Winter hand & nail care - my top 5 Tips

With real-feel temperatures as low as -6'C, there's no denying that winter has arrived in full force. Just like your body, your hands and nails require special winter care too. Here are a few quick and easy tips to ensure healthy happy hands, nails and cuticles during winter:

1) Moisturise!
You can never moisturise enough in winter. Make sure you use a good handcream at least 3x per day. Look for lotions that contain urea—a humectant that helps hold moisture in the skin. At night, rub on cuticle oil (in a pinch, olive oil also works). And once a week, step things up with an intensive treatment. Soak your nails in lukewarm water for no more than 10 minutes, then coat them with cuticle oil and slip on cotton gloves for at least an hour.

2) Protect!
I always ask my clients if they will work in the garden or do dishes with a 1 Karat diamond ring on their finger. The answer is always no. The same goes for your nails! Just like your diamond ring, a good manicure is an investment - make it last! Wear gloves when you are doing house chores or work excessively in or with water. In winter with the dry cold air, protect your hands with a warm pair of wool or fleece gloves.

3) Dip!

Most Nail Bars & Salons offer discounts over the winter months. Use this opportunity and book a professional paraffin dip for your hands & feet. Not only does a good paraffin wax treatment remove dead skin cells and leave the hands feeling silky smooth & soft, the heat and aromatherapy of the treatment can also do wonders for arthritis & gout.

4) Boost!
A good vitamin supplement is never a bad idea, and becomes especially necessary during winter. During the colder months nails are stripped from natural moisture, leaving them brittle and prone to splitting or breaking. If you don't like taking a daily hair & nail booster vitamin, eat foods high in omega-6 fatty acids and/or B vitamins. These foods will help to strengthen the nails. Mackerel, herring, salmon, peanuts, lentils, cauliflower and walnuts are just some of the foods that will offer these benefits.

5) Paint!
The best thing you could probably do to protect your nails throughout the year, is to wear a product. There are alot of opinions out there about wherever or not acrylic or gel damages your nails etc, (I will blog about this topic soon) what I can assure you of in the meantime is that a good technician makes the product. So wherever you are wearing gel, acrylic or just a traditional polish on your nails - if they are covered they are protected from daily wear & tear and prevent accidents like breaking & splitting.