Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
Hand-le with care
|
Maintaining pretty hands amidst our daily routine calls for a lot of time and patience. Here are some simple tips that could make the cumbersome task easier
|
Hands are used and abused during cleaning, washing, etc., and this hard work could explain the state of our hands and nails. So, here are some tips on keeping those lovely hands, fingers and nails in good condition at all times.
Pretty hands
What we tend to forget is that our hands are on display all the time, even when we talk we use gestures and gesticulations. Hands are also exposed to the vagaries of the climate.
The skin on the back of the hands is soft and thin; therefore, it is prone to early wrinkling. On the palm, the skin has no sebaceous glands like most other parts of the body. Therefore, it has no natural lubrication and can become exceedingly dry and rough. The skin chaps easily. Age shows faster on the hands as they tend to wrinkle fast if proper care is not taken. Hard water, detergents, chemicals as well as skimping or drying your hands after washing can quickly lead to rough sand-paper dry skin. So, prevention through daily care is the only answer.
The care routine
1. After your bath or any household chore like washing clothes or vessels, massage your hands with a lubricating hand cream. The same cream that you apply on your face can be used on the hands too. If you are very particular, you can use a cactus-based herbal cream or a lemon turmeric cream. Lemon cleanses while turmeric softens the skin. Creams and oils do not soften the skin; they merely preserve the moisture in the skin and prevent its escape.
2. Every night, before bedtime, use a cream on your hands, massaging for a minute. If you do not want to use a cream, massage your hands with milk or cream which forms on top of the milk (malai, pal adai).
3. If your hands are tanned, use an almond based cream or mix almond powder with milk and apply on your hands. This gives a mild bleaching treatment and nourishes the skin at the same time.
4. If you have time, apply a bit of your daily face-mask to your hands. This helps to cleanse, tone and smoothen the skin. If you are short of time, then once a week use the following hand pack - mix besan (gram flour), milk, a pinch of turmeric and half lemon into a paste; apply on your hands both on front and back. Let it dry. Then pat with water, rub in a circular motion and wash with water.
5. Exercising the hands helps to make them flexible and improves circulation. Try the following exercises, repeating them six to ten times:
Clench your fists tightly and then throw open the fingers as wide as possible.
Put your hands out in front of you - palm down. Press the fingers tightly against each other and then thrust them apart as widely as possible.
Allow the hand to be relaxed. Then rotate them from the wrists in circles, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.
Common problems
Sweaty hands:
Sweaty hands are the result of a sudden release of `cold sweat' from the endocrine sweat glands of your palms. This is usually a nervous condition and the only remedy for this to carry a bottle of eau-de-cologne in your handbag so that you can dab a few drops on your palms when needed. Include a tablet of B Complex in your daily intake and try to relax.
Red hands and chilblains
For hands which have redness or if you suffer from chilblains during winter, try this exercise to improve circulation.
Stretch your hands in front of you and stretch your fingers as far apart as you can, keeping them tense. Hold this position for the count of ten and then slowly reduce the tension in your fingers. Repeat ten times daily.
Shake your hands vigorously several times a day. Include a calcium tablet and massage your hands daily.
Roughened or chapped hands
Use a cream morning and night daily. B Complex deficiency can also sometimes cause this condition. So, take a tablet of Vitamin B Complex. For a home remedy, try a compress of an infusion of Marigold flower petals.
Nails
Nails are very much like your hair. They are composed of dead tissue protein. Nails are healthy when you feel fit and eat a well balanced diet.
For healthy nails, include food rich in Vitamin A and B Complex like liver, yellow and green fruits and vegetables like Papaya, tomato, whole cereals like porridge, milk, honey, nuts. Grapes are also good for the nails.
Brittle and splitting nails
These are caused by lack of calcium and gelatine. This condition can be improved by taking 2 tablespoons of gelatine or jelly with fruit juice. You will see an improvement after six weeks.
Ragged cuticles are caused by lack of lubrication. So, lubricate the cuticle areas and around the nails with lots of cream as often as possible to eliminate raggedness.
Nail biting
Nail biting is often a sign of tension. It is also not hygienic. Self-discipline is the only solution to the problem of nail biting. Try to take life more calmly. Apply neem water on your nails every morning. This has a bitter taste and will deter you from biting.
Manicure
A manicure once a fortnight is essential for an elegant look. Follow these steps for a home manicure:
*Before every manicure, soak your hands first in soap water and then in a little warm olive oil for about five minutes.
*Cut your nails to the length you prefer; if one nail is broken, cut all to that size.
*Shape nails either oval, round or square with the smooth side of the emery board or a nail file.
*If cuticles are neglected, they tend to become soft and supple and stick to the nail. Smooth a cuticle with a push back.
*Follow this by removing the entire dead cuticle with an orange stick wrapped in cotton dipped in a cuticle remover.
*Snip off the hand nails with a cuticle cutter but do not cut the cuticle as it would only make the cuticle rougher and harder.
*Massage hands with a good cream.
*Remove all residues from the nails by washing and drying the fingertips.
*Apply nail polish. Before you apply nail polish, wipe the nails with a nail polish remover or acetone to remove the cream from the nails or else the nail polish cannot be properly applied. First apply base coat - This protects the nails from turning yellow, which happens when you wear nail polish all the time or wear dark coloured nail polish.
Apply 1-2 coats of nail polish depending on the shade. Lastly apply a top-coat - this is a colourless polish and prevents your nail polish from chipping soon.
Other tips
*Nail polish removers and acetone have a drying effect on the skin.
*After removing old polish, always massage a cream to keep the skin around the nails soft and smooth.
*Do not apply nail polish all the time. Give a break for the nails to breathe. This prevents nails from turning yellow.
Home remedies
Hand Lotion:
You can make your individual hand lotion from the following: Half cup rose water, quarter cup glycerine, quarter tablespoon white vinegar. Mix altogether and store in a bottle.
For yellow nails:
Take half a lemon and scrub with it. Then dip your nails in warm olive oil or coconut oil; repeat at least three times for good results.
LILY MADHOK
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
