Although they don’t often get quite as much attention as the moneymaker that is the face, caring for our hands is important as well. After all, they see a lot more use than the rest of our bodies, leading to faster wear on our skin, and our nails also require a little more specialized care. We are going to look at the routine care you should be giving your hands and nails, and the benefits you can enjoy as a result.
Cleanse With a Gentle Wash
While there are plenty of skincare trends, when it comes to the basic pillars of care, cleansing is one that you shouldn’t skip. First of all, you should take care to avoid stripping away protective oils while still removing dirt and bacteria. Mild, moisturizing hand washes tend to work better than those harsh antibacterial soaps, which can not only dry your skin but also weaken your nails, as well. Similarly, you should also opt for lukewarm water, as hot water can be just as dehydrating, making your cuticles more prone to cracking. For the nails, use a soft nail brush to gently clean around and beneath them, avoiding the nail bed damage caused by scrubbing tools.
Dry Your Hands Thoroughly After Washing
While dehydration is something that you want to avoid, proper drying isn’t something that you should overlook, either. If there’s too much moisture left around the nails and between your fingers, it can cause your nail plate to become softer, which can lead to peeling and even increase your chances of problems with bacteria or fungi. When you’re finished washing, use a soft, clean towel to gently pat your hands dry, making sure that you give a little extra care to the spaces between your fingers and around your cuticles. Avoid rubbing them aggressively, as this can lead to irritation and the horror that is hangnails.
Apply Rich Hand Cream Daily
As mentioned, hydration is key when it comes to maintaining soft skin and strong nails, while avoiding dry hands. You should look for hand creams that include ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid, which can restore moisture and strengthen the skin barrier. Applying it properly is important, as well. Massage the cream thoroughly into your hands, focusing on your knuckles, fingertips, and around the nail folds. Effectively, you want to make sure to focus on the areas where dryness typically appears first. You should apply hand cream after washing and drying, and again before bed, as this helps support the way the skin heals and repairs itself overnight.
Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV
Massage A Drop of Cuticle Oil into Each Nail
While it might not seem like a lot, a drop of cuticle oil can be a powerful boost to your hand care routine. Simply use a small drop on each cuticle and gently massage it into the surrounding skin and nail plate. Cuticle oil can hydrate the area, preventing hangnails, cracking, and splitting. It also encourages healthy nail growth across the board while keeping the cuticle soft and flexible. Ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba, and coconut oil are especially nourishing, as they’re easier for the body to absorb and don’t leave a lot of residue. Using cuticle oil daily, especially before bedtime, gives the nutrients more time to work their magic, which can help your nails eventually look smoother, shinier, and well cared for.
Keep Your Nails Trimmed and Filed
Neglecting your routine nail upkeep is one of the easiest ways to experience painful breaks over time. Make sure that you have sharp, quality nail clippers that are able to cut straight across, and then take a little itme ot refine their shape with the help of a quality nail file. While sawing back and forth might be the most common depiction of filing on TV, the truth is that it makes you much more likely to experience splitting and fraying at the edges. File in one direction, instead. Keep your nails at a manageable length to reduce how much stress you put on the nail plate, while also reducing your chances of snagging them on fabrics and other surfaces.
Protect Your Hands During Household Tasks
Most of us keep our hands pretty busy and, as much as we might like to avoid the household chores, they do have to be done. However, this can leave your hands exposed to all kinds of harsh cleaning chemicals, friction, and even excessive submerging in water, which dries the skin and weakens the nails. Finding the right pairs of protective gloves while cleaning, washing the dishes, or gardening can offer your hands some much-needed protection. This can help preserve the natural oils in the skin and protect you from dehydration. Cotton line gloves are even better, when suitable, as they can reduce sweat buildup over time.
Keep Your Care Consistent
The daily habits mentioned above should become part of your regular routine, not something that you only do once in a while. You can support your daily efforts while slightly less frequent weekly rituals, as well. For instance, you can have a weekly soak of your hands in warm water to soften the skin and cuticles, followed by gently pushing back cuticles to ensure that they’re thoroughly cleansed, preventing irritation and infection. Weekly exfoliation of your skin with a gentle scrub can help you remove buildup and make your skin even better able to absorb the nutrients from the self-care products that you use. Setting aside time each week for a little more detailed care of your hands and nails ensures that your hands are even stronger and more comfortable.
Your hands and your nails require a little more care to stay looking and feeling fresh and beautiful, no matter how much you put them through. Implementing a few of the steps mentioned above can make a real difference.
