Daily Record

Don’t let your nails hit snapping point

- KATIE WRIGHT

WHY is it that in summer our nails are long, strong and practicall­y invincible but as soon as we get the first whiff of winter in the air they start snapping like nobody’s business?

“With winter setting in, nails take a pummelling from the dropping temperatur­e outdoors and the dry atmosphere indoors,” said Pupinder Ghatora, pharmacist and co-founder of Ingenious Beauty.

It’s not just snap-happy nails we have to contend with – splitting and flakiness also feature high up on the cold weather complaints list.

“Onychoschi­sis is a condition that causes horizontal splits within the nail plate,” explained the founders of Dr.’s Remedy, podiatrist­s Dr Adam Cirlincion­e and Dr William Spielfogel. “Nail splitting is often seen together with onychorrhe­xis – longwise splitting or ridging of the nail plate – and these two diseases together are called brittle nail syndrome.”

Whether you suffer from this unsightly syndrome or just want to improve your nails’ strength, here are the dos and don’ts you should follow. DO APPLY CUTICLE OIL AND LOTS OF IT “Be sure to smother your nails in cuticle oils to re-hydrate and protect from those nasty low-down breaks,” said Georgie Smedley, founder of nail brand All That Jazz. Try Dadi Oil 95% Organic Nail Treatment Oil, now £3.56 from £3.95, NailPolish­Direct. DON’T FORGET TO WEAR GLOVES “Keep those digits inside gloves where possible,” Georgie added. “The frequent temperatur­e changes from being indoors to outdoors will cause excess dehydratio­n, so wearing gloves will help regulate their temperatur­e. And don’t forget washing up gloves – they count towards great protection too.” DO KEEP YOUR NAILS SHORT “Keep nails at a reasonable length and slightly shorter than normal, as they are at a greater risk of breaking during winter months,” Georgie advised. “A good quality file will seal the edges and prevent peeling. Try to use a glass file, such as the All That Jazz Glass Nail File, £8.39, which will seal the free edge, leaving it smooth and snag free.” DON’T NEGLECT YOUR HANDS “Problem skin causing nail disorders? Psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema can all contribute to a damaged matrix – the nail root where it’s formed,” Georgie says. “Using a wax cream such as the healing Bee Bar, £14.99 from All That Jazz, coats the skin and nails with a barrier and helps heal the skin and give day-long protection.” DO CONSIDER A COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENT “We know collagen is so important in keeping our skin, hair and nails healthy and strong,” Pupinder said, but most collagen we ingest, whether from natural sources or supplement­s, can’t be absorbed in the small intestine and used in our bodies. There is only one product in the world that DON’T BE TOO ROUGH WITH YOUR NAIL FILE “If your nails need trimming, clip gently or use a file to take the length down,” recommende­d Alison. “Filing the correct way with the right file will help reduce any splitting or damage to the natural nail. File gently across the free edge of the nail in one direction and be sure to keep the file flat on the edge of the nails.” Give this IZ Beauty Pink Shaping File, £1.20, a go. DON’T SOAK YOUR NAILS IN WATER “Washing up, having a bath or even a traditiona­l manicure offering a soak in a bowl are all great big no-nos,” said Georgie.

“Exposing your nails to water makes them swell, with, you guessed it, water, and while you may not think that’s a bad thing, it really is bad for those poor little beauties.

“Although the water in the nail plate will evaporate in around 30 to 60 minutes, the harmful part is that it will take with it all the good oils that are meant to stay in the nail, therefore stripping the nail plate of all its flexibilit­y, adding to the problem of brittlenes­s.” has been able to achieve this – Ultimate Collagen+ by Ingenious Beauty.” Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+, £75 for 40 days supply. DON’T USE ACETONE NAIL VARNISH REMOVER “If you’ve got a nail polish on and it needs removing, avoid using acetone-based removers, unless you’ve got gel polish on – as they can be particular­ly drying on nails and the skin around them,” said Alison Dowse, IZ Beauty educator and celebrity nail technician. “Instead, soak a cotton pad in IZ Beauty Cleanse, £3, and gently press onto the nail for a few seconds to loosen the polish, before swiping off the remainder with a new pad.”

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