Going Clean

It’s easier than you might think to clean up your makeup drawer, even larger companies are starting to recognize that greener is better. The fab lists below contain literally hundreds of beauty products that are ethically made and healthier for you – all at a reasonable price.

It’s hard to feel beautiful if you know you are wearing poison, make sound, ethical choices and your nails will thank you.

The Organic Nail Polish Myth

There is a lot of marketing speak and jargon floating around the world of cosmetics and it’s important first and foremost to clear up any untruths. Organic nail polish is a myth and one that (no doubt) some companies will use to sell more varnish. Don’t fall for the charade, know what you are buying.

Natural Nail Salons

If you are a spa kind of person and prefer to leave your nail care to the pros, we respect that. The nail techs we talk to firmly believe that salon care is superior to home care (and not just because they are selling it). However, you do want to avoid the chemicals found in salons, so we’ve developed a list of natural nail salons for a guilt-free treat.

Save a Bunny – Use Cruelty Free Polish

If you are more of a DIY kind of person, well… we can respect that too. So we’ve collected huge lists of the safest, most ethical polishes around to help you do it as chemical-free as possible. First it’s important to ensure that any cosmetic brand you purchase from doesn’t test on animals – so here’s an enormous list of fab nail brands who don’t.

3 Free Polishes

As the nail industry begins to clean up its act, consumers are reaping the benefits in the form of healthier, toxic fume-free formulas. Free of Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and Toluene, we’ve got an enormous list of 3 free varnishes for those who want colourful nails without the harsh chemicals. All of the brands sold in our store are at least 3-free.

4 Free Polishes

Although many of the larger brands have taken the 3-free step, some of the smaller brands have always practised a more ethical ethos. It’s a much smaller list, (and it’s always being updated) but our list of 4 free varnishes features brands who aren’t only free of Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and Toluene, but also free of Formaldehyde resin.

5 Free Polishes

Where there is smoke, there is clearly fire and polish formulas are no exception. The trend towards safer cosmetics has created a huge array of safer lines, which keep getting better. Our growing list of 5 free varnishes includes brands that are not only free of Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Toluene and Formaldehyde resin but also free of camphor.

Water Based Polishes

The safest polishes by far aren’t just free of the harsh chemicals, but they are made from water. It’s not easy to make chemical-free polishes actually work in practice so our hats are off to these brands. Here is a fab list of water based polishes that is actually one of our longer lists. We’re constantly updating it when new formulas are announced, so keep it bookmarked!

Vegan Polishes

If you are worried about the earth and all of its critters, chances are you don’t want to wear products that use animal ingredients either. Luckily, removing animals from the cosmetics loop is a growing trend and there is a rather long and lovely list of vegan nail polishes to choose from. We are proud to offer a variety of vegan brands to choose from in our store.

Most Conscientious Nail Polish Brands

We’ve been collecting safer polishes for months now and are always on the lookout for another solid brand to add. In the course of our collecting, we’ve crunched some numbers and pinpointed a few (10 to be exact) specific brands who deserve a round of applause. Here is our list of the 10 most conscientious nail polish brands to help eliminate all of the guesswork.

Non Toxic Polish Remover

Perhaps the worst part of nail polish is the need to remove it. Not just because it’s a dreary job, but because varnish removers smell horrible. Luckily, with all of the safer polishes the selection of safer (and sweeter smelling) removers is growing. Not only do we sell some amazing removers in our store, but we’ve got a fantastically long list with even more to choose from.

Earth Friendly Nail Files

It seems that the eco love is permeating all aspects of the nail industry and it’s good to see that you can find greener replacements for your whole manicure kit. The best files are undoubtedly glass and we sell them in our store. They are better for your nails and far prettier on the eye, here is a great list of earth and nail friendly files to help you find your next fave product.

More Tips

We have plenty of tips left to share so keep checking back for more. If you haven’t already seen foodie tips for keeping nails healthy, tips for healthy hands & feet and tips for safer cosmetics. Next week, we have all sorts of tips to help you select tomorrow’s nail colour.

Thinking Smart

Recently the cosmetic industry has been cleaning up their act and we commend them on their efforts. However, there is still a lot of toxic polish floating around out there – most of us have a half-full bottle or two somewhere. We’ll show you what’s in conventional polish, ways you can use up old formulas and crafty ways to reuse the bottle.

