Let’s Talk About Winter Skin on Our Hands and Feet

Winter skin needs a little extra care, especially on our hands and feet. Gentle hydration, consistent moisture, and a bit of ritual go a long way.

It’s getting really cold out there, and I don’t know about you, but I am cranking the heat & my skin is parched.

I’ve lived in drafty houses my whole life. This is actually the first new-build home I’ve lived in for as long as I can remember. And while it’s lovely in many ways, the heat is dry. The kind of dry that has you waking up in the middle of the night feeling completely dehydrated.

To fight this, I keep a fine mist bottle of our Hydration Mist on my bedside table, along with a tin of our Everything Balm. A few spritzes followed by the balm locks that moisture in and makes an immediate difference.

As a woman going through the hormonal changes in Menopause, I chose the hydration mist for a number of reasons. I’m waking up hot, and a quick mist of our Moisturizing Hydration Spray is incredibly refreshing.

From there, I like to lock it in with a pea-sized amount of the Everything Balm, rubbing it into my hands, face, and lips. The subtle scent of cedarwood and palo santo is deeply relaxing and turns the routine into a small moment of calm before sleep.

I love that our Everything Balm truly lives up to its name. It moisturizes and protects hardworking hands while still being gentle enough for the face and lips. Every ingredient is there for a reason, chosen for how thoughtfully it supports the skin. Shea and cocoa butter soften the skin while coconut and castor oils protect the barrier.

Everything Balm

ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS + BENEFITS

Shea Butter. Softens and restores the skin barrier

Cocoa Butter. Provides rich moisture and smoothness

Coconut Oil. Helps prevent moisture loss

Castor Oil. Supports repair and skin conditioning

Essential Oil Blend. Light calming aroma of Cedarwood and Palo Santos.

For even more support, my heels get special treatment

with our Cracked Heel / Magnesium Calming Cream.

Cracked Heel Cream

ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS + BENEFITS

Shea Butter. Helps lock in moisture, improve softness.

Coconut Oil. Supports the skin barrier, and maintains long-lasting hydration.

Beeswax. Forms a durable, breathable protective barrier that seals in moisture and shields skin from further dryness.

Magnesium. May support comfort and relaxation, making this cream especially ideal for evening or overnight use.

Essential Oil Blend (Peppermint and Ginger). A calming & refreshing blend.

For best results, massage in a generous layer, slip on socks, and let it work overnight. Ultimate softness awaits.

Winter Whites & Tea Stained Nails

The end of December might feel like a strange time to be talking about tea-stained nails. But as we’ve been talking more about nail polish permeability and how soak-off systems interact with acetone, it felt like the right moment to explain staining as well.

Sometimes staining is obvious. Turmeric, or self-tanner leaves a clear mark. Other times it’s subtle. The color slowly shifts. A shade that once felt crisp starts to look dingier day by day, without a single moment you can point to as the cause.

As someone who wears dark colors regularly, I see this on my own nails pretty quickly. My nails get what I jokingly call “the greys,” a muted, dull cast that comes from pigment transfer over time.

And sometimes it happens all at once. A bright white suddenly turns tea-brown almost overnight. In my experience, this has happened most often after exposure to certain hand sanitizers or sunscreens. 

If you’ve ever noticed a yellow or brown cast creeping into a once-fresh light gel, you’re not imagining it. Here’s what’s happening and how to minimize it.

Why light gels discolor

Discoloration in light gels is almost always staining, not product failure. Light gels behave like light fabric. They don’t cause stains, but they reveal them.

Soak-off gel systems are intentionally permeable so they can be removed safely. That same permeability allows pigments from daily life to migrate slowly into the surface layers of the coating.

Darker shades mask this. Sheer and milky colors do not.

As the top coat wears down, staining becomes more noticeable.

How to reduce staining

Oil consistently. The top coat is your main barrier. When it stays intact, staining happens more slowly. Regular cuticle oil use helps maintain flexibility and reduces surface wear.

Be mindful with known stainers. Coffee, tea, spices, self-tanner, and hair dye are frequent culprits. Also hand sanitizers and sunscreens. Gloves help, especially during cleaning or hair services.

Top coat choices that help

No soft gel top coat is stain-proof, but the more durable polishes will help. Currently the most durable stain resistant polishes in our chosen lines are:

#1 Kokoist Ultra Glossy Non-Wipe Top Coat

Or for Shellac Purists CND Shellac Duraforce

Why Cuticle Oil Matters And Why It Works With Any Soak-Off Gel System

At Lark & Sparrow, we prioritize nail health, flexibility, and long-term wear over brand claims or trends. Cuticle oil is one of the most important tools we use to protect natural nails, regardless of whether we are working with CND Shellac, Vettsy, or any other soak-off gel system. Here’s why it matters.

All soak-off gels are permeable by design

Soak-off gel polish works because acetone can penetrate the cured coating and break it down during removal.

That means:

• Shellac is permeable

• Vettsy is permeable

• All soak-off gel systems share this characteristic

When Shellac is described as “breathable,” it is referring to its flexible polymer structure, not a unique ability to feed or nourish the nail through the coating.

