Your hands often give away your age more than any other area of your body so it is very important that you take care of them. Take care to use, ideally lined, rubber gloves around the house for house work and always wear gloves outside when it is cold. Keep hand cream all over the house, on your desk and in the glove box of your car and apply liberally throughout the day.
The nails are a modification of the skin, composed of keratin. Like the skin they also grow by constantly multiplying. The cuticle which frames the visible nail will grow and attach itself to the nail plate where it will stretch and tear if left unchecked. To avoid this push back the cuticles when you are in the bath or giving yourself a manicure and keep pliable with constant hand cream.
Nails grow at approximately 1cm every 4 to 5 weeks, slightly faster in the summer than the colder months and faster in the young.
To keep your nails looking good treat yourself at home to a manicure and pedicure or visit the salon or nail bar.
Shape the nails with an emery board, always filing from the outside edge to the centre, never in a sawing motion, which may cause splitting of the nail. Massage the cuticles with a cuticle cream and soak in warm water. Once softened use a cuticle stick to gently lift the cuticles off the nail plate.
Use a nail brush to scrub the nails clean and apply a hardener or polish as required.
Grooming - Hands & Feet
