Save your best nail polish color for your mani-pedi, because your fingertips are so much more important than a pair of pretty polish. Dry, brittle nails — or nails that don’t have moisture (we’re talking about hydration, specifically) or access to it at home — are a huge health risk. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology says dry and brittle nails are responsible for an alarming number of nail-related injuries, including hand burns and cuticles. But neglecting to take care of them can be costly, too, with an estimated $150 billion spent on nail care alone in the US every year.
To keep that box of regular L’Oréal double cream off your toes and your digits — and save your wallet from the cost of salon visits and expensive, in-office treatments — you’re going to have to become your own master manicurist. As anyone who’s been sunburned enough knows, the problem lies in the ultraviolet light that’s being emitted by our skin and sunscreens, both of which contain a group of ozone-altering chemicals.
I often wonder how we could all actually get to this point where we all care less about our skin and hair, but we do. While we’re not all alike, the symptoms of dry, brittle nails may sound similar to the skin you’re worried about. If you are, here are my top five tips to help you protect your cuticles and nails from those nasty toxins in your daily routine.
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Exfoliate
First things first, try shucking up your dull, brittle cuticles by rubbing in some sweet-smelling aromatherapy-inducing balsamic vinegar or an organic vegetable oil. After a full day of the elements, your nails will look brighter and less broken.
Moisturize
Want your cuticles to look healthier? Our skin cells produce collagen and elastin in response to dryness, but when your skin cells are stressed, the production of those necessary proteins goes down. These low-production proteins are also responsible for rough cuticles. To protect your cuticles, soak your cuticles in warm water, apply a nice, noncaking conditioner, and exfoliate with a dermatologist-strength serum.
Dry Shampoo and Conditioner
Because damp, oily skin and nails connect, dry, brittle cuticles are more susceptible to infection and bacterial growth. When your cuticles are dry, they can harden, making it difficult to massage your skin with products that have exfoliating effects. A layering of dry shampoo and a conditioning lotion with a protein-based agent works really well to give a repair-focused aesthetic to your cuticles.
Moisturize your fingertips
The best thing to do to keep dry, brittle nails is to use a moisturizing exfoliator, like a light pink buddleia or an organic jojoba oil, on your skin. And don’t skip dry-cleaning! Use sheets soaked in soap and water to treat cuticles and cuticle-reducing products that contain an antioxidant component. These can be purchased at most drugstores and the Dollar Store.
Bake Your Brittle Nails
More fun than bathing in a paste made of balsamic vinegar? Trying some of the DIY remedies like baking soda and sunflower oil for saltwater castor oil can help improve your dry, brittle nails. You can also add some zinc oxide if you have cuticles like mine.
A few tips to keep your cuticles healthy and soft include staying outdoors with your cuticles showing, using a nourishing lip moisturizer, and using a barrier moisturizer that’s a bit thicker than a gel or a lotion. One small bit of sunscreen helps reduce the buildup of sunscreen-produced free radicals. It’s a small sacrifice, but saving yourself from further injury and some nice, clean cuticles is a $150 billion investment.
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