Salma Khattab 
Have you ever wondered why your nails might seem weaker and more brittle during winter than in summer? Well, that's because nails take a pummeling from the drop in temperature that happens outdoors and the dry atmosphere that is usually indoors during winter. Not only brittleness is the problem that faces your nails during that cold season, but also splitting and flakiness are on top of the complaining list of every girl!
However, there is a scientific explanation for all those nail problems. Onychoschisis is a condition that causes horizontal splits within the nail plate. Nail splitting is often seen together with onychorrhexis, and these two diseases together are called 'brittle nail syndrome'. Wait, don't panic from the word disease! Because whether you suffer from it or not, you can easily improve your nails' strength this winter if you follow this 6-step list of do's and don'ts.
1. Never soak your nails in water
When your nails are exposed to intense water soaking whether it's during a bath, a wash up or you had a traditional manicure offering a soak in a bowl, they swell with water, which is really bad for those soft beauty spots. Yes, the water in the nail plate will evaporate in about 30 minutes to one hour, however, what's really harmful is that it will take with it all the good oils that originally exist and are meant to stay in the nail. Accordingly, the nails get deprived of all the lubricants they need to stay unbreakable.
2. Apply lots of cuticle oil
Of course, avoiding having a bath, washing your hair, or showering is not the solution to regain your lost natural oils. Just make sure to massage your nails with cuticle oils to re-hydrate and protect them from breaks. You'll say goodbye to flaking and brittleness if you use cuticle oil on a daily basis.
3. Wear gloves whenever possible & suitable
In winter, the temperature keeps frequently changing between indoors and outdoors which causes excess dehydration to your nails. Thus, wearing gloves will help regulate their temperature. Also, consider washing up your gloves every now and then to make sure they will keep your nails hygienic.
4. Try to keep your nails short
Well, not so short if you like to keep them longer, but slightly shorter than average length. In other words, keep your nails at a reasonable length. That's because they are at a greater risk of breaking/cracking if they're longer during cold weather.
5. Don't be too rough with your nail file
Whenever your nails need trimming, clip them gently or use a file to take the length a bit down. To help reduce any splitting or damage to the natural nail, always try filing the correct way with the right file. Also, make sure to file gently across the free edge of the nail in one direction keeping the file flat on the edge of the nails.
6. Limit the use of acetone based nail polish remover
When you have nail polish on and you wish to remove it, avoid using acetone-based removers unless you've got gel polish on. Acetone nail varnishes cause the dryness of the nail and its surrounding skin. Instead, soak a cotton pad in any acetone-free nail polish remover (found in any pharmacy). This product is always enriched with necessary hydrating oils that your nails need. Make sure to gently press onto the nail for a few seconds to loosen the polish, before swiping off the remainder with a new pad.
Main Image Credits: Pinterest @sara76lara
