Looking Good

The first thing we can all do in having good-looking hands is
to keep them clean by washing regularly. It’s amazing how many
people (guys especially, but some women and girls too) walk
around with grubby non manicured finger nails. Get a nail brush
and put it by the sink, so it’s convenient whenever you wash
your hands. An added plus of a nail brushing your fingers is
the way it feels: those soft bristles and the luxurious soapy
lather take your hands on a daily very mini spa vacation.
Always follow up with a nice hand cream or lotion to keep your
hands moisturized.

Stop nail biting. Break your toddler or child’s habit early.
Beautiful hands and nail care start with basics, and not having
raggy, bleeding cuticles is a primary step in having presentable
hands. Granted, one of the hardest habits to break is to stop
fingernail biting, but it’s also one of the more disfiguring
things that can happen to a hand. We all know someone who bites
their nails to the quick, then starts on those ragged cuticles.
Nail-biting usually starts in early childhood as a toddler with
some people never outgrowing it, while others only revert to
nail-biting in times of stress.

Nail care and nail biting products
There are some products on the market to stop nail-biting, super-
hot or bitter things to paint on your nails. I’ve heard some nail-
biters say that the nasty taste didn’t stop them, but they must
work for some people.

Finally, for nail-biters and non-nail-biters alike, hand cream
right before bed is a great way to keep your skin smooth. When
things are looking rough (or if you’re a biter who’s trying to
quit), you can get some wonderfully thin cotton gloves, slather
on a hand cream like Sephora’s Bliss Glamour Glove Gel and glove
up until morning. The cotton will keep the hand cream off the
pillows and on your hands where it belongs. And for a real spa-
treatment, get some little cotton socks and give your feet the
same experience.

Nail polish shows off those fingers.
And for a little something extra try a nice bright nail polish
for your next manicure. OPI nail products give a great
professional finish that looks like you went to a manicure salon
or spa. But buyer beware of the “fake” acrylic manicure. Your own
natural nails are better than using fake “glue on” nails. If your
manicurist doesn’t properly clean tier tools, acrylic nail
application can cause the dreaded nail fungus that has to be
specially treated for months at a time. My advice save the acrylic
french manicure for a special event or occasion like attending the
Boston symphony in a black sleek gown.