If you didn’t already know, nail polish can’t just be tossed in the rubbish bin, it must be properly disposed of. What a chore!

Nail Varnish Ingredients

It’s important to know the ingredients of anything you use on your face or body, and often you will be surprised (as in horrified) to learn what’s really in there. We urge everyone to learn just exactly what goes into conventional varnishes for themselves and to opt for cleaner formulas.

Cosmetics Safety Database

Now that we’ve established that cosmetics can make you feel bad, even while you look good, it’s time to do something about it. That’s where the Cosmetics Safety Database comes in handy. Learn about the ingredients in your favourite products, or use them to find brands that create healthier, greener products.

Clever Uses for Old Nail Varnish

You can’t just throw it away, nail varnish is hazardous and requires proper disposal. So we’ve compiled a list of 15 fun and interesting ways to use up the last drops so you can recycle the bottle. Believe it or not, nail polish is actually pretty useful and most of us have at least one half-empty bottle laying around somewhere.

Cool Ways to Reuse Varnish Bottles

Now that you’ve use up your old varnish, what do you do with the bottles? These days it only makes sense to recycle them and we’ve got 8 amazing ways to do just that. Like old varnish, little bottles are surprisingly useful and can actually come in handy for your at-home beauty routine.

More Tips

Now that we’ve gotten down to the nitty gritty of toxic cosmetics and how to dispose of or recycle them, we have some better news. There are plenty of brands who sell amazing products that are better for you and your environment. Stay tuned for next week when we’ll discuss the cleaner end of the business with recommendations for some of the best products on the market. Until then be sure to check out some foodie tips for healthy nails and a whole bunch of advice for taking care of hands and feet.

Pro Tips at Home

Thankfully we have a bunch of pro tips that actually make nail care at home not only easy, but cheap too. There are plenty of ways you can save on nail care at home, with items you find around the house. Although we are all about a good DIY deal, we’ll always splurge for items like organic cuticle oil, a good file and vegan polish.

In the recipe for great nails, the main ingredients are time, consistency and dedication.

Inspirationail Nail Care School

We’ve listed a variety of helpful nail care articles below, offering you everything you need to keep your nails naturally beautiful. Although we sell a great variety of ethical and low-chemical brands and products in our store, many of our tips can be done at home with items you already own.

Common Household Beauty Treatments

Believe it or not, the average kitchen is a virtual treasure trove of beauty products, some of them are so innocent you’d never suspect them. If you’re on a tight budget beauty items often go first, but we’ve got some tips for household beauty treatments so you never have to scrimp on your beauty routine.

Preparing Hands & Feet for Winter

During the summer months scrimping on nail care is much easier to get away with, however during the cold season it should be on every one of you ‘to do’ lists. The more preventative action you take, the better your hands and feet will look overall – and ladies, hands really show age so keep them in good shape. Don’t worry, we’ve got 8 great tips for getting hands and feet winter ready.

Tips to Healthy Fingernails

Whether you need tips for at home nail care or just a few ideas to keep you until your next manicure, we’ve got 12 quick tips to help. Most of them are a recipe of respect for your environment with a dash of common sense. A lot of it is really about taking care of yourself, which in turn takes care of your nails.

Common Manicure Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes and it’s fair to say that not all of us have any real training in nail care. If you can’t afford a manicure in the salon, doing it yourself is an easy solution – just make sure that you know about the most common manicure mistakes and how to prevent them.

The Perfect @ Home Manicure

Home nail care doesn’t have to mean leaving the salon experience behind, you can create it yourself at home for a fraction of the cost. Remember, it’s taking a break, relaxing and really enjoying the experience that really counts. We have a handy 11 point checklist right here that will help you prepare for a fab finger pampering session.

Tips to Healthy Toenails

Let’s face it, your feet take a beating on a daily basis, so it’s important to take special care of them. Paying loving attention to the whole foot is key, well-painted nails don’t look as lovely on dry, rough or calloused feet. We’ve got 12 simple tips to help you give your feet the royal treatment without the royal price tag.

