Now summer is finally here, looking after our nails is more important than ever especially with summer activities such as swimming, gardening and travel, which all require that we take extra care of our nails. Heres my advice to keep your nails strong, healthy, and perfectly polished all summer season long.

Do prepare for a day at the pool with extra strengthening Top Coat
Prolonged exposure to water and chlorine can greatly weaken and dry out your nails and cuticles. Strengthen your manicure with an extra coat of top coat before a day spent at the pool and keep your polish colour on hand for any necessary touch ups.

Do apply cuticle oil every night
To keep your cuticles from drying out in the summer heat and prevent hangnails, which can cause polish to peel and chip, add cuticle oil application to your nightly routine. I personally would recommend OPI Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil for strong, hydrated and healthy nails.

Do protect your hands while gardening.
In addition to protecting your polish from chipping, wearing gloves while gardening will keep your cuticles from drying out due to soil and moisture. Plus it avoids getting stubborn dirt stuck deep in your nails especially if you wear your nails long.

Don’t soak your nails.
Swimming at the beach or by the pool while holiday can all have drying effects as well as chipping our perfectly polished nails. The longer we soak our nails in water the more the nail bed will expand and if you apply polish while your nails are waterlogged, it will chip prematurely.

Do moisturise both your nails and feet daily.
While the open-toed sandal is a summer fashion staple, it can be brutal on your feet and really dry them out. To minimise damage, always apply moisturiser daily, ever more so after showering or a dip in the pool.

Do keep lotion on hand for travel.
If your summer plans involve frequent air travel, it is important to remember to moisturise. Recycled airplane air causes dryness around your nail beds, so bring a travel-friendly hydrating lotion or oil to apply before take off.

Don’t spend too much time in the sun.
We all know that too much sun can damage your skin, but UV exposure can also fade and ruin your manicure. If you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, try a non-yellowing topcoat like Deborah Lippmann On A Clear Day. It will make the manicure last longer and keep your color bright.

Do keep your nails healthy from the inside out.
The benefits of drinking water are well known not only is it great for your health, its a natural hydration formula to stop your nails from drying and peeling.