How to get your nails up to scratch for spring

Winter is the season of chapped lips, parched skin and dry hair, and understandably our nails often come off worst of all.

With spring on the way, it's the perfect time to show them some love and get them up to scratch for a fresh new season.

A BIG DRINK OF MOISTURE

Get your hands on some intensely nourishing hand cream and give them a good slather, massaging over your nails and into your cuticles. Repeat as necessary.

I love the rich simplicity of Avène Cold Cream hand cream, $25 and L'Occitane's Shea Melting Honey Hand Whipped Cream, $18, feels and smells delicious.

CUTEN UP YOUR CUTICLES

Peeling, ragged cuticles look less than lovely and can also be painful. As they work to protect and shield nails as they grow and block them from bacteria, our cuticles play an important part in having healthy nails.

Give them the respect they deserve with regular doses (right before bed is a good time) of a cuticle oil such as OPI's Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go, $20, which is formulated with a thick gel consistency for easy, non-drip usage and contains vitamin E, avocado, sunflower, sesame and kukui nut oils.

SHORTEN AND SWEETEN

Especially in winter when your nails' defences are already down, long lengths are pretty much doomed to break, flake or tear, so keep them trimmed to no higher than your fingertips and tidy up the shape with a glass or acrylic nail file like Manicare's Crystal nail file, $25.

TREAT YO' NAILS

Keep your newly loved-up nails in tip-top condition with a good nail serum.

Fast-drying and water-based, Revitanail Keratin Strengthening serum, $25, promises to strengthen, protect and hydrate nails by penetrating and repairing the nail plate and can be used as a base coat under nail polish.

A COLOUR CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY

Well, nearly. What to choose as the finishing touches on all your good work? Vogue makes a good case for soft khakis for spring, metallics will add a little dazzle - this season it's all about platinum and creamy golds - or try being anything but shy with your hue with a vivid watermelon or tropical orange.

Or if you prefer to err on the understated side try a ladylike neutral such as lilac, peach, caramel or nude with a pearlescent formula rather than matte.

One final tip - before you paint, make sure your nails are totally clean and free of all the aforementioned goodies, as excess oils will interrupt your polish bond.