The Perfect @ Home Pedicure

Home foot care doesn’t have to mean living without the spa experience, you can create it yourself at home for a fraction of the cost. Remember, it’s really about taking time off to relax and enjoying the experience that counts. We have a handy 8 point checklist right here that will help you prepare for a tantalizing tow pampering session.

More Advice

We still have tons of advice to share, and will do in the weeks to come. If you haven’t already seen foodie tips for healthy nails be sure to check it out and stay tuned for future words of wisdom.

Putting it Together

Over the past few years we’ve provided a lot of helpful tips for keeping you healthy which directly results in keeping your nails healthier as well. We decided it was high time we organized our information and presented it in a way that is easy to go through and use. Today we want to talk about food, more importantly food that will help keep you and your nails in tip top shape.

From specific vitamins to raw ingredients to a huge list of recipes, we’ve got some seriously yummy tips to share!

Your Nails & Your Health

They say your eyes are the window to your soul and if that’s the case, then your nails are the window to your inner health. Of course they aren’t a safe (or realistic) way to diagnose any health problems, they can provide clues that should alert you into taking action. We’ve compiled a quick list of nail symptoms that may warrant a visit with your doctor.

Vitamins & Minerals for Healthy Nails

Although nails aren’t actually living parts of your body, what you eat does matter to their health. The bottom line is that healthy nails require a healthy body, so focusing on eating a well balanced diet and including the major food groups is an important element of your beauty arsenal. We’ve got a great list of essential vitamins & minerals from both meat & veggie sources.

Meat & Seafood Recipes for Healthy Nails

Now that you know which vitamins you need and where you can find them, it’s time to put them all together into something yummy. Whether you enjoy cooking or just want something quick and warm in your stomach, we have a great list of meat and seafood recipes with everything you need for healthy nails for the carnivores out there. Remember that organic raw ingredients are always the best for you.

Vegetarian Recipes for Healthy Nails

Now that you know which ingredients provide the vitamins you need, it’s time to use them and create something yummy. Whether you are a budding chef or just want to learn quick and easy meals, we have a fab list of vegetarian recipes with everything you need for healthy nails for those who don’t eat meat. Remember that organic raw ingredients are always the best for you.

Vegan Recipes for Healthy Nails

Now that you know which fruit and veg will provide the vitamins you need, it’s time to combine them and create something yummy. Whether you are a a kitchen queen or just want to learn quick hot meals, our list of vegan recipes with everything you need for healthy nails isn’t just salads. We dug deep to find filling, complete meals to keep you fit.

More Advice

We’d love to hear your vitamin rich recipes in the comments below, so we hope you’ll leave them. Plus, we’ve got plenty of advice to organize and share so stay tuned for more well-organized posts with tips and fun bits of advice.

Danger!

As we made clear in our how-to’s for stain removal from fabrics and hard surfaces, cleaning nail polish almost invariably requires chemicals. The special surfaces are no exception and sadly there isn’t really any natural options, it takes chemicals to remove chemicals. We don’t generally endorse chemicals for cosmetics and don’t use them to clean either, however if you need results anyway here are some tips to get them.

None of us can stop the inevitable polish spill from happening, but we can be prepared when it does.

Many of the chemicals in conventional polish formulas can ruin softer, synthetic surfaces so it’s important to remove them quickly. Unfortunately chances of actually pulling the stain up entirely are slim (especially dark polish on light surfaces).

Removal Process

1. Gently scrape the stain with a butter knife or a spatula to remove any caked-on polish.
2. Gently dab the stained area with a cloth dipped in amyl acetate.
3. Rinse area with water and dry completely.

Like fabrics, carpets are difficult to clean, there is just so much hard to reach surface area. Getting to the spill as quickly as possible is key and can help make the difference between a forever stain and slight discolouration.

Removal Process

1. Gently scrape away any excess without forcing it further into the pile.
2. Dab the stained area with a cloth dipped in amyl acetate, then cover with a cotton pad also dampened with amyl acetate.
3. Keep moist and allow to stand for around 15 minutes, occasionally blotting to pull up colour.
4. Gently scrape area to help loosen the stain.
5. Carefully flush with dry-cleaning solvent and allow to dry completely.

