Winnipeg winters are hard on hands. The air outside is cold and dry, the air inside is heated and dry, and you’re washing your hands more often than in summer. Nails and cuticles lose moisture, get brittle and start to peel or split, and that’s often when clients notice their gel lifting or chipping sooner than usual.
The good news is that a few small habits make a big difference. Here’s what I recommend to my clients from October to April.
Make cuticle oil a daily habit
If you only do one thing, do this. A drop of cuticle oil on each nail, massaged into the cuticle and the skin around it, keeps the nail plate flexible and stops the dry, ragged edges that lead to hangnails. Twice a day is ideal: once in the morning and once before bed. Keep a pen-style oil in your bag or car so it’s always within reach.
Wear gloves, inside and out
Mittens or gloves aren’t just for comfort when it’s minus 30. Cold wind pulls moisture from your skin in minutes. Indoors, wear rubber gloves for dishes and cleaning. Hot water and cleaning products strip natural oils and are one of the most common causes of lifting.
Don’t use your nails as tools
Scraping frost off a windshield, prying open a frozen car door or picking at ice on your boots puts a lot of force on the free edge. Cold nails are also less flexible, so they break more easily. Use a scraper, a key or a coin instead.
Moisturize after every wash
Keep a hand cream by every sink you use and put it on right after you dry your hands, while your skin is still slightly damp. A thicker cream or balm at night, under cotton gloves if you’re dedicated, works wonders on cracked knuckles.
Stay on schedule with your fills
Builder gel and extensions protect your natural nails, but only while they’re balanced. As your nail grows out, the stress point moves toward the tip and the overlay is more likely to crack or lift. In winter I recommend sticking to a fill every three weeks rather than stretching it out.
Know when to get it checked
Lifting, a nail that feels sore, or redness and swelling around the nail are signs to come in sooner rather than later. Please don’t glue down lifted gel at home, since it can trap moisture underneath. If something looks or feels unusual, it’s always worth checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your winter checklist
- Cuticle oil morning and night
- Gloves outside, rubber gloves for dishes
- Hand cream after every wash
- No scraping, prying or picking
- Fills every three weeks
Ready for a fresh set before the deep freeze? Book your appointment and we’ll get your nails winter-ready.