How to improve your nail health this winter

I find around the new year, we often reflect on our lives and find ways to make meaningful improvements. If you struggle with your nail health in the winter, I invite you to try these 3 tips to see if improving your nails could be your 2023 resolution.

Firstly; nail oil is your best friend. You want to be applying nail oil to the cuticle area and massaging it in firmly to aid absorption and also to stimulate the nail from where it grows. Nail oils really need to be applied after every hand wash but that often isn't practical multiple times a day. Nail oils do not add moisture to reduce dryness, they reverse the brittleness of the nail coating by absorbing into the nail plate to increase flexibility. It takes only a few seconds and absorbs very quickly.

Secondly; a warm oil soak once a week will do wonders for your nails. To carry out this home treatment, boil a kettle and pour hot water into a large bowl that another bowl will fit inside. Then, in a separate bowl you want to add enough oil (I like jojoba and avocado oil) to cover your nails. Add your oil bowl into the hot water bowl to allow the oil to warm. Add one hand at a time and soak for 5-10 mins. Rub excess oil into cuticles and hands when finished. Be sure to test the temperature before putting your hand into the warm oil.

My third and final tip is to daily push back your proximal nail fold (skin at the base of the nail) gently but firmly with a wooden orange stick. You don't need to push it all the way back, just small amounts each day after oiling the cuticle area. Over the course of a couple of weeks the area should stay fully back. You want to keep gently nudging this skin back rather than excessively cutting it, as when we cut it, it stimulates more growth.