Foundational Fashion
~Fall Season Nail Care

Posted by Emily Moore on December 3rd, 2010 in Blog | 4 Comments

To keep your hands looking professional and well maintained, follow these five easy steps to soft and beautiful hands.

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. Now is the best time to shop around for some small purse-sized bottles of lotion to tote around with you when you are running errands or on your way to another class or meeting. Keep a couple of different scents in your purse to switch it up from time to time. Finding yourself stuck in the kitchen this fall? Dab on a little bit of Olive Oil, rubbing it into your cuticles and the back of your hands to counteract the abrasiveness of dish-washing soap.

2. File them down. The most important thing to remember, whether you have long strong nails (like my mother) or weak flimsy ones that do not seem to grow much at all, be sure to file them down to protect yourself from painful breaks and to keep them looking groomed.

3. Polish with a great winter neutral. This season has had an explosion of the neutral nail colors; everything from khaki to teal gray is making an appearance. If you are worried about chipping (if you have days when you’re extremely “hands on”) go for lighter shades, which make chipping less visible. When painting with darker colors, make sure to include a clear base coat to prevent any staining.

4. Night time nail ritual. When you’re feeling like being a little more pampered, use a pair of cotton gloves at night after rubbing in a rich body cream, Vaseline, or Olive Oil (as mentioned above). Letting your hands soak up the moisture will ensure that you wake up with baby-butt smooth hands in the morning.

5. Supplement Vitamins in your Diet. With most fruits being out of season, make sure that your daily nutrients are not taking a hit, too. Make sure that you’re getting the right amount of Vitamin A (yellow or orange fruits, dark green veggies), Vitamin C (green and red peppers), Vitamin D (Dairy products), Vitamin E, and Zinc (rice, chicken, or kidney beans). Your nails are one of the first indicators of an unbalanced diet, so help yourself from the inside out by fortifying your nutrition throughout the season.