Every day the hands of a person are at work. The hands are in constant use, often exposed without protection to extremes of weather or immersed in all kinds of liquids and chemicals harmful to the hands and nails.
Housework and gardening damage delicate skin and makes nails brittle, while stress also affects the way hands look. They are a true mirror of a person’s age because there is actually little that can be done to repair the ravages of time if the hands were not cared for on a continuous basis.
Regular grooming and care is essential to keep hands looking youthful and smooth and nails healthy and strong.
Beautiful Hands
For dry hands: Once a week bathe dry, chapped hands in lukewarm olive oil or sunflower oil for 5 minutes at least. Gently massage the oil into the cuticles.
For cracked hands: Rub petroleum jelly into cracked hands. A mixture of equal parts lemon juice, honey and glycerine is also very effective.
For hand massage: Mix one teaspoon of vodka with five teaspoons of lemon juice. Pour the liquid into a cupped palm and massage it over damp hands. Repeat regularly.
For nicotine stains: Remove nicotine stains from fingers by rubbing the skin with lemon juice. Rinse off after a minute.
For smelly hands: If hands smell of fish, onion or garlic, dip them in milk or rub them with coffee grounds or moist salt.
For chopping vegetables: Before chopping vegetables, rub olive oil into the hands to prevent them from absorbing the smell.
Washing hands: After washing hands, apply massage oil or hand cream. Knead the fingers separately from the tip down, working over the palm and up over the knuckles. Put each hand on a flat surface and repeatedly stroke the back, from the fingertips to the wrist.
Perfect Nails
For brittle nails: Brittle nails and torn cuticles will benefit from a soak in lukewarm almond oil.
For splitting nails: Use oak bark tea to strengthen brittle, splitting nails. Make it by simmering 20g chopped oak bark in 250ml water for 30 minutes. Bathe the nails in the tea. Alternatively, blend ground almonds with lukewarm water to make a finger bathe.
For nail massage: Avocado oil is a rich base oil that can be used on its own as a vitamin-rich massage oil or blended with other oils or creams. Use regularly to coat the nails and massage into the nail beds.
A person’s touch when first shaking hands or just when touching hands is very telling. Hands that are taken care of feel soft and look well-groomed.
Nurture hands and nails; then it can be displayed with pride.
By Hendrik de Villiers
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