Normally, a handshake or a wave would be the first thing that people will notice. That’s why hand care is essential – keeping them clean and moisturized can help you win people over. However, irritants like the sun, water, and household labor can easily make your hands less presentable and unclean.
Want to make a good impression? Here are five simple ways to make good use of hand care.
Don’t Clip Nails Too Short
“Clipping your nails, every once in a while, is okay, just as long as you don’t clip them too short,” says Audrey Bates, a health writer at Uktopwriters and Bestaustralianwriters. “Your nails still to have their natural curve. And if they’re not perfectly round, then that’s okay, too. You don’t want to force the nails to be perfect, or else you’ll be doing them more harm than good.”
Wash Your Hands Well
While it’s important to keep your hands free of dirt and germs, using a lot of antibacterial hand soap can actually dry out your skin, and strip the natural oils from it. Instead, find a moisturizing soap with the following ingredients:
- Shea butter
- Olive oil
- Aloe vera
These ingredients will hydrate your hands, so that they don’t get too dry.
Also, don’t wash your hands in hot water, since that will also dry out your skin. Instead, wash them in lukewarm water.
Finally, try not to wash your hands too much. Try sticking to washing your hands before you eat and after using the restroom. And, as always, whenever you handle something dirty, or interact with animals, wash your hands.
Mind The Cuticles
Cuticles are the tissue that are at the back of your nails, connecting it to your skin. But when they reach too far and become dry, then they’re more prone to getting caught on something and make you bleed.
But don’t panic! You can solve your cuticle problem in two ways (which you can either do both or pick either or – whatever you desire):
Use a hand oil (or pre-shave oil) to soften the tissue for a few minutes.
Use a nail tool to push back the tissue toward the nail bed, and clip off any excess.
Use Hand Cream Regularly
Hand creams help your hands stay soft; so, apply them regularly – preferably several times a day. Whenever your hands feel dry, reapply the lotion. Don’t wait until your hands get dry to put more lotion on. The preferred schedule should be to apply lotion in the morning after you wash your hands, and then before you go to bed at night.
When selecting a hand cream to use, look for a formula with the following ingredients:
- Glycerin
- Shea butter
- Natural oils
Though, if you don’t want your guys to feel greasy, then look for a hand cream that’s fast-absorbing, and won’t leave any slippery residue behind.
Treat Unwanted Cracks
Cracks on your hands can come out of nowhere, whether it’s from certain weather conditions, or your hands aren’t getting enough moisture. Therefore, extremely dry hands can make them crack and split, which can be painful at times.
Instead of reaching for a regular hand cream, you’ll need an ointment for the job. Ointments give you the healing and protective properties – and the right moisture solution – for your cracked skin that a regular hand lotion doesn’t have. If you don’t have a specific hand ointment, petroleum jelly will suffice.
Use Sunscreen
“Just as sunscreen is important to have on your body, your hands need that added protection, too,” says Hannah Gibbons, a beauty blogger at Bestbritishessays and Eliteassignmenthelp. “Like the rest of your skin, your hands are prone to sunburn, and developing dark spots. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen – preferably with a SPF of 30 or higher – on your hands everyday should keep them safe from any sun damage.”
More good news is that you can reapply sunscreen throughout the day, even after you’ve washed your hands. You can even include it in your skin care routine by using a hand cream with a SPF of 30 or higher built into it.
Conclusion
With these five simple ways to treat and care for your hands, there’s no need to go to a salon and pay them the money. With the right equipment and the know-how, you’ll soon have hands that will make first impressions count.
Molly Crockett writes and edits for Stateofwriting.com and Oxessays.com. She also provides online writing help at Revieweal.com. As a marketing writer, she shares her unique lifestyle tips and personal development advice with her audience.