How Cold Winter Weather Can Damage Your Fingernails

Whether you are a regular at one of our nail bars or only have them done for special occasions like weddings or Christmas, you may have looked down at your fingers recently and not liked what you have seen.

Various things can damage your nails, but cold weather is undoubtedly among them. And While London hasn’t quite endured the snow flurries experienced further north of late, it has certainly been uncomfortably cold. And that does not just mean the risk of chapped lips and dry skin, but damaged nails too.

Cold causes the nail plate to become brittle and dehydrated, which means nails are vulnerable to peeling and fraying, as well as being more likely to catch on clothing. And as they get drier, activities that add to dryness - such as using soap on bare hands a lot - can add to the problem.

Nails can also be more susceptible to infection. They grow faster in warmer weather, so when it is cold and they grow slowly, they tend to be thicker. This, combined with their brittle nature, means they can become damaged. This creates little areas that can pick up bacterial and fungal infections.

All that means now could be a very good time to check how your nails are doing. If you have been careful, worn gloves a lot and avoided getting them too dry, all may be well. But if not, now might be a great time to get them treated and looking great again.

There are many effective things you can do, like filing and polishing your nails, with the right polish helping hold moisture in.

While you can try this at home, why not get the professionals on the case? That way, you can give yourself the best possible chance of enjoying nails that look good even as winter drags on, ensuring they emerge into the warmer days of spring in the best possible condition.