In winter, hands dry out because of the cold, dry heated air and frequent washing. What works: lukewarm water, hand cream straight after every wash on slightly damp skin, a thick, fragrance-free cream or ointment, and gloves outdoors and for the washing-up. Itchy patches, blisters, cracks that bleed: see a doctor. At the salon, the Luxury SPA Manicure with no colour (€50, 50 min) complements the routine: soak, scrub, mask, massage. Book online.
1. Why hands get so dry in winter
Hands get everything that dries skin out. Outside, cold and wind. Inside, dry heated air. And all year round, frequent washing, often in hot water, with soap or hand sanitiser, which strips away the lipids that protect the skin. Unlike the face, which most of us moisturise every morning, hands stay exposed, and we rarely think about them.
The result: skin that feels tight, turns rough, reddens over the knuckles, then splits into small cracks. Nails become drier and more brittle too: more on that below.
2. What to do: the habits dermatologists recommend
The American Academy of Dermatology sums up the essentials in a few habits, which we repeat to our clients:
- Lukewarm water, not hot, to wash your hands, then pat them dry rather than rubbing.
- Hand cream straight away, on skin that is still slightly damp, after every wash and whenever your hands feel tight. Massage it into your fingertips and around your nails.
- A thick cream or ointment rather than a thin lotion: rich textures, often in a tube, add more moisture. Choose them fragrance-free.
- Gloves: outdoors, against the cold and dry air, and for the washing-up and cleaning, where hot water and detergents dry skin out the most.
- A humidifier in the bedroom, at night, if the air in your flat is very dry.
As for the cream, the same academy suggests a formula that combines lipids (such as ceramides), ingredients that attract water (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) and ingredients that seal it into the skin (petrolatum, mineral oil). For a specific product, your pharmacist is the right person to ask.
3. When it is no longer simple dryness: see a doctor
Dry hands improve within a few days with these habits. If they do not, or if you notice any of these signs, see a doctor:
- red or darker patches that itch, or a burning feeling;
- small blisters;
- deep, painful cracks;
- skin that bleeds or weeps.
It may be hand eczema, which is not the same as simply dry skin: a doctor should diagnose and treat it, as the American Academy of Dermatology points out. We do not give home remedies; a salon treatment comes afterwards, on healed skin.
4. What a Luxury SPA Manicure with no colour does
Your everyday cream does most of the work. A SPA manicure complements it, it does not replace it: it is the moment when your whole hands are looked after, without rushing. The Luxury SPA Manicure with no colour (€50, 50 min, €40 in our quieter weekday slots) combines an aromatic hand soak, bespoke exfoliating scrub, intensive hydrating mask, aromatic oil massage, then nail care: your hands emerge soft, luminous and perfectly cared for.
- With colour: the same Luxury SPA Manicure with classic nail polish (€60) or with OPI gel polish (€65, 60 min), which lasts 3 to 4 weeks without chipping.
- Hands and feet together: the Luxury SPA hands and feet package with no colour (€100, 100 min), so your feet start the winter as well cared for as your hands.
SPA or classic? The differences are explained in Luxury SPA or classic manicure, and all our manicures are on the manicure page. Hands and feet packages are on the packages page.
5. What about your nails?
Cold and washing dry nails out too: they become more brittle, and the skin around them splits. The same cream, massaged around the nails, protects them; so do gloves. For the skin around your nails, our article the winter routine around your nails gives the everyday habits.
6. Visiting Paris? What you need to know
- Where: 7 rue d'Argenteuil, Paris 1st — three minutes from the Louvre and the Tuileries, metro Tuileries (line 1) or Pyramides (lines 7 and 14).
- When: open 7 days a week, 10am to 8pm, Sundays included.
- How:online booking in English, French or Chinese, instant confirmation. Walk-ins are welcome, subject to same-day availability — calling ahead is the safest.
- Languages: the whole team speaks French, English and 中文.
Book a Luxury SPA Manicure
Luxury SPA Manicure with no colour €50 (50 min) · with OPI gel polish €65 · Luxury SPA hands and feet with no colour €100. Paris 1st, three minutes from the Louvre, 7 days a week.
Book onlineFrequently asked questions
Because they get everything at once: cold and wind outside, dry heated air inside, and frequent washing, often in hot water, which strips away the lipids that protect the skin. Hands are always exposed, and their skin dries faster than the face, which most of us moisturise every day.
The steps dermatologists recommend: wash in lukewarm water, pat your hands dry, and apply hand cream straight away, on skin that is still slightly damp, after every wash. Choose a thick, fragrance-free cream or ointment rather than a thin lotion, wear gloves outdoors and for the washing-up, and, if the air is very dry, run a humidifier in the bedroom.
A cream or an ointment rather than a lotion: thick textures, often in a tube, add more moisture. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests a fragrance-free formula combining lipids (such as ceramides), ingredients that attract water (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) and ingredients that seal it in (petrolatum, mineral oil). For advice on a specific product, ask your pharmacist.
When it is no longer simple dryness: red or darker patches that itch, a burning feeling, small blisters, deep and painful cracks, skin that bleeds or weeps, or hands that do not improve despite moisturising. It may be hand eczema: a doctor should diagnose and treat it. A salon treatment comes afterwards, on healed skin.
It complements your everyday hand cream; it does not replace it. The Luxury SPA Manicure with no colour (€50, 50 min) combines an aromatic hand soak, a bespoke exfoliating scrub, an intensive hydrating mask and an aromatic oil massage: a real moment of care that leaves soft hands and neat nails. In our quieter weekday slots, it is €40.
No, colour is optional: the Luxury SPA Manicure comes with no colour (€50), with classic nail polish (€60) or with OPI gel polish (€65), which lasts 3 to 4 weeks without chipping. To look after your feet too, the Luxury SPA hands and feet package with no colour takes 100 min (€100).