Stop Winter from Destroying Your Nails in 5 Easy Steps

Winter can be hard on a lot of things. Our budgets, what with all the holiday shopping. And our diets, thanks to all those delicious seasonal treats. But winter’s biggest victims might just be our poor parched skin and nails. As the weather heads toward freezing, the air outside tends to get drier—and we turn up the thermostat inside to compensate. Moving between these two temperature extremes dries out our skin and nails, which can lead to brittleness and breakage.

Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to fight winter dryness and damage. The hardest part is just remembering to do these things regularly… but trust us, your nails will thank you!

1. Become best friends with cuticle oil.

The main ingredient in Cuticle Oil is jojoba oil, which is a gosh-darn godsend when it comes to keeping nails happy. This is because jojoba molecules are small enough to penetrate your skin and nails, treating and conditioning them similar to your body’s own natural moisturizers. Cuticle oil doesn’t just prevent dry skin and hang nails—though it does that, too. It also lubricates your nails, protecting them from excess water (which can cause nails to expand and warp) and preventing brittleness. It also has Vitamin E to help strengthen your nails.
With all these benefits, cuticle oil clearly WANTS to be your best friend, so let it. I recommend keeping a little roller ball buddy in your bag, at your desk, and in your bathroom, so you can apply it throughout the day (it’s a wonderfully soothing activity when you’re bored and/or commuting). Roll the applicator over each nail bed and gently massage it into your nails and the surrounding skin, allowing it to soak in and do its thing. Even when you’re wearing polish, this will moisturize the area and promote healthy nail growth—while also making your manicure look like new.
If you’ve passed the dryness stage and are dealing with full-blown cuticle damage, don’t dismay. Just combine your cuticle oil routine with two daily applications of Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum. It’s a game-changer.

2. Bust out the heavy hand crème.

If you ask me, Hand Crème is a year-round staple. I would buy it by the vat if I could. But especially in winter, this intensive moisturizer is my #1 must. I’ve tried lots of different hand crèmes, but none can hold a candle to Luxe Care when it comes to long-term moisture, the silky, non-greasy feel, or the heavenly (but subtle) scent—and, bonus! The jar is sleek and compact enough to stash in your purse or backpack for on-the-go applications. Give dryness a one-two punch by applying hand crème in conjunction with your cuticle oil after you wash your hands or shower, before bed, and before and/or after going out in the cold.

3. Wear gloves.

I admit, this is the item on the list that I have the toughest time putting into practice. Gloves are easy to forget when it’s not super-duper freezing outside, or when you’re only popping out for a minute. They can be a bother when you need to fish through your purse, open a door, or grip a handrail. And don’t get me started on texting. But, especially when the weather dips near freezing, gloves are the best way to protect your hands and nails from the elements. You protect the rest of yourself with a coat, scarf, hat, and boots—so shouldn’t your hands get the same respect? Invest in a sturdy, warm, not-too-tight pair of gloves that you will actually wear, and then actually wear them. Especially if you’ll be outside for an extended period of time, or plan on doing any work with your hands. For added moisture, apply hand crème before putting on your gloves.

4. Avoid your (nails’) enemies.

They say to keep your friends close, and your enemies closer… but this rule does NOT apply to your nails’ enemies. Try your best to stay away from harsh chemicals (like cleaning supplies), hot water, and pure acetone. Prolonged water exposure, especially to super-hot water, can oversaturate, warp, and weaken your nails. So by all means, indulge in that steamy winter bath sesh, but leave your hands out of it! (All the better for gripping your glass of wine.)
Unfortunately, sometimes our nails’ biggest enemy is actually… us. So please, for the love of your cuticles, don’t pick at them, over-cut them, or pull/bite on any hangnails. You’ll just make things worse. Wear your fancy new gloves indoors if you can’t help yourself!

5. Be diligent.

Chances are, if you’re here, you probably already have a nail care routine that’s working for you. Keep doing what you’re doing! Just do it more often in the winter. Instead of only putting on hand crème before bed, moisturize at night and in the morning. If you’ve been applying cuticle oil a couple of times a day, try to up your numbers to 4 or 5 times a day. Think of it as a nice treat for yourself—a little slice of luxury you can indulge in whenever you want—so it’s something you look forward to, not a chore.