Although it’s probably one of the most difficult places for a polish spill, believe us, stranger things have been known to happen. It is always handy to keep a little of your wall paint for touch ups, as your stain removal results will vary depending on wall (& polish) colour.

Removal Process

1. Immediately wipe away any excess wet polish.
2. Dab at the stain with a cloth dipped in 1/3 quart of warm soapy water with 1 teaspoon of borax.
3. Rinse with water and dry completely.

These surfaces cover more precious materials which can be found in almost any home setting. We recommend removing jewelry & other pricy items form the vicinity prior to using polish and covering your workspace. (Yes we are saying that as we balance a bottle on our laptop to do our toes).

Removal Process

1. Immediately wipe away any excess wet polish.
2. On harder surfaces like ceramic tile, enamel, and glass hardened polish can often be scraped away using a razor blade.
3. Wash stained area with a cloth dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate, water and a drop or two of ammonia.
4. Rinse with water and dry completely.

Other Surfaces

This just covers stain removal on the hard surfaces, be sure to also learn how to remove polish stains from fabrics and hard surfaces as well.

Hazardous

Cleaning in general is often a highly chemical process and sadly that goes double for conventional nail polish formulas. There isn’t anything natural that cleans something so unnatural. We don’t usually endorse chemicals for cosmetics or cleaning, but to remove the tough stuff there really is no choice. Below we’ve provided tips for removing polish stains from common hard surfaces.

Harder surfaces are easier to clean and often don’t require the same chemicals that fabrics do. If you’re going to spill, do it on the floor.

These are strong and hard stones, often used in ornamental fashion due to their strong colours and price. They aren’t particularly porous so they are a fairly easy surface to clean & the chances of removing the stain completely is high.

Removal Process

1. Immediately wipe away any excess wet polish.
2. Dab the stained area with a cloth dampened in acetone until no more colour comes up.
3. Rinse acetone completely away with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
4. If the stain persists, mix a paste using water, 3% hydrogen peroxide and mild powder detergent.
5. Apply paste to the stain and cover with a damp cloth.
6. Once stain is pulled out rinse area with water and dry completely.

The stones in this category tend to be more porous and rather more difficult to clean. Harsh chemicals could damage them and shouldn’t be used. Unfortunately this lessens chances of the stain coming up entirely – especially on light coloured stones.

Removal Process

1. Immediately wipe away any excess wet polish.
2. Dab the stained area with a cloth dampened in acetone until no more colour comes up.
3. Wash away loosened stain and acetone residue with a solution of gentle detergent and water.
4. Rinse with water and dry completely.

A part of every tile is grout and it’s actually much easier to clean polish off of than stones & tiles tend to be. Not only is it more durable but it can be replaced if all cleaning efforts fail.

Removal Process

1. Immediately wipe away any excess wet polish.
2. Gently scrub stain with a toothbrush dipped in powder cleanser.
3. Rinse with water and dry completely.

Metal is one of the easiest surfaces to clean and uniquely it’s also one that requires almost no chemicals. However, remember that metal scratches so wipe and scrub gently to avoid marring the surface.

Removal Process

1. Immediately wipe away any excess wet polish.
2. Metals aren’t porous surfaces and shouldn’t stain – although they may discolour the area.
3. To remove any leftover colour wash gently with steel wool pad and soap.
4. Rinse with water and dry completely (especially with metal or it can rust).

Other Surfaces

This just covers stain removal on the hard surfaces, be sure to also learn how to remove polish stains from fabrics and stay tuned to learn about strange surface removal.
Disclaimer: Inspirationail will not be held responsible for your actions.

Rather Toxic

Unfortunately, stain removal generally involves harsh chemicals & finding natural options for eliminating pesky polish stains is tricky. For woven fabrics chemicals are almost the only guaranteed way to get the spot out. We don’t endorse chemicals in our cosmetics and don’t like to clean with them either. However, if you simply must have it clean at all cost, we’ve provided cleaning tips below for different fabrics.

If you hate the chemicals as much as us, you’ll probably have to live with the stain. Try water based polishes for the easiest removal.

These are delicate fabrics and the removal process must begin straight away to ensure a complete removal. There is no guarantee even with these tips and sometimes the attention of a professional dry cleaner (try an organic one) is the best course of action.

