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10 Nail & Hand Care Tips - during COVID19



Disclaimer: These are tips to ONLY help care for your hands and nails while you are taking care of your hand hygiene and health during the COVID19 PANDEMIC. If you would like more information about how to protect yourself and others from COVID19 please see HSE.IE

1. Hand Sanitizing Wipes
Yes, Wipes instead of liquid! If you suffer from extreme dry hands, eczema, or dermatitis. Which can be irritated more when in contact with a liquid hand sanitizers, try using sanitizing wipes instead. Liquid hand sanitizers are rubbed into the skin and left without rinsing for a period of time, which drys out the natural moisturize in the skin. The wipes will still remove bacteria, but will not leave as much of the harsh alcohol on the skin.

2. Washing your Hands vs Hand Sanitizer 
Hand sanitizers are easy for on the go and are everywhere you go now, where there is an option to wash your hands with soap and water, opt to wash your hands. Using soap and water will remove the bacteria more effectively and will do less damage to your skin and nails. Washing your hand before and after you touch ANYTHING is habit that needs to happen. 

3. Hand Cream is your Hero!
Use a hand cream every time you wash or sanitize your hands, this will/reduce dryness and cracking of the skin. When shopping for hand creams its important to do some research, investing in a hand cream that will suit you and your skin is important. Here are some points to look for: 
  • No added Fragrances  (superficial fragrances can irritate dry skin)
  • Hydrating and Healing properties (eg Aloe Vera, Shea butter, Coconut, Almond oil, Vit E)
  • Vegan & Cruelty Free, Natural based ingredients (Your hands touch enough chemicals, neutralize this with natural ingredients to restore balance within the skin & nails)
  • SPF 15-30 (Protect your skin from Sun damage & ageing)
. Their are plenty on options out there for any prize range. I would recommend the Jane Iredale Hand Drink, natural based ingredients, smells of Lemongrass and has SPF 15. It's an all rounder! 

4. Cuticle oil
Not just for your cuticles! Use this daily for your whole nail, and any dry patches of skin on the hands. Like using a face serum to target problem areas? and then follow with a hand cream like using your moisturizer on top to lock in all the moisturizer. If your hands are dry, your nails are going to be dryer, more brittle and prone to breakage. Add Cuticle oil and hand cream to your evening skincare routine.

5. Skin and Nail supplements 
Taking care from within is just important. Biotin, Vit E, Vit A, are the main ingredients which help the skin and nails to grow. Produce moisture, promote growth and overall more healthy and strong. You can buy supplements for this is varies brands, I would recommended the Nail Science or Skin Complete from Advanced Nutrition Program.

6. Hydrating Hand Masks 
For an intense dose of moisture, try a hand mask. You can buy a pot of hydrating hand masks which you can apply and place warm gloves over to let soak in for 15-30 minutes. Or you can buy the packets with the gloves in them. This will give you the extra boast of hydration with seeing instant results too.  

7. Clean underneath your nails
Using a nail scrub brush or old toothbrush, clean underneath your nails with every time your wash your hands. Its commonly forgotten about, but that is the where the most bacteria and dirt is! There can be between 2 - 10 million germs on your fingertips, and doubles when you use the toilet. By doing this you care also taking care the of your nails and the nail service aka Gel polish/shellac. It will keep them shiny!

8. Alcohol damage
As you know we all get hangovers from drinking alcohol, because Alcohol is deeply dehydrating to the body, and the more we drink, longer the hangover. Now there is an average of 70% alcohol in a Hand sanitizer, which is great to get rid of bacteria. But is also deeply dehydrating to the hands and nails. 
(For example, lets just say if you got stopped by the Garda and they tested your hands for alcohol you would be walking home, right?) Its designed to remove everything alien from the surface of your skin (which is great, and we all need to stay safe against COVID19) BUT also means it will strip, dull and can sometimes remove gel polish/shellac/gel on the nails. So if your a Nail Addict, just be aware of this, opt to wash your hands with soap and water rather then using a hand sanitizer. Soap and water will keep your hands and nails clean from germs & bacteria without any harsh alcohol damage to your nail service.

9. Wearing gloves 
Now this one is for the nail lovers out there, and know your out there!
 If you do not want your nails to be dulled, chipped or damaged in any shape or form, try wear gloves the next time you go to the shops. (Yes! still use the hand sanitizer with the gloves to stop bacteria spreading) but at least your hands and nails are protected from harsh chemicals and your nail service will last.

10. Support Your Nail tech
Supporting small businesses is very important to keep us all going in these unknown times. Buying Hand creams, Hand sanitizers, cuticle oil, hand masks, nail files or PPE all from Nail tech will mean the world to them. They will be trained, kitted out and prepared with all the COVID requirements and protocols to reopen their salons and to keep you safe while you visit them. Plus they know your hands probably more than you know your own hands, right? If your feeling nervous about entering the salon, get in touch with your Nail tech they will ensure your safety, show your to protocols and what safety measures they have put in place so you feel at ease, relaxed and safe during your visit. Having confidence in your Nail tech or therapist is important at this time.


Just want to give a little shout out to the Hair and Beauty industry, it has been a very clean and safe environment since the beginning of  hair & beauty and that will never change. 
Good Luck to all Hair and beauty businesses reopening theirs doors tomorrow June 29th in Ireland. Also to the rest of the world, we're in this together! 

It's exciting to be back in action! Stay protected and enjoy your pampering time! 

For more info on hand hygiene, and COVID19 regulations for Nail salons and Beauty salons in Ireland. 


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