5 Tips For Keeping Nails Nice During Winter

Temps are dropping and while you may be abreast on how to handle your skin for winter weather, did you know that your nails need special maintenance too? 

Skyy Hadley (owner of As “U” Wish Nail Spa) gives her top 5 tips for taking care of your tips:


Condition Your Cuticles
The best way to ensure hydration is to exfolliate the hands and condition the cuticles to keep them soft. I recommend softening cuticles before you get in shower: load your hands with a cuticle oil, face oil or Vaseline and then rub in when you get in to the shower. The steam will help penetrate the oil/Vaseline into dry and cracked nails and skin.  (Even lip balm works as well when you’re in a pinch). Do not use a loofah as the product will get lost within the holes, be sure to use hand-on-hand action that way you utilize the product thoroughly.  Always focus on cuticle around the nails and gently massage in – those who are in a rush for time can apply dot by dot by dot.

Give Yourself A Spa Manicure to Maintain Strength
Take one cup of regular oatmeal and ½ cup of regular milk and heat up over the stove. Stir until cooked, add sugar to thicken the mixture, and then let cool a bit.  When the mix is thickened, apply to hands and feet.  Leave on for 5-10 minutes. The oatmeal soothes dry, itchy skin, and the milk acts as an exfoliant to help get rid of dry and dead skin cells. Finish off with pure shea butter as a moisturizer or a product that contains shea butter.
 
Your Nail Splits, Cracks Or Tears On The Edge
Bitter, cold temperature makes it easy to snap a nail. If this happens, drop a small amount of nail glue on the nail where it is damaged, then lay a tiny piece of facial tissue over the nail glue.  Let the nail glue dry and gently buff to smooth.  The benefit of using tissue rather than fabric is that when the tissue dries over the glue, it will become clear.  If you use a fabric, like silk, you will see the individual stitches in fabric.

Buff Nail Beds When Necessary
Winter weather calls for dry skin and nail beds. Carry a nail buffer around with you just in case of emergencies. Keep one in your purse or at your desk. A quick buff will add shine and perfection and will give your nails that freshly-manicured look in seconds!

Keep Hands & Feet MOIST!
Products that are petroleum based counteract the drying effects on skin during cold temperatures.  For an at-home version of my special spa treatments, I suggest slathering a petroleum-based product such as Vaseline or Aquaphor on hands and feet, then covering them with a plastic baggy (use small for hands and large for feet).  Soak covered hands and feet in a comfortably moist hot towel for five minutes.  The heat will help the moisturizer penetrate the skin.  Then, simply remove the baggies, wipe off the excess product, and massage the rest into your hands and feet for soft, smooth, supple skin.