Removal Process

1. Gently scrape the stain with a butter knife or a spatula to remove any caked-on polish.
2. Apply a dry spotter to the stained area and cover with a cotton pad also dampened with dry spotter.
3. Replace with freshly moistened cotton as many times as it pulls up colour.
4. Use a dry-cleaning solvent to flush away loosened polish and remove dry spotter residue.
5. Allow to dry completely.

Although not as delicate as the fabrics above, all fabrics are difficult to clean when it comes to nail polish. We don’t recommend varnish remover because they tend to be oily, unfortunately acetone is the only thing that removes most conventional polishes.

Removal Process

1. Gently scrape the stain with a butter knife or a spatula to remove any caked-on polish.
2. Test acetone in a tiny inconspicuous place to ensure it won’t change fabric colour.
3. If there is no change place stained area on an absorbent pad and flush with acetone.
4. Continue to flush and replace pads until no more colour can be removed.
5. Flush with dry-cleaning solvent to remove loosened polish and remove acetone residue.
6. Allow to dry completely.

Leather is sturdier than woven fabrics and generally easier to clean. Luckily, it also requires far less caustic methods of cleaning and can be cleaned with organic glycerine soap. Leather is less absorbent than suede so will be easier to clean overall. As with all fabrics, catching the stain as quickly as possible is paramount in removal.

Removal Process

1. Gently scrape the stain with a butter knife or a spatula to remove any caked-on polish.
2. Mix a solution of mild glycerine soap and lukewarm water & swish it around to create foamy suds.
3. Carefully dab at the stain with a sponge dipped in the suds. Don’t scrub or you might spread the stain.
4. If polish is hard, try rubbing it with an artgum eraser.

Other Surfaces

This just covers the fabrics, but nail polish manages to find its way onto all sorts of surfaces. Stay tuned, next time we’ll give you some stain removal advice for hard surfaces.

Disclaimer: Inspirationail will not be held responsible for your actions.

Modern Conveniences

Team Inspirationail wanted to stop for a moment and consider that women haven’t always had a cosmetics shop round the corner. Modern society has placed a huge variety of beauty items (usually enveloped in bright & inviting packaging) right at our fingertips. While we love this convenience, it’s also important to be pragmatic in your consumption whilst saving yourself money and rescuing the earth from excessive packaging when you can.

Here is a list of items commonly found around the home which provide amazing beauty (& health) benefits to your nails.

Olive Oil

Most of us have some of this lovely golden liquid in our kitchens. While it’s fab for cooking, the practical uses for olive oil beyond the kitchen are endless. A great moisturiser for hands, face & nails, olive oil makes a great DIY cuticle oil. Apply a few drops at a time and thoroughly massage into nails, cuticles & rough spots on both hands and feet (cover with cotton gloves or socks for maximum absorption). Use it straight out of the bottle or mix it with a few drops of your fave scented oil for an aromatherapy boost.

Rock Salt or Sugar

Salt & sugar are staples in most homes and their uses go beyond simply spicing your food – think exfoliation. While we love purchasing luxuriously scented scrubs, they are also quite easy to make at home in a pinch. Combine salt or sugar (the bigger the rocks, the better – but even table sugar will do) with olive oil and a few drops of scented oil. This is a moisturising scrub that can be used on the whole body in the bath or shower – focus on rough spots and cuticles to remove dry skin and dead cells.

Aloe Vera

If you don’t have some aloe growing, plant some. This plant has natural soothing, moisturising & anti-fungal properties which makes it a great way to fight nail fungus. In fact, the goo found inside aloe leaves is also great for sunburn, insect bites & minor abrasions when applied topically. When ingested in the form of juices, gels or capsules aloe is also said to aid in nail health & growth. While there are a lot of products on store shelves which contain aloe, we say grow it yourself for best results.

Milk

Everyone has a carton of milk around and considering it’s relative cheapness it’s a great element in everyone’s beauty arsenal. In addition to it’s calming and moisturising properties, the lactic acid found in milk helps to loosen dead skin. For hands and fingernails try soaking your hands in warm milk for 5 minutes then rinse, pat dry and apply a thick moisturising cream. For feet, add 1/4 or 1/2 cup of milk to a tub of warm water & essential oils and soak for 10 minutes (the lactic acid will also help with stubborn callouses).

