oils and Vitamin E oil. Swirl gently to mix
Pour mixture into a small jar and let solidify
To use, just scrape out a bit and massage onto nails, cuticles, and surrounding skin.

Print out the ingredients and directions below and make this DIY cuticle butter whenever you notice dry cuticles are a problem! Love DIY Beauty Products? Pamper those rough feet with this DIY Gingerbread Sugar Scrub!