Making a summer fashion statement isn’t solely wrapped around your waist as a sarong while wearing the trendiest swimsuit.
Your hands and feet also help pull your outfit together, which is why it’s important to protect your nails this summer. You might think wearing several coats of polish will protect your nails from the sun, but think again, said Libby DeLoach, cosmetology instructor at Technical College of the Lowcountry.
“This is a good time of the year to let your toenails and nails breathe. Let the sand be a natural exfoliant. Take off the polish before going to the beach,” she said.
Some polish and polish removers contain acetone or formaldehyde, which can dry nails out, DeLoach said. Keep your nails hydrated by rubbing a small amount of petroleum jelly into your cuticle and the skin surrounding your nails before you go to bed. Olive oil and castor oil also work as great natural moisturizers.
Watch your diet. Take B vitamin biotin for strong and resilient nails. And drink milk and eat a hard-boiled egg, which are rich in zinc and will do wonders for your nails. When frolicking in the sun is over, dip your nails into the colors of summer. DeLoach said bright colors can be seen on fingers and toes, including orange, purple, green and plum. But the classic French manicure — on hands and feet — seems to be here to stay.
Don’t forget to top the outfit off with bejeweled flip-flops and a toe ring.