Permeability is not exclusive to one brand. It is a fundamental feature of any product designed to soak off safely.

Easier soak-off usually means more flexible chemistry

Gel systems that soak off more easily tend to be less rigid. They have a looser polymer network, which makes them more permeable to both acetone and oils.

That flexibility matters. More flexible coatings are better able to move with the natural nail instead of resisting it. When paired with proper prep and regular oil use, this flexibility helps reduce cracking, peeling, and stress at the free edge.

This applies equally to Shellac, Vettsy, and other soak-off gels we use in the salon.

What cuticle oil actually does

There is a lot of misinformation about cuticle oil. It is often described as “feeding” the nail, which is not quite accurate.

Here’s what cuticle oil actually does.

• Keeps the proximal nail fold and surrounding skin supple

• Absorbs under the free edge to help maintain nail flexibility

• Helps the gel coating flex instead of crack under stress

Oil does not nourish the nail plate in the way food nourishes the body. Instead, it supports elasticity and reduces brittleness. Think of cuticle oil as stress insurance, not nail food.

Why flexibility matters more than hardness

Healthy nails are not meant to be rigid. They are meant to bend slightly and recover. When nails become dry and brittle, they may feel hard, but that hardness often leads to sudden breaks instead of gradual wear. Oil helps restore balance by supporting flexibility in both the natural nail and the gel coating sitting on top of it. This is especially important during colder months, when nails lose moisture more quickly.

The key takeaway

Cuticle oil is essential for nail health because it protects flexibility and reduces stress on the nail, not because it feeds the nail through the polish. This benefit applies to all soak-off gel systems we use.

Consistent oil use supports better wear, fewer breaks, and healthier nails over time, no matter the brand on top.

Brittle Nails, “Strong” Nails, and What Healthy Really Means

Winter is often when people start noticing changes in their nails.

They split more easily. They feel harder. They break suddenly instead of wearing down slowly. Many people describe this as their nails being “strong but fragile,” which sounds contradictory until you look a little closer.

Recently, I was doing my mother’s manicure for the first time in years. She’s in the later stages of congestive heart failure. She weighs under one hundred pounds, on oxygen 24/7, and yet, while I was shaping her nails, she proudly pointed out how strong her nails were. And honestly, on the surface, she wasn’t wrong. They were hard. Very hard.

But they were also brittle.

What healthy nails actually look like

A healthy nail is:

• Smooth

• Even in thickness

• Slightly flexible / Able to bend under pressure without cracking or snapping

Why nails become brittle

Brittleness is often caused by dehydration, not weakness.

Normal Aging:  As we age, our bodies produce less and less of the natural hydrating oils that protect our skin and nails from dehydration.  If you have a tendency toward dry skin to begin with, it means you will probably have dry nails sooner rather than later.

Overexposure to chemicals (including water- H2O): excessive hand washing, cleaning.. without protective gloves can contribute to brittleness.

Nail hardeners:  Ironically, these products often make things worse.  For the first week after you start using them, you might see some improvement, but in time the alcohols and other solvents in them tend to remove oils from the nails and make the dryness worse.

Reframing the goal

Healthy nails are not about being unbreakable. They’re about being resilient. They should be able to live in the real world. Wash dishes. Experience cold weather. Bump into things. Grow out without shattering at the free edge. That’s what we work toward.

Where this gets deep

When something cannot bend, it does not adapt. It holds until it breaks. What looks strong on the surface is often fragile underneath. Healthy nails, like healthy bodies and healthy people, need a little give. They need moisture. They need flexibility. They need the ability to respond rather than resist. That’s not weakness. That’s resilience.

DRINK MORE WATER AND OIL YOUR CUTICLES

Micro Dust, Soakable Systems, and Why It Matters to Us

When people think about air quality in a nail salon, they usually think about strong smells. What they don’t think about is dust. Not the kind you see on a surface, but micro dust. The kind that can linger in the air after a service is finished.

What is micro dust?

Micro dust is made up of extremely fine particles created during nail prep and product removal. When gel products are filed, tiny polymer fragments are released into the air. These particles are small enough to remain airborne for periods of time, which is why air quality and dust management matter in salon environments. Unlike heavier debris that settles quickly, fine dust can travel beyond the immediate workstation and become part of the shared air. Over months and years inside a salon, repeated exposure adds up.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness.

The role of soakable systems

Not all nail products behave the same way during removal.

Hard Gel, non-soakable systems typically require dry filing to break through the product. Acetone has little effect, so removal relies on mechanical abrasion, which can create more lightweight airborne dust.

Soakable systems, on the other hand, are designed to soften and release. The soaking process actually changes the dust itself.

When filing does happen during our services, Acetone begins softening the cured gel before filing starts. This changes the physical behavior of the material being removed.

