Nail Care
While the design of your nails is often the only thing many of us think about when getting a manicure, it’s important to remember that nail care and health are just as if not more important than style, especially in the summer months.

Summer heat and harsh UVA and UVB rays can do serious damage to your nails as well as your skin, so it’s important to protect your hands when things start to heat up.

“Your nails and the skin around and under your nails can actually burn in the sun just like any other part of your body,” Steele says. “Protect yourself by choosing a polish infused withUV absorbers (most are), plus use a topcoat with added UVA and UVB filters. Not only will these products combat a burn, they’ll also protect against nail bed staining and polish color fading that occurs from sun exposure.”

Steele also encourages applying sunscreen to your hands regularly to protect from not only burns but early signs of aging.

“We typically apply sunscreen to our face and bodies but forget to protect the tops of our hands,” Steele says. “The skin on your hands is very thin and ages just as pre-maturely as the skin onthe rest of your body.”

Don’t forget basic cuticle maintenance.Avoid changing out your gels too frequently to prevent deeper nail damage and make sure you’re protecting your cuticles not only from the sun but also from design wear and tear. Invest in a cuticle cream to soothe the sensitive skin and avoid painful nicks.