We all know that winter can wreak havoc on our skin – but on our nails? You betcha! The cold weather outside and the dry heat inside can turn your nails brittle as you, groundhog-like, poke your head out this time of year to check for spring’s arrival.
The colder the air, the rougher the skin around your nails becomes. As it hardens, it slowly begins to split, hangnails become a constant, and nails, as a result, become ridgy and uneven.
But all is not lost. With a little bit of care and love, your nails will be ready to embrace the cool colors of the upcoming season.
1. Give your hands and nails a good scrub. This will help get rid of dead, hardened skin. Scrub gently – remember that you are not removing grease from the stove. In circular motions, start with the back of your hands and slowly make your way down to the nail beds. With your thumb, massage the nails and cuticles of each finger. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Try a vitamin-infused scrub such as Yes to Carrots Feel the C Pampering Spa Manicure ($14.99). The carrot seed oil, fresh carrots, pumpkin and dead sea salts remove dead skin and leave your hands silky and nourished.
2. Give your hand some much-needed moisture. Choose a cream – not a lotion – specially formulated for hands. These are usually jam-packed with hydrating agents and are quickly absorbed by the skin. Also, go for creams that contain healthy amounts of antioxidants – these will help stave off aging. Squeeze a small amount onto fingertips and rub hands together until cream is a bit warm (this will give the moisturizing ingredients a boost). Once it’s warm, pat the back of your hands and fingers until absorbed. By patting – instead of rubbing – you’ll keep your skin from being pulled in opposite directions and losing some of its desired tautness. Try Aveda’s Hand Relief ($19)- it’s rich in emollients, humectants, and antioxidants.
3. Give your cuticles some TLC. They work full-time to keep foreign agents from penetrating your body, so you know they deserve it. Never cut them – this is an open invitation to microbes and infection (plus, it instigates cuticles to growth faster). Push them back gently with an Orange Stick and remove excess with a moist cloth. Provide them with a daily dose of moisture with a cuticle cream or oil. This usually comes in pen form and is easy to apply directly to cuticles. Once applied, let it sit for a full minute before massaging into the cuticles. Try Hand Perfection’s Nail & Cuticle Treatment ($22). With tons of fortifying omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and E, this oil will restore moisture to your cuticles with just a few swipes.
4. Go au naturel for a week or so. I’m not talking the full Monty here, but give your nails a break from polishes and darker winter colors. They can stain your nails- which are made of keratin and thus not immune to color changes – and cause unsightly yellowing to occur. Restore some of your nails natural brightness by soaking biweekly in a safe, brightening agent. These, unlike bleaching, do not eat away at the keratin but simply lift some of the stain away from the nail. Try Talika’s Instant Manicure Instant Whitening And Coating Oxygen Treatment ($33). Like an Alka-Seltzer for your nails, this purifying, cleansing, and effervescing power thoroughly whitens nails while providing a bright, protective coating on the nail surface.
5. Give your nail room to breath – and some reinforcement at the same time. Drop your ordinary base coat and substitute it for one with strengthening properties (such as Duri’s Rejuvacote ($12)- its formula contains soy and wheat protein as well as keratin to help your nails grow stronger and healthier). This will allow your nails to breath while providing them with vitamins and minerals imperative for healthy growth and strength. Apply a coat on clean dry nails and reapply after 2 days. In about a week, removed it with a gentle, non-abrasive polish remover and apply a fresh coat. In about 2 weeks you’ll notice much stronger and smoother nails.
How about you? What are you doing to make sure your nails will be healthy this spring?
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