Nail Care Tips for Fall and Winter Wellness of Hands and Feet

Fall is here, and with the lower humidity outside and dry heat being turned on inside your hands and feet are going to need a little extra TLC. All the dry air sucks the moisture right out of your skin and nails. Though they are necessary, hand sanitizers aren’t exactly nail-friendly either. Your hands and feet are your most used and abused body parts, and if you aren’t careful you could end up with painfully dry and cracked skin and brittle, splitting, and peeling nails. With proper care at home and professional nail care at the salon, you can have strong, beautiful nails and soft, healthy hands and feet despite the colder weather.

Promote Nail Health

Most people think of pretty painted nails when someone mentions a manicure or pedicure, but there is much more to it than that. Salon mani-pedis do result in beautiful nails, but it’s not just the polish. When your nails become dry they get brittle and are prone to splitting, peeling, and breaking. Professional nail care helps to keep your nails well hydrated and properly shaped to keep them strong and healthy. Having your nails professionally done also makes you much less prone to biting or picking at your nails, both bad habits that cause damage and weaken nails.

Proper Cuticle Care

Your cuticles have a job to do. They provide a barrier that protects your nails from infections. If they aren’t properly cared for they can get dry and crack and leave you with painful hangnails. Keeping your cuticles healthy needs to be a joint effort on the part of both you and your nail technician. If you attempt to trim your cuticles yourself and get them too short you could end up with a nasty infection, so leave that part to the pros. After your nail tech gets your cuticles whipped into the shape you can take good care of them at home by applying a salon-quality cuticle cream or oil every day. This professional cuticle care on a regular basis will help prevent any cold weather problems before they start.

Protect Your Skin and Keep It Healthy

As we mentioned before, a mani-pedi is about more than just pretty nails; they’re also about soft, healthy skin. Your hands take a beating in cold weather between the dry air and frequent washing during cold and flu season, and your feet are trapped in closed, sweaty shoes all day long. A salon manicure and pedicure can remove dead skin buildup to allow moisturizers to be better absorbed. They also help heal and protect dry, chapped hands as well as prevent painful calluses, corns,  blisters, or dry and cracked heels on your feet.

Importance of Daily Moisturizing

The skin treatments you get at the salon are amazing, but they can only last so long. Your hands and feet work hard for you every single day, and they need moisture and nutrients replaced every single day. It’s when you don’t replace what was lost that you run into the hand, foot, or nail problems. In the colder months, you want to switch to a thicker, richer moisturizer, and be certain to apply it every day to keep your hands and feet soft and supple and your nails strong between appointments.

At-Home Nail Care

There are things you can do at home to better care for your nails, the first being to moisturize your hands, feet, nails, and cuticles daily. Don’t bite or pick at your nails. If you have a chipped or rough spot, gently file it smooth so that it doesn’t snag and tear or break. Moist conditions promote bacterial and fungal growth, so change socks and shoes daily to help prevent any fungal problems. Don’t use your fingernails as tools. And if you are cleaning, washing dishes, or performing any task that will expose your hands and nails to chemicals, wear the appropriate gloves to protect them.

Diet for Healthy Nails

Proper nutrition is essential for health, and that includes your nails. Eating a well-balanced diet of lean proteins, eggs, leafy greens, whole grains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables provides your body with the building blocks it needs for healthy nail growth. For your nails to grow and stay healthy you need to follow a diet rich in biotin, protein, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and zinc, and be sure to stay well hydrated.

If you’re ready to experience the healthiest hands, feet, and nails you’ve ever had during this fall and winter season, contact  Summit Salon Academy Kansas City today for professional nail care by one of our well-trained students. All of our students are fully trained and supervised by licensed professionals to ensure the best experience for you! And be sure to add an exfoliation treatment and paraffin dip to our mani-pedi for a complete luxury spa experience. You can find us at 815 West 23rd St S in Independence, MO, or call us at (816) 252-4247 x301.