The Difference

Welcome! My name is Kristie and I am the owner of Mani Chic Nails! I have been obsessed with all thing nails for a couple of decades. I was licensed as a Nail Tech 20ish years ago but marrying into the Navy and having 4 kids helped find me as a stay-at-home mom (a job I have cherished).

Being a devoted nail biter and seeing the damage and skin issues that can be caused by the heavy use of nail products (and aging quite honestly), I knew there had to be something that could be incorporated into my routine to help. Cuticle oil isn’t anything new and a quality one isn’t hard to find. I did, however, start to wonder if there was something, in this new day of essential oil and herb knowledge, that could be added to increase the benefits, not just improving cuticle health, but nail health too. I started scouring the internet looking for oils, and combinations of things that had been proven to increase nail and skin health. That’s where I discovered an amazing herb called Equisetum arvense, or Horsetail, and all of the benefits this silica-rich herb has to offer. Further, as I educated myself on extracts, carrier oils, and all things related, I learned about the overwhelming benefits of taking the time to actually infuse your carrier oils with the physical herbs rather than adding bottled extract to your recipes (these extracts also contain alcohol).

After educating myself about ingredients and additives, researching sites like EWG.org  and looking through extensive Consumer safety information, I decided it was time to start looking harder at the products I was using on myself and my family. Some of the safety ratings on these things were alarming! While I am far from perfect at always choosing the absolute healthiest options, I can stop blindly plucking things off the shelf and checking out. This led me to start making my own body butters and then hair and body mists. When hand making these items

So this is what I do. I have seen the difference and hopefully, you will too! There are a lot of great oil companies out there. I am hoping this one will be added to your list of favorites. I am always here to answer questions about ingredients, offer fragrance input, and with mani advice too!

Our jojoba oil has been infused with silica rich horsetail and is preserved with a very high quality Vitamin e oil.

Benefits of Horsetail: contains silica which aids in the growth and strength of our nails. It has the antioxidant benefits of anti-aging and calming and soothing the skin and the anti-inflammatory benefits for acne and irritation. Horsetail can help heal rashes, burns, and wounds thanks to its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. One study published in the Journal of Plastic Dermatology found that using horsetail topically on nails reduced splitting and fragility of nails as well as reduced longitudinal grooves. (Sparavigna, Adele & Setaro, Michele & Genet, Margherita & Frisenda, Linda. (2006). Equisetum arvense in a new transungual technology improves nail structure and appearance. Journal of Plastic Dermatology.)

Benefits of Vitamin E: “The Skin Vitamin,” is an antioxidant and a nutrient that is best known for maintaining skin health and for strengthening immunity. Research suggests that vitamin E supplementation can prevent yellow nail syndrome, which causes peeling, cracked, and yellowing nails. Vitamin E oil's moisturizing benefits may also support nail health by preventing cracked cuticles and dry skin around the nail bed. Vitamin E oil contains antioxidants, which protect your nails from aging and turn its color from yellow to healthy. Nail polish and acetone are very harmful and damaging to your nails and cuticles, vitamin E oil is the perfect repair for that problem.