We’ve talked at length on this blog about how to rectify winter skin damage, but with glorious 70-degree temperatures poised to grace us with their presence all week, we thought we’d take a moment to discuss how to help your nails make the warm-weather transition. After months of dry, cold air, you’re likely experiencing some unsightly breakage. You may be interested to know, however, that all breakage isn’t created equal. “Most women tend to think they need a hardener for growth. But that’s a misconception,” says CND education training manager Roxanne Valinoti. “The way your nails break is a good indication of what their condition is,” she explains. “So, for example, if they snap low and come off in one piece, they’re likely dry, brittle, and in need of moisture; alternatively, if they tend to peel off with an occasional split in the corner, they are probably soft and weak and could benefit from a hardener.” Valinoti suggests daily applications of CND’s SolarOil for the former and a weekly touch-up of its Toughen Up base coat for the latter. She insists that SolarOil can be applied over polish, too; in other words, you don’t need to give your nails a polish break in order to keep them healthy. “That’s a fact, not an opinion,” says Valinoti. “Keeping nails coated actually helps seal in the moisture that they would lose from hand-washing, UV exposure, etc.” So start repairing your nails accordingly and feel free to keep your pastels, neons, and brights on constant rotation as summer quickly approaches.