Between school supply shopping, schedule coordinating, and getting the whole family back into routine mode, self-care is usually the first thing to slip during back-to-school season. But a fresh manicure doesn't have to take much time — and it can make a real difference in how put-together you feel walking into a new, busier chapter.

Here's how to reset your nails for the school year without sacrificing the little time you have.

By the time August rolls around, your nails have usually been through a lot. Pool days, beach trips, hours in the sun, sunscreen application after sunscreen application — it all adds up. If your gel has been chipping faster than usual or your natural nails feel dry and brittle, summer is probably the reason why.

The good news is that most of this damage is preventable once you understand what's actually causing it.