Handsome hands and nails

Keep moisturised 

Store hand cream by your basin and apply after washing and drying hands. 

Massage when you can

Whenever you have a few minutes to relax, massage cream into the hands using the thumb and forefinger of one hand to massage the fingers of the other.

Working from fingertip to base, then knuckles and the rest of the hand and wrist.

Digital tips

• Use a little sesame oil to soften and hydrate the cuticle. 
• If your hands and nails are excessively dry, apply a thick coat of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or your favourite hand cream, then wear cotton gloves and leave on over night. If you can’t stand the idea of wearing gloves in bed, give yourself this treatment when you’re doing any housework and wear rubber gloves over the cotton ones.
• To improve your nails – and hair – take about 25g of unflavoured gelatin daily in water or juice. It will take about a month to see the results.
• Whenever you use an exfoliant (body or face scrub) apply some to the hands.
• A moisturising face mask works wonders on the hands as well.
• Keep your hands out of water for two hours after an manicure as water can cause polish to peel and avoid hot water to make the manicure last longer.

Common problems

• Yellowing nails? Try soaking them in neat lemon juice for half an hour. If the yellowing is caused by nail varnish, don’t remove it so often. Wear for a week and touch up as necessary. 

• White marks on nails are caused by zinc deficiency. Good sources are cheddar cheese and spinach.
• Vertical ridges naturally occur on nails after the age of 40 or so. Massage your hands and nails daily to stimulate blood flow. Buffing nails also helps to reduce ridges. Alternatively you might like to use one of the ridge fillers currently on the market.
• Dry and/or splitting nails – moisturise daily; protect hands from detergents – use a nail hardener or base coat (see Home manicure).

Home manicure

A step by step guide to a perfect manicure. For a man, just ignore references to varnish.

• Remove any nail varnish with an oily remover – remember that the acetone in some removers is very drying and may damage your nails. Moisten some cotton wool or a pad with the remover, then beginning at the base of the nail press down and pull off in one movement. Repeat as necessary. Rinse the nails and pat dry.
• If you have any hard skin or calluses on your hands, soak them in a bowl of warm water and work a pumice stone over the patches. Then to remove any flaky skin use an exfoliating cream or mix a little salt with some almond oil and gently rub over hands and nails. Rinse and dry.
• To strengthen split or brittle nails, soak them for five minutes in warm almond, olive or baby oil. Rinse and dry.
• Work in a really good hand cream that’s non-greasy and easily absorbed. This is a good time to treat your hands to a massage (see above).
• Now you’re ready to tackle your nails. If you need to cut them, snip carefully round from one side to the other. Never cut finger nails straight across as this will weaken them. To shape use an emery board at an angle to the nail and work in one direct from side to centre, don’t use a 'sawing’ action. The best shape for a nail is slightly square with the corners rounded – filing away at the sides of the nail into an oval or point weakens the nail.
• Apply a cuticle remover and, using an orange stick tipped with cotton wool or a rubber topped 'hoof stick’, gently push back the cuticle, working round the base and sides of the nail and following the instructions of the cuticle cream you’re using.
• Wash hands thoroughly and brush nails with a soft manicure brush. This removes any oily film on the surface which would prevent nail varnish from adhering properly.
• With hands steadied on a table top you’re now ready to apply a base coat, which protects the nail and prevents yellowing. Allow a couple of minutes drying time. Even if you don’t wear varnish, use a base coat as this works on the nail in much the same way as you would use a conditioner on hair. The base coat prevents the nails from becoming too dry and brittle.
• Apply two coats of varnish allowing the first coat to dry for 10 minutes. Then paint on a 'dryer’ so that your nails will be dry to touch within minutes. Your manicure will last longer if you paint the over the tips of the nails as you apply the polish and top coat. Reapply the top coat every other day to lengthen the life of your manicure.

Exercise

Many problems associated with the hands and nails, for example splitting and brittle nails and cold hands, can be attributed to poor circulation and diet. Hands benefit from the following exercise –

Clench fingers tightly into a ball then release. Do this several times then let your hands hand loosely at your sides before clenching into relaxed fists and rotating first clockwise then anti-clockwise. Let them hang limp again and then give them a good shake.