Honey

Similar to aloe (& definitely more common), honey has been used since ancient times to topically treat infection. Along with a variety of anti-fungal & antibiotic properties, honey may also help wounds & infections heal. All of this and more makes honey a much yummier alternative to chemicals when it comes to treating pesky nail fungus (try it on torn cuticles too). Apply directly to affected areas and leave on for as long as you can stand it (be sure the family dog is outside, or you may just train yourself a toe licker).

Yogurt

Another common staple, yogurt is almost as good for your outsides as it is for your insides. Eating 8oz a day helps to promote healthy nail growth and treat (or help prevent) nail fungus. For your outsides try mixing 8oz of plain yogurt and the juice of one lemon. Refrigerate for a few hours and then massage thoroughly into hands & nails. Rinse and pat dry for softer skin, smoother cuticles and stronger nails. This mixture can be kept until the yogurt goes off, so be sure to take note of container date before recycling.

Lemons

This is one citrus that Team Inspirationail always has in our kitchen, it’s a natural preservative and some of the best flavouring in town. It’s also full of vitamins your nails require for healthy growth and helpful in strengthening brittle nails. Submerge your fingers in the juice of one lemon for 15 minutes every night before bed. Vitamins & minerals can be absorbed directly while the citric acid softens cuticles and removes dead skin. Try rubbing leftover lemon rind on your nails for another dose of vitamins.

Vinegar

Vinegar is another common item with anti-fungal properties and there are several different types you can use – chances are you have one in your cupboard right now. Apple cider vinegar is perhaps the most commonly used nail fungus home remedy – especially for the feet. Submerging nails several times a day for around half an hour will kill the fungus (although it will take time – as in weeks or months for bad cases). Soaking nails in white (or apple) vinegar for 5 minutes will soften cuticles & strengthen nails pre-manicure. Try applying vinegar to nails just before painting to remove dirt & oils and provide a boost of lasting power to varnishes.

What’s Pretty In Your House?

We are certain that there are more common items which can be used to help keep us pretty and we are set to discover and report them. Please let us know your tried and true home remedies in the comments below and we’ll research to find (& share) more of our own. If you are simply too lazy to bother, but still care about the earth check out our store for brands with a conscious.

Staying Beautiful

Not all of us are nail techs so it’s fair to say we’ll make mistakes in our at-home manicures. Luckily it’s difficult to do too much damage to nails & much of our advice for the mistakes below is easy preventative care.

During cold winter months it’s often difficult to keep hands healthy, but most of these mistakes are easy to remedy.

1. Lazy Lacquer

Leaving polish on too long is a problem even if it doesn’t chip. Often it is the cause of nail discolouration, which isn’t going to make you sick, but is a clear warning from your body. Be sure to use a remover that is as close to nature as possible. Try Suncoat’s Biodegradable Remover or Mavala’s Mild Remover.

2. Dying of Thirst

Let’s face it, your hands have it pretty rough, they have to do absolutely everything. So it’s fair to say they deserve to be constantly moisturised & pampered. This is perhaps the simplest way to make manicures easier & keep hands healthy. Whatever kind of moisture you like is the best moisture, try Mavala’s Extreme Cream, John Masters Organic Body Milk, Golden Silk Camellia Oil or Erica-Renée’s Organic Shea Butter.

3. Obsessive Nitpicking

Healthy hands & nail require no manuel labor to keep trim, there is no reason to push or shove your cuticles. Good tools and a great cuticle oil are your best weapons against cracked cuticles. Keep your hands hydrated at all times and carefully trim them (with proper cuticle trimming tools) only when necessary. Try Green Hands Organic Cuticle Oil for moisture & Mavala’s cuticle nippers or cuticle scissors for pro-grade tools.

4. Cutting Trees

Filing in more than one direction is bad news for your nails. You are not cutting trees folks, you are filing your nails…act like it. Keep metal files well away from your nails and even those disposable wooden things aren’t doing you any favours. The best file is a glass file – they never wear out & they are the easiest on your nails. Try Green Hands Glass Files.

