May 2026 · 4 min read
Summer is hard on nails. UV rays weaken the keratin structure. Salt water dries out the nail plate and cuticles. Chlorine strips natural oils. Sand acts as an abrasive under gel edges, causing lifting. At Jeannie Nails in Sheet Harbour, we see more nail damage in July and August than any other months. The good news: most summer nail problems are preventable with a few simple habits.
Your hands are exposed to UV rays every time you drive, walk, or sit outside. UV damage breaks down the keratin bonds in your nails, making them brittle and prone to splitting. The sunscreen you put on your face should go on your hands too — and reapply after washing your hands. SPF 30+ is sufficient. For gel manicures, UV inhibits the gel curing process — a gel that was perfectly cured in the salon can soften and lift faster if your hands are in direct sun for extended periods. Wear SPF gloves (UPF 50) if you are gardening or spending hours outside.
Salt water dehydrates nails. After swimming in the ocean, rinse your hands with fresh water and apply cuticle oil within 30 minutes. Chlorine is worse — it strips the natural oils that keep nails flexible. After a pool session, wash your hands with a gentle soap, pat dry, and apply a thick layer of hand cream. Do not use hand sanitiser after swimming (alcohol compounds the dryness). If you swim regularly, consider a clear gel top coat as a protective barrier — it blocks chlorine from penetrating the nail plate and can be reapplied at home.
Sand gets under gel edges. When you dig your hands into beach sand, the granules work their way under the gel edge and cause lifting. The fix: keep your gel edges sealed with cuticle oil (oil fills the microscopic gap between the gel and the nail). Reapply every 2-3 hours at the beach. When you leave the beach, rinse your hands in fresh water, dry thoroughly, and apply oil again. Do not pick at sand that gets stuck under the gel — flush it out with water or a gentle stream from a bottle.
Minimum: rinse, dry, oil. Ideal: rinse, gentle hand soap, pat dry, cuticle oil, hand cream, wait 5 minutes, apply SPF 30 to hands. Weekly: a paraffin wax dip at the salon ($10 add-on to any service) restores moisture and repairs summer damage. Monthly: schedule a gel maintenance appointment — lifting that goes unchecked for 3+ weeks leads to water trapped under the gel and potential fungus.
Protect your nails this summer.
