How to achieve beautiful hands... even in winter
Wind, rain, central heating and cold mornings don't just take their toll on your face, but they also can have a terrible effect on your hardworking hands.
Unfortunately, clients tend to protect and treat their faces, but often neglect their hands – and then wonder why their nails are breaking, their cuticles look ragged and the skin on their hands is rough.
“During winter, the hands are often left gloveless and feel the wrath of extreme temperatures from outdoors to indoors,” explains Virginie Claire.
“This encourages poor circulation, skin chapping of the hand and cuticles and much discomfort. Many dry skin conditions come to the forefront in winter for people, as our immunity is lower and so our natural skin function suffers. Dry and cracked skin can easily lead to infections therein. The best way to look after this? Protection through prevention!”
Hero hand products
Your first port of call when protecting your hands against the cold is by treating dry skin and preventing it from happening in the first place.
Salon System Educator, Rachel Gribble, explains further:
“The skin of our hands is normally really thick so it gets particularly affected by the cold wind, causing problems such as dryness, irritation and cracking. Recommend to your clients to always wear gloves to protect the hands and to take extra care of the skin in the coldest months. For example, an everyday moisturiser is essential."
Rachel continues:
"Try NAILLUX Hydrate Hand & Foot Lotion, a lightweight hand, foot and body lotion. Featuring Vitamin E for hydration-rich results, it's scented with Lemon and Basil for a luxuriously sensual experience, and it keeps your hands hydrated without stickiness. Giving the cold temperature, a little bit of extra care might be needed to keep the hands soft and to build a barrier against the cold.
"Use once a week, NAILLUX Brighten Hand & Foot Mask, which is a softening and refining mask with Papaya fruit extract, is enriched with Shea Butter and Sweet Almond oil for silky smooth skin.”
It's not just about softening when it comes to handcreams. PHYTS Creme Mains et Ongles Hand and Nail Cream contains Rosemary and Patchouli to heal irritated skin, Silicon to stimulate Collagen, and Lemon to fight signs of ageing and brighten the skin.
An alternative for hands that need intensive care is Kaeso Hand Mask, which contains a high level of Cocoa Butter, an ingredient high in antioxidants to help fight off free radical damage to the skin. Also high in fatty acids, Cocoa Butter can help skin irritations such as eczema and dermatitis.
Cuticle care
Whether they're fans of gel polish or like to keep things natural, you should telly our clients that using a decent cuticle oil regularly is vital to keep cuticles and nails nourished and looking good. Take the opportunity at the end of a treatment to talk to clients about the importance of using an oil regularly at home, and your clients will soon see a big difference in the overall health and strength of their nails. There are lots of great oils on the market – look for key ingredients like Vitamin E, Grapeseed oil and Sunflower oil.
Dadi' Oil offers fast, non-greasy deep penetration and a clean, light aroma thanks to its inclusion of 21 essential oils. This oil enhances flexibility and prevents nail brittleness, while moisturising the surrounding skin. Plus, it's 95% certified organic so you know the ingredients are top-notch.
OPI ProSpa Nail & Cuticle Oil features an ultra-nourishing and fast-absorbing formula that helps protect, replenish and strengthen cuticles and nails. This highly effective oil contains Cupuaçu Butter to help restore moisture balance, Avocado lipid complex to provide essential moisture, White Tea extract to fight free radicals, and Grapeseed, Kukui and Sunflower oils to provide the ultimate in moisture.
SolarOil from CND contains a rejuvenating blend of Jojoba, Rice Bran and Sweet Almond oils infused with the power of Vitamin E. This oil penetrates deeply into cuticles and nails to prevent them from becoming brittle and to promote healthy nail growth.
Morgan Taylor Remedy is a renewing cuticle oil containing Grapeseed oil, Sunflower oil and Vitamin E, all natural antioxidants to protect against harsh environmental factors. It also contains Bio-Organic Complex with Panthenol, which is designed to create a protective coating around the nail's keratin protein structure.
Bio Sculpture's Cuticle Oil will combat dry, torn and dehydrated cuticles. This product can be retailed and massaged into the cuticle area once a day, as well as used as part of professional treatments.
Natural nail care
Nails can also be affected by the change in weather, so clients with weak or brittle nails may find that they get worse in the winter, especially if they're not looking after their hands and cuticles. Using a good nail strengthener can help, whether though a series of professional treatments or at home with a good product.
Audrey Heffernan, Beauty Educator for Hennessy Hair & Beauty, explains it's important to choose the right strengthener for your nails, and to stop using it once your nails are fully recovered. She says:
“When choosing a nail strengthener go with one that is specifically for your nail needs. If they are dry and brittle go for a formula for dry and brittle nails, if they are thin and weak then go for one for thin and weak nails etc.
"Don't over-use your nail strengthener. If you get a high-quality nail strengthener, only use it until your nails are at a point that you are happy with them. If you continue to use the strengthener, it can cause the nail to become brittle. Once you are happy with your nails move onto a strengthener that has a maintenance formula. This will maintain the nail at the current level of strength that it has. It won't make them better or worse.”
OPI's Nail Envy range offers three strengthening products: Original offers maximum strengthening with hydrolysed Wheat protein and Calcium for stronger, natural nails; Soft & Thin fortifies soft and thin nails with extra Calcium and sea minerals; and Maintenance is designed to maintain the results gained by the chosen strengthener.
Morgan Taylor's REACTmax is a dual-purpose extended wear base coat and nail strengthener in one. Its PolyElastin Complex increases nail flexibility while strengthening, nourishing and protecting with Calcium, coenzyme R and Marula oil. Available in Original, Satin and Optical Brightener formulas, REACTmax can be worn alone or as a base coat.
CND's RESCUERXX Daily Keratin Treatment contains Jojoba oil and keratin proteins, which bond to the natural nail to strengthen while restoring moisture. Continued use reduces peeling and white spots to reveal healthier, more beautiful nails.
