Pic credit: Wendy
Winter can be a challenging time for nails with a drop in temperatures and over-use of heating and hot water, contributing to nail health deteriorating. Follow this advice to ensure yours look and feel their best throughout the chilly season.
Don’t skip the base coat
Nails are better protected with a nourishing base coat. Best applied to prevent nails from discolouring and to withstand daily wear and tear.
File the right way
Avoid filing nails in a back and forth motion. Instead, stick to filing in one smooth stroke, minimising the sawing action and potential fraying or peeling of nails. Make sure nails are trimmed and filed regularly to keep them healthy, much like hair. Opt for gentle nail files and avoid filing deep into the corners as this tends to weaken the nails.
Cover nails at night
Overnight is the best time to treat dry nails, hands and cuticles. Apply a rich treatment cream or oil and ideally protect by wearing gloves to intensify the results.
Invest in a nail strengthener
Nails that are weak, dry and often break need to be treated regularly with a strengthening product. This can either be a topically applied product to penetrate the nail, provide a shield to protect the nail or massaged directly into the root of the nail bed.
Push cuticles gently
Don’t be too harsh on dry cuticles and never cut them (too traumatic and they will grow back thicker). Instead use a gentle cuticle remover to soften the area and enable them to be pushed back carefully.
Don’t forget to buff
Buffing nails regularly is a healthy habit for nails – it not only clears the nail plate of dry build up but also increases the blood flow, essential for healthy nail growth.
Choose your anti-bac wisely
Not all anti-bacterial products are created equal. Look for gentle versions that wont dry out nails and hands plus include natural, essential oils.
Upgrade nail polish remover
Select an acetone-free remover – removers with a high concentration of acetone will be harsh on dry and fragile nails, causing discomfort and drying them out almost instantly. Gentle, acetone-free alternatives not only do the job but leave nails feeling nourished and treated.
Use natural nail polish formulas
Toxic nail polishes affect the nail health, so steer clear of anything that includes nasty ingredients like parabens, formaldehydes and camphor – the nail plate needs to be able to receive air and water, so non-toxic formulation that are porous are the only way to go.
Pic credit: Jess
