How to look after your hands

Dry hands and uneven cuticles can be unattractive, uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, especially in winter when extremely dry skin can snag, crack and bleed. Looking after your hands and cuticles with a few simple tips can help to keep them soft, supple and nourished and make them look years younger!

As with most things, prevention is better than cure and the best way to do this is to wear gloves to protect your hands from harsh chemicals, household cleaning products and extended exposure to water. As uncomfortable as they may be, gloves should be worn even when quick, simple tasks are being done, like simply washing a few dishes or cleaning counter tops. Not only will it save your skin, but it will protect your nails and your manicure, too, making your polish last longer.

To get rid of dry skin and improve the look of your hands, use a sugar scrub, body scrub or even facial scrub twice a week to get rid of any rough, dry skin. If you use a body scrub or facial exfoliator, you don’t need a separate product for your hands, just use whatever is left on your hands after you’ve exfoliated your body or face and simply massage the excess over the back of your hands and into your cuticles before rinsing it off.

Use a fast absorbing, non-greasy hand cream a few times per day to help maintain moisture levels and create a healthy barrier on your skin, which will help prevent the skin from splitting and cracking. Remember to rub the hand cream into your nails and cuticles as well, especially if you’re wearing polish. This will help to keep the nail polish supple and flexible (be it traditional or gel) and will help prevent it from chipping.

If possible, look for a hand cream that contains an SPF, as this will not only hydrate your skin but will also protect your hands from sun damage. If you can’t find a hand cream that has a built in SPF, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the back of your hands before going outside.

At night, a richer, more nourishing hand cream can be used, along with a cuticle oil. Apply these products just before climbing into bed, so that they can work their magic while you sleep and you don’t have to worry about any greasy feeling or leaving fingerprints everywhere.

Cuticle Oil applied once a day (twice per day is preferable) will help to nourish your cuticles and nails, keeping them hydrated and supple. If you wear nail polish, the cuticle oil will help keep it flexible, preventing it from becoming brittle and prone to chipping and cracking for much longer.

Dadi’ Oil by Famous Names is one of the best cuticle oils around and it is available from selected nail salons or stockists. If you’d prefer to purchase a more easily available cuticle oil, Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil or Sally Hansen Colour Therapy Nail & Cuticle Oil is available from Farmers stores and other Essie and Sally Hansen stockists. Cuticle Balms are also available but I haven’t tried any of these yet, so I can’t give you an honest opinion as to how well they work compared to cuticle oils.