Softer gel:

• Breaks into heavier, less dry particles

• Is less likely to linger in the breathing zone compared to dry-filed dust

This does not mean there is zero dust. It does mean the dust behaves differently and settles more quickly instead of staying suspended in the air. So if you see filing during your service, there’s no need to be alarmed. We are not dry-filing fully cured product into the space.

The difference you don’t see

You won’t always notice micro dust visually. What you will notice is how the space feels. Lighter. Easier to breathe in. Less harsh on the body over time. That’s intentional.

Clean air isn’t just about what we add to a space. It’s also about what we actively choose not to put into it.

A note of respect for hard gel technicians

It’s important to say this clearly: hard gel systems can be used safely. Independent technicians who work with proper source-capture ventilation, high-quality dust collectors, and appropriate masks can absolutely perform services responsibly and safely.

This post is not a critique of those practices or the professionals who use them well.

The part of this story that’s personal

There’s also a very human reason behind this choice. I have sensory sensitivities. Fine dust in the air, on surfaces, and settling on skin creates a level of nervous system overload that’s hard to ignore. It’s not logical. It’s visceral.

The feeling of particles floating, landing everywhere, and lingering in the space makes my skin crawl. Once you notice it, it’s impossible to un-notice. Designing a salon where I could work comfortably meant designing a space where that sensory overload was minimized, not constantly managed.

Different paths, same goal

There is more than one way to practice responsibly in this industry. So many thoughtful nail systems are available today, each designed for different working styles, spaces, and needs. There’s no single right approach, just the one that fits best. This is simply the path that works best for us.

Is this a Plant Store?

Clean Air Is Not a Luxury. It’s the Foundation.

One of the first things people ask when they walk into our salon is if we sell plants. The shelves, the windows, the hanging greens. Sometimes the answer is yes, we do have plants for sale. But that has never been their main purpose here.

The plants are working.

More than decoration

Our plants are not here just to look nice or soften the space. They are part of how we think about the environment we work in every day.

Plants help absorb airborne toxins, improve air quality, and support a healthier indoor atmosphere. They also give us something important to pay attention to. If plants can thrive in a space, it’s usually a good sign that people can too.

Clean air matters here.

Why clean air matters in a nail salon

Nail services traditionally involve airborne particles, chemical vapors, and fine dust created during prep and removal. Over time, those particles don’t simply disappear. They stay in the air and are inhaled by technicians and guests alike.

When you spend years inside a salon, air quality stops being theoretical. You notice headaches, fatigue, irritated lungs, and that heavy feeling that settles in at the end of the day.

We decided early on that breathing well while we work was non-negotiable.

What we do differently

Clean air at Lark & Sparrow is not one solution. It’s a layered approach.

•Plants that actually work

Our plants support air quality and remind us that the space itself is a living system, not just a backdrop.

•Multiple air purification systems

We use air purifiers throughout the salon to continuously filter dust, odors, and fine particulates created during services.

•Specialized HVAC systems

Our HVAC system is designed to circulate and refresh air efficiently, rather than allowing it to stagnate.

Why we only use soakable products

One of the biggest contributors to poor air quality in salons is micro dust. Aggressive filing of hard, non-soakable products creates fine plastic and polymer particles that linger in the air. These particles are easily inhaled and difficult to fully remove once airborne.

We intentionally work with soakable systems to reduce the amount of micro plastic dust created during prep and removal. This protects our technicians, our guests, and the long-term health of the space.

The quiet difference you can feel

Most people don’t walk in and think, “The air is clean.”

What they notice instead is how they feel.

Clear-headed. Calm. Comfortable staying longer. Technicians don’t leave the day feeling foggy or depleted. Guests don’t leave with lingering chemical smells on their skin or clothes.

That’s the point.

Clean air should quietly support everything else.

Welcome

Welcome to the Lark & Sparrow Journal

If you’ve been with Lark & Sparrow for a while, you might be surprised to see a blog starting now.

We’ve been here for over a decade, hands deep in services, products, conversations, and care. For a long time, our work lived mostly inside the studio. Shared face-to-face. Felt more than explained.

This space is simply a place to slow things down and put words to what we already do.

Why start a blog now?

Over the years, we’ve learned that many of our choices, from how we build services to how we formulate oils, aren’t obvious from the outside. Clients ask thoughtful questions about ingredients, processes, recovery, and why our services feel different. This journal is a way to answer those questions in one place.

What you’ll find here

This journal will be a mix of education, transparency, and behind-the-scenes thinking. You’ll find posts about:

• How we design services and add-ons

• Ingredients we use and why we trust them

• In-house formulations and small-batch processes

• Nail health, skin care, and recovery

• Thoughtful upgrades that change how a service feels

Nothing rushed. Nothing clickbait. Just information we already share in person, written down so you can revisit it anytime.

Who this is for This space is for clients who like to understand what’s happening during their service. For people who enjoy knowing where things come from, how they work, and why certain choices matter.

You don’t need to read every post to enjoy your appointment. But if you’re curious, this journal is here.

A place to begin

Every business has a moment when it feels ready to speak in its own voice. Ours just happens to be ten years in.

Thanks for being here. We’re glad you found us.