You know the saying, “You always want what you can’t have?” Well hi, hello! My name is Chloe and I’ve always wanted long nails. Too bad I’ve spent a lifetime biting mine off.
But about a year ago I had a meeting that, not to be dramatic, changed my life. It was with Cindy Capobianco, the co-founder of CBD brand Lord Jones. While going over the brand’s newest slate of creams and treats, Cindy explained how their body lotion was good for relaxing aches, pains, and muscle strains. Tangentially she added that a friend of hers used the lotion as a nightly bedside hand cream, and after only a few uses this person started to grow longer, healthier nails. I didn’t really care about the pain relief. But as a means to grow long nails? Now that would make me feel good.
I wasted no time at all to incorporate the lotion into my routine. Every weeknight I rub one pump into my hands right before I go to bed. Even though it wasn’t made specifically for hands, it’s pretty much the ideal hand cream—it dries instantly without leaving a film or residue. And though it took a few weeks to kick in when I first started using it, I’m happy to report that what once was brittle is now strong!
A year later and back in the office, my co-workers Ali and Ashley were a bit skeptical about the provenance of my new healthier nails. “CBD is not strengthening your nails,” they literally told me. Perhaps it was another ingredient? Inside the lotion is glycerin, which is commonly found in nail hardeners because of its ability to strengthen. I definitely think glycerin might be partially responsible for my nail growth, but I use a number of glycerin products in my routine and have never seen results like this.
My running theory now is that a combination of glycerin and CBD is the magic nail-hardening formula. Celebrity nail artist Elizabeth Garcia agrees that I’m on to something. “CBD oil used in manicures is healthy for nails because it contains fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that help regain the strength in weak thin nails,” says Garcia. “It helps them restore their shine and strength, leaving them healthy if done consistently.”
CBD, the acronym for cannabidiol, is derived from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant. CBD will not get you high (the THC content is too low), but it will give you a sufficient dose of fatty acids like omega-3 and -6, which help work to maintain healthy nails and hair.
Nails aside, the lotion also smells pretty nice? I personally enjoy the musky fragrance, but admittedly, it can be overpowering for some. To that end, Lord Jones also offers a fragrance-free formula—equally perfect for sensitive skin and sensitive noses. But whether you’re a nail biter like me or you’re just looking to dip your toe in the CBD pond, I highly recommend this lotion as your next hand cream. It might just turn you into a nail model. Or, at the very least, it'll get you feeling good.
—Chloe Hall
Photo via ITG