5. Neglect is Abuse

Neglecting hang nails can have painful consequences, most importantly being the possibility of infection. Hands encounter a variety of germs and tears in the skin allow them access to your body. Moisturising daily will help prevent cracked skin, but when necessary use the proper tools to trim down problem areas. Try Mavala’s nippers or scissors for pro-grade tools.

6. Hazardous Waste

We are always talking about the chemicals in the cosmetic world and it’s an important issue for us. We try to provide healthier, more ethical options in our store and hope people will buy responsibly. Whatever your manicure ritual, use products as free of harsh chemicals as possible. We offer both water based and vegan polish options to suit healthier lifestyles.

7. No Firm Foundation

If you are going to polish your nails you have to lay down a solid foundation. Make sure they are clean and protected by a base coat. Most base coats moisturise, provide additional UV protection and keep varnish from discolouring nails. Try Mavala’s Barrier Base or a-england’s Knight Basecoat.

Doing it Right

We can all agree that it’s not worth doing something unless you do it right. Hopefully these quick tips for common mistakes will help you up your game and give yourself the best manicures ever.

Helpful Tips

Team Inspirationail has learned a few tips over the years and we’re sharing them here with you today. All of these are fairly quick and easy to do and don’t require large purchases. Really it’s about keeping you living and eating healthy while avoiding exposure to the elements as much as possible. With a little advance planning, preventative care and attention to detail you and your nails can make it through the winter intact.

Nails grow less in the winter and tend to become brittle – this makes them more susceptible to breaks & tears.

1. Hydration

Keeping yourself hydrated on the inside helps every part of your body work & feel better. That said, it’s still difficult to remember sometimes – try adding a squeeze of any citrus fruit for a little extra flavour. We won’t bore you with statistics about how much you should drink – but if you aren’t visiting the bathroom every couple of hours, you should probably be drinking more water.

2. Moisturisation

A good moisturiser is key to keeping winter skin & nails well hydrated as well. It’s flu season, so washing your hands is a must, just keep skin cream nearby and slather up (massaging into cuticles & nails) after every wash. (Don’t forget your toes after showers too). Be sure to apply a natural cuticle oil weekly – try olive oil in a pinch.

3. Coverage

Investing in a good pair of gloves & wearing them every day helps to keep your hands from the elements. Cold winter winds and dry air take their toll on skin and nails so keeping them covered will help to keep the moisture in. Get some in a bold colour to make up for covering your brilliant nails!

4. Protection

Any time your hands are submerged in water or exposed to chemicals you should wear rubber gloves. Exposure to water for long periods of time causes nails to expand with water and shrink as they dry. This makes them vulnerable and can cause them to be brittle as a result. The chemicals should go without saying and direct contact should be avoided whatever the weather outside.

5. Maintenance

We see our hands every day, but during winter our toes often stay covered up for days on end. It’s easy to get lazy, but it’s not very good for our feet. Be sure to change socks daily (at least every other day) and give your feet a few minutes to breathe every day. Also keep your toenails regularly trimmed & filed to avoid breakage & ingrown nails.

6. Nutrition

Eating well is the backbone to our overall health which means it’s essential for healthy skin & nails. Getting plenty of protein & vitamins is especially important during largely sunless winter months. Eat as locally as possible focusing on organic seasonal produce and lean proteins – fish is great for your skin & nails (just make sure it’s not farmed).

7. Exfoliation

This is something Team Inspirationail recommends year round. Opt for oily scrubs with salt or sugar crystals because they slowly dissolve and won’t clog drains. (try olive oil and rough cut salt or sugar in a pinch) Massage thoroughly into hands, cuticles & nails (& don’t forget your feet). Rinse quickly in warm (not hot) water, gently pat dry and follow with a thick moisturising cream.

8. Moderation

Although dark winter months are a great time to work on your manicure & pedicure skills it’s also the worst time of the year for your nails. That makes your practice a double edged sword – nail products inevitably dry nails out and keeping them constantly polished deprives them of what little sunlight they get. Practice restraint and paint in moderation using the most natural products you can find – giving your nails periodic breaks is important in the winter.

Overall Tactics

Our advice is to go as natural and free of chemicals as possible, whether it’s your nail, cleaning or beauty products. Be sure to check out our store for some great nail products by companies who care about you & the environment.