The Overnight Hand Routine Every Nail Lover Should Know

You can have the most beautiful manicure in the world, but if the skin around it is dry, flaky and ragged, that is what people notice. Cuticles are the frame for your nails, and in winter they take a beating. Cold air outside, dry heating inside, constant hand-washing and hand sanitizer: by January, many of us have hands that look a lot less polished than our nails.

The good news is that the fix does not require a salon appointment. It just requires you to go to bed.

Why nighttime is the best time for hand care

During the day, anything you put on your hands gets washed off, wiped onto your phone or rubbed into your keyboard within an hour. At night, your hands are still for six to eight hours. That is the perfect window for richer products to do their work.

The catch is that thick creams and oils on bare hands end up on your sheets, your pillow and your partner. That is where gloves come in.

The routine

Step 1: Wash and dry gently

Wash your hands with a mild, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water, not hot. Pat them dry instead of rubbing, and leave them very slightly damp. Applying moisturizer to slightly damp skin helps it spread more easily.

Step 2: Cuticle oil first

Put a drop of cuticle oil on each nail and massage it into the cuticle and the skin on the sides of the nail. Jojoba-based oils are popular because they feel light and absorb well. If you have a fresh gel or polish manicure, this step also helps keep the skin around it looking neat as the polish grows out.

Step 3: A generous layer of hand cream

This is not the time for a light, fast-absorbing lotion. Use a rich hand cream or balm, and use more than you think you need. Work it into your knuckles, the backs of your hands and between your fingers, which are often the driest spots.

Step 4: Gloves on

Slip on a pair of gloves and go to sleep. In the morning, your hands will feel noticeably softer, and any leftover cream will have soaked in rather than ended up on the bedding.

Do this a few nights a week, or every night during the worst of winter, and you will see the difference in your cuticles within a couple of weeks.

Cotton or silk gloves?

Moisturizing gloves have traditionally been made of cotton, and cotton works. But it is worth knowing the trade-offs.

Cotton is absorbent. That is great for a towel, less great when the whole point is to keep cream on your skin. A fair amount of your hand cream ends up soaking into the glove. Cotton gloves can also feel thick and warm, which is not ideal if you already run hot at night.

Silk absorbs much less than cotton, so more of the product stays on your hands. It is also very smooth and light, which makes it easy to forget you are wearing gloves at all. A fine knit silk glove has enough stretch to fit closely without feeling tight at the wrist, and it will not snag on rough cuticles or a chipped nail edge. Many people find silk gloves for overnight hand care are simply more comfortable to sleep in, which matters, because you are far more likely to stick with a routine that does not feel like a chore.

Whichever you choose, look for gloves with full fingers and a fit that is snug but not tight. Gloves that are too big slip off in the night; gloves that are too small leave marks.

A few extra tips

• Wash your gloves often. They will absorb some cream and oil every night. Hand wash silk gloves in cool water with a gentle detergent and let them dry flat.
• Keep a pair by the bed. If the gloves and cream live on your nightstand, you will actually use them.
• Wear rubber gloves for washing up. Hot water and dish soap are tough on cuticles. Protect your hands during the day and the overnight routine has much less damage to undo.
• Do not cut your cuticles. Gently push them back after a shower, when they are soft. Cutting them can lead to more ragged skin as they grow back.
• Know when to see a doctor. If your skin is cracked, bleeding, very itchy or not improving, check in with a dermatologist. Gloves and cream are for everyday dryness, not for treating a skin condition.

The easiest beauty habit you will ever start

There is something very satisfying about a beauty step that works while you sleep. A few minutes with oil, cream and a pair of gloves before bed, and you wake up with hands that look like they belong with your manicure.

Muriersilk makes knitted gloves in 100% mulberry silk, in a range of soft colors, that are worth a look if you want to give your routine a little upgrade this winter. Your cuticles will thank you.