6 Ways Self-Love Will Help You Crush Your Goals
From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.
HAND CARE: How to Protect Your Most Valuable Asset During Winter
Your hands see a lot during the day--with strain, chemicals, constant moisture and contact, don't let winter take its toll on you, too.
November 18, 2019
Hair: Sydney Ann Lopez
Nails: Armani Je'ton
Artist Session NYC
Hair: Sydney Ann Lopez
Nails: Armani Je'ton
@armanixchangee
2 min to read
Whether you're a colorist, a cutter, a stylist, a barber, a nail tech, massage therapist, makeup artist or esthetician, your hands are your most valuable asset, your most important tool. But with constant contact with moisture, hand washing, strain and chemicals (we've all been there, sometimes you just don't use gloves--stop that!), pair that with cold weather and you have a recipe for disaster.
For some quick tips on protecting your hands, we connected with NYC dermatologist, Joyce Davis, M.D. about the best way to keep your hands and nails from cracking and becoming brittle this winter.
HAND WASHING: "Only wash your hands with a moisturizing soap," says Davis, who is on the speakers bureau of the American Academy of Dermatology. "This means no antibacterial soaps, or glycerine (clear) soaps." This will prevent drying, but still keep your hands clean.
MOISTURIZE: "Always moisturize your hands after washing," Davis says. "Keep a lotion near each sink and make sure to moisturize your cuticles, and all the skin surrounding your nails. This will help to prevent cuticles from splitting and becoming painful."
SUPPLEMENTS: "Taking supplements with Vitamin E and Biotin or Collagen will help strengthen your nails and keep your skin from drying out," she says. Bonus: These supplements can help with overall hair health and appearance.
GLOVES OUTSIDE, ALWAYS!: It is critical that gloves are worn outside in the colder weather. To make it easier, just stick a pair in every coat or jacket you wear. "The winter weather can fluctuate wildly in a day, and wind as well as cold weather needs to be avoided to keep hands and nails supple," Davis says.
SWITCH UP YOUR MOISTURIZER: "You may need a thicker moisturizing product than you normally use," Davis says. "If you have been using a lotion, try a cream."
GLOVES, INSIDE TOO: "When doing wet housework make sure to wear protective gloves," Davis says. And the same goes for applying hair color--even toner at the bowl. "When it comes to dish soap, the cleansing ingredients that cut grease also strip the protective oils from your skin and hands."
Originally posted on Modern Salon
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Nail Safety Council Warns Holiday Shoppers About Toxic 'Magic' Gel Polish Removers
Products marketed as 'magic' or 'burst' gel removers may contain methylene chloride, a federally banned, highly toxic chemical.
How Beauty Pros Can Prevent Pain: Somatic Movement for Career Longevity
Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Federal Research on Nail Salon Safety Concludes Due to Budget Reductions
A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.
by Anne Moratto
Opinion: What You Need to Know About Pedicure Safety
For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.
Onycholysis: What Nail Pros Should Know About Nail Separation
Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.
What to Say--or Not Say--to Someone Grieving
Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.
Protecting Your Clients From Viral Infections
Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).
Beauty Professionals, It's Time to Take the Green Pledge
As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.
How Not to Be Cynical About Valentine's Day
Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.
Temporary Burnout or Time to Hang Up the Shears?
Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.
Nail Care and Cancer Treatment: 6 Tips for a Safe Nail Service
Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.
Sun Patch Protects Hands from Sun Damage
For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.
by Anne Moratto
The Nail Doctor: Onycholysis, or Nail Separation, Has Different Varieties
One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.
Standing Stretches for Physical Longevity
Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.