How To Take Good Care Of Your Hands

Hand Care

Believe it or not, your hands say a lot about you, how well you take care of yourself or even how old you are. In fact, your hands are the first part of you that show age! Every day, you use your hands and they become exposed to more than you probably imagine.

With sun exposure and dry air, they take a beating. Chipped nail polish and chapped hands are common problems that are easily fixed. With proper care, they can help make our overall appearance simply stunning.

Caring for Dry Hands

• Dry hands are caused by many things. Excessive washing, hot water, or the dry winter air. Here are some tips to keep them soft and younger-looking:

• The top of your hands dry out quicker. If you wash often, focus on your palms.

• Keep a bottle of lotion by the sink and use it after you wash your hands. Apply it while your skin is still damp to lock in moisture.

• Wear rubber gloves when you wash the dishes to reduce exposure to harsh soap and hot water.

• Strong or perfumed soap has a tendency to irritate skin. Stick with mild, moisturizing soap, particularly in the dry winter months.

• For emergencies, coat your hands with petroleum jelly, vegetable or mineral oil. Put on some gloves and wear them overnight.

• Turn down the heat and take cooler showers and baths to reduce dry skin and the itch that often goes with it.

• When drying your hands, blot them. Don't rub.

Aging

The best way to slow down the aging process is prevention. The sun plays a large role in wrinkles and your hands are most vulnerable since they're more likely to be exposed. It doesn't matter how old you are, the sooner you begin protecting your hands, the better.

• Care for your hands as you do your face.

• Wear sunscreen to protect you hands from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Look for waterproof formulas.

• When your working or gardening, always wear gloves to avoid dirt and chemicals. This also helps prevent blisters.

• Dry hands age faster so keep them moisturized.

• Apply aging cream or treatment before you go to bed at night.

Rings

There's nothing like the perfect ring! You may be surprised to learn that different styles flatter different people. If you have long, bony fingers, oval and round settings will complement your hands. Wearing a wider band will add some bulk will make your fingers appear less thin.

Rings that are oval or marquise shaped tend to flatter short fingers. However, if it extends past your knuckle, it will only make your fingers look stubby.

The most common size is standard. If you have large hands, small rings will make them appear larger yet. Keep in mind that the reverse is also true. Large rings will overpower small hands.

By: ehow.com

Do It Yourself French Manicure

Ooh La La ... Do It Yourself French Manicure
by Kathryn D'Imperio

Want professional looking nails without spending your days pay in the salon? With some practice and a little patience, you can enjoy fancy nails anytime you want for only the cost of your nail polish!

Their pale pink base and bright white tips characterize the ever-popular French manicures, which are a common request at nail salons everywhere. Professional nail stylists may paint your nails alone or they may apply fake tips if you desire. Based on your personal preferences, a nail designer will give your nails a strengthening and conditioning workout prior to painting them. If you get your nails done with fake tips, you may have to make a trip back to the salon to get your French tips refilled when your nails have grown noticeably.

Keeping longer, healthy nails will be most conducive to sporting a French manicure. To complete your own French manicure, begin with the following steps to prepare your nails for the procedure.

• Using a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover, wipe off any old nail polish prior to painting nails. Wash hands and soak in warm water for a few moments.
• With an orangewood stick, gently push back the cuticles so they are all even with each other once the water has softened your skin.
• With nail clippers, beauty scissors or a nail file, shape your nails evenly.
• With a steady hand, carefully paint only the tip of each nail with a white hue. A second coat may be desirable, depending on the thickness and opaqueness of the polish. Allow polish to dry between coats.
• Using a slightly transparent pink or nude color, paint the entire nail once the tips have dried. A second coat may be necessary. Allow nails to dry thoroughly.
• Once all the coats have dried, apply a clear topcoat to protect your new French manicure. To lengthen the manicures lifespan, make an effort to paint a clear coat on each night. Be sure it has ample time to dry completely.
• If you are feeling especially creative and ambitious, kick off your shoes and match your tootsies to your fingertips!

This procedure is best performed on a lazy morning or evening when no other pressing errands or tasks will get in the way. After painting your nails, avoid doing things with your hands while they dry.

For an easier painting technique, check the beauty section of a drug store or superstore for a French manicure kit. The set should contain, at the very least, nail polish in white and pink or beige and a clear topcoat. Some manicure sets - like COVERGIRLs French Manicure Kit  will contain tiny, sticky nail guides. These make the manicure process 100 times easier by allowing you to place the guides on each nail individually, leaving a small margin where the polish can spill outside the tip without tainting the rest of the nail.

As the holidays approach, let your crazy side out by concocting a wildly modified French manicure - green and white for St. Patricks Day, pastel shades for Easter, black and orange for Halloween and red and green for Christmas. Have fun and remember, even if you find the do-it-yourself French manicure difficult at first, practice will provide you with the skills you need to create beautiful and perfect manicures all year long!

Quick Hand Treatment

Hands are the most visible parts of you, but they also take a lot of abuse. You use them in everyday activity, and yet, they are the ultimate accessory. You must give them the same attention you give your face.

* Soften your hands even while you do the dishes. Add a little almond oil (about a teaspoon) to dishwater. The water will soften rought skin while the oil seals the moisture.

* Slough off dead skin cells with a solution made of sea salt lemon. Brush it into hands with an old toothbrush. Do this twice a week to soften hands and remove discoloration.

* Wash hands thoroughly with warm water, then, using a coarse washcloth, rub briskly. While skin is slightly damp, apply a mixture of one teaspoon honey and one teaspoon olive oil. Place hands in small plastic bags, then in a pair of cotton gloves for thirty minutes. The heat helps the treatment penetrate.

* Warm a cup of milk in the microwave for thirty seconds (or until warm, but comfortable to the touch). Soak your hands for five minutes to strengthen nails and hydrate skin. Not only is milk loaded with lactic acid, a natural alpha hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates dead skin, but its high calcium content will strengthen fragile nails.