5 Tips To Help Build Stronger Nails Before Your Winter Holidays

STRINGER via Getty Images Springing ahead could give your nails a long and healthy future.

Springing ahead to summer can do a lot for your heart. But there’s another part of your body that may benefit a lot more from the warm weather: your nails.

Enjoy the season, but don’t miss the opportunity to build stronger nail beds before the cold weather sets in, and keep your nail-biting in check. Here are some tips to help you, as well as your nails, spring forward.

1. Clean Your Nails

You can minimize or even eliminate the chance of chipping and cracking by polishing off any old dry polish. But before you get to that, make sure to clean your nails thoroughly.

A few easy ways to clean:

Brush your hands through with a dishcloth or cotton swab, then brush a wet paper towel over the bottoms of your nails to remove excess oil.

Run your finger under warm water and make sure to let the excess liquid drain out. The same way you should clean your teeth with a breath mint, rinse your hands with warm water before you go back to work.

Run your finger over a soda or cream bottle to rinse away dirt, dust and bacteria.

Sorbate your nails with a few drops of white or apple cider vinegar.

Spring ahead to summer, and fall back to everyday life when your nails have a little extra cushioning.

2. Prevent Rodents From Eating Them

To protect against bacteria and infection, make sure your manicure is thoroughly cleaned with hot water before and after application. Your nails won’t be infected by dirt and bacteria, but they can still be susceptible to fleas and nail fungus, Dr. Amar Nalwala, a New York City-based dermatologist, told Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.

“Fleas and yeast have been known to multiply in unsanitary environment,” he said. “Without proper hygiene the nail environment can become filthy with water, drug waste, and chemicals. This can lead to infections.”

To keep your nails healthy, try a fresh polish at least once a month, Nalwala said. If it’s time for a new polish, let it dry for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes it’s best to go ahead and apply it quickly but gently because the temptation to pick up a spider is high.