Nail slugging is the latest TikTok trend, and yes, it basically just uses cuticle oil

Nail slugging is the latest TikTok trend, and yes, it basically just uses cuticle oil

Nail trends on TikTok are a dime a dozen these days (looking at you, glazed donut nails), but the latest trend is hardly new. TikTokers use cuticle oil and/or moisture-sealing products like Aquaphor ointment and petroleum jelly to condition their cuticles, and they call it “nail slugging.” While the practice isn't exactly revolutionary, it's the ticket to soft, supple nails and skin.

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Nail slugging (or cuticle slugging) follows the same methodology as other types of slugging, a South Korean skin care technique that has taken the world by storm in recent years. The process involves "coating your skin with a thick ointment-based or petroleum-based moisturizer as the final step in your bedtime skincare routine," Neda Mehr, MD, board-certified dermatologist in Newport Beach, California and medical director at Pure Dermatology Cosmetic & Hair Center, previously told Shape. The end result? Dewy, almost glass-like skin thanks to the moisturizing elements of these emollient (softening) products.

As TikTokers have discovered, the same logic applies to your nails, especially if your hands are feeling particularly dry, flaky, and irritated. If the skin around your nails (aka your nail bed) is lacking moisture, your fingernails are probably feeling it too. "Nails are like a sponge—when they're dehydrated, they're hard and can break and become brittle," Elle Gerstein, a celebrity nail stylist, previously told Shape. This can lead to hangnails (annoying pieces of skin that grow around the actual fingernail), dry, damaged skin, and/or nails that feel weak.

This is where nail slugging comes in, as TikTokers including @lovefreshpaint have demonstrated on the app. The process itself is simple and the benefit is great, especially if you regularly “beat” your nails before bed.

Most users start by applying a drop or two of cuticle oil to the skin around each nail and massaging it into each nail bed. You'll want to find an oil with ultra-hydrating vitamin E or jojoba oil for maximum moisture replenishment, which Gerstein previously recommended. Then, “slug” with the occlusive (a product that creates a barrier on the surface of the skin to lock in moisture) of your choice, such as petroleum jelly or Aquaphor healing ointment, and massage it into each fingertip.

Not only is the trend approved by dermatologists (check out the OG Nail Slugging video shared in March 2022 by self-proclaimed "derm doc" Charles Puza, MD, aka @drcharlesmd), but it's also a quick and easy way to bring moisture back to peeling, chipped nails, and dry, sensitive skin. If you do this regularly, your nails will look and feel healthy, supple and strong. It's a game changer when the weather is harsh and dry and when you rely on acrylate-based nail products such as acrylic paints, tips/extensions and gel manis as these can be hard on your nails and nail beds.

Hair slugging can be the solution to shinier, healthier hair

ICYDK, your nails actually provide insight into your overall health. So if you have noticed changes in their color, shape and/or texture recently, you may want to contact your doctor. Sudden changes in your nails and skin can indicate a variety of health problems, including thyroid disease, lung disease, kidney disease, iron deficiency, chronic dehydration, or a vitamin B7 deficiency, Salar Parvini, DC, holistic skin care expert and founder of Saffron & Sage Skincare, previously told Shape. Of course, changes can just be genetic or a normal, natural consequence of aging, so there's no reason to panic. Your doctor will help you rule out underlying medical conditions if you are concerned.

But if you're just dealing with regular dry cuticles, try nail slugging. Your cuticles will thank you for the love. (Next: How to Use Essential Nail Care Tools for Perfect DIY Manicures)