Although they don’t often get quite as much attention as the moneymaker that is the face, caring for our hands is important as well. After all, they see a lot more use than the rest of our bodies, leading to faster wear on our skin, and our nails also require a little more specialized care. We are going to look at the routine care you should be giving your hands and nails, and the benefits you can enjoy as a result.
Cleanse With a Gentle Wash
While there are plenty of skincare trends, when it comes to the basic pillars of care, cleansing is one that you shouldn’t skip. First of all, you should take care to avoid stripping away protective oils while still removing dirt and bacteria. Mild, moisturizing hand washes tend to work better than those harsh antibacterial soaps, which can not only dry your skin but also weaken your nails, as well. Similarly, you should also opt for lukewarm water, as hot water can be just as dehydrating, making your cuticles more prone to cracking. For the nails, use a soft nail brush to gently clean around and beneath them, avoiding the nail bed damage caused by scrubbing tools.
Dry Your Hands Thoroughly After Washing
While dehydration is something that you want to avoid, proper drying isn’t something that you should overlook, either. If there’s too much moisture left around the nails and between your fingers, it can cause your nail plate to become softer, which can lead to peeling and even increase your chances of problems with bacteria or fungi. When you’re finished washing, use a soft, clean towel to gently pat your hands dry, making sure that you give a little extra care to the spaces between your fingers and around your cuticles. Avoid rubbing them aggressively, as this can lead to irritation and the horror that is hangnails.
Apply Rich Hand Cream Daily
As mentioned, hydration is key when it comes to maintaining soft skin and strong nails, while avoiding dry hands. You should look for hand creams that include ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid, which can restore moisture and strengthen the skin barrier. Applying it properly is important, as well. Massage the cream thoroughly into your hands, focusing on your knuckles, fingertips, and around the nail folds. Effectively, you want to make sure to focus on the areas where dryness typically appears first. You should apply hand cream after washing and drying, and again before bed, as this helps support the way the skin heals and repairs itself overnight.
Massage A Drop of Cuticle Oil into Each Nail
While it might not seem like a lot, a drop of cuticle oil can be a powerful boost to your hand care routine. Simply use a small drop on each cuticle and gently massage it into the surrounding skin and nail plate. Cuticle oil can hydrate the area, preventing hangnails, cracking, and splitting. It also encourages healthy nail growth across the board while keeping the cuticle soft and flexible. Ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba, and coconut oil are especially nourishing, as they’re easier for the body to absorb and don’t leave a lot of residue. Using cuticle oil daily, especially before bedtime, gives the nutrients more time to work their magic, which can help your nails eventually look smoother, shinier, and well cared for.
Keep Your Nails Trimmed and Filed
Neglecting your routine nail upkeep is one of the easiest ways to experience painful breaks over time. Make sure that you have sharp, quality nail clippers that are able to cut straight across, and then take a little itme ot refine their shape with the help of a quality nail file. While sawing back and forth might be the most common depiction of filing on TV, the truth is that it makes you much more likely to experience splitting and fraying at the edges. File in one direction, instead. Keep your nails at a manageable length to reduce how much stress you put on the nail plate, while also reducing your chances of snagging them on fabrics and other surfaces.
Protect Your Hands During Household Tasks
Most of us keep our hands pretty busy and, as much as we might like to avoid the household chores, they do have to be done. However, this can leave your hands exposed to all kinds of harsh cleaning chemicals, friction, and even excessive submerging in water, which dries the skin and weakens the nails. Finding the right pairs of protective gloves while cleaning, washing the dishes, or gardening can offer your hands some much-needed protection. This can help preserve the natural oils in the skin and protect you from dehydration. Cotton line gloves are even better, when suitable, as they can reduce sweat buildup over time.
Keep Your Care Consistent
The daily habits mentioned above should become part of your regular routine, not something that you only do once in a while. You can support your daily efforts while slightly less frequent weekly rituals, as well. For instance, you can have a weekly soak of your hands in warm water to soften the skin and cuticles, followed by gently pushing back cuticles to ensure that they’re thoroughly cleansed, preventing irritation and infection. Weekly exfoliation of your skin with a gentle scrub can help you remove buildup and make your skin even better able to absorb the nutrients from the self-care products that you use. Setting aside time each week for a little more detailed care of your hands and nails ensures that your hands are even stronger and more comfortable.
Your hands and your nails require a little more care to stay looking and feeling fresh and beautiful, no matter how much you put them through. Implementing a few of the steps mentioned above can make a real difference.
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