How to nail it: Taking care of your hands at home

The following is a guest article from Michael Gilman over at groominglounge.com. He knows a thing or two about how men should clean up, having many years of experience under his belt. Listen to his advice.

Enter Mike…

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Hands say a lot about a man. Sure they’re not the first thing folks notice, but they’re usually the initial part people come into actual contact with. And whether shaking, high-fiving or caressing, it’s beyond important they communicate the right message.

Well-groomed hands can be achieved in a number of ways, chief amongst them being regular professional or at-home manicures. No matter what route one goes, two daily action items are essential to maintain mitt integrity:

APPROPRIATE HAND WASHING: Just like the face, hands need to be regularly cleansed to remove grit and grime. An added item that necessitates washing is the need to eliminate the pesky germs and more that lead to infection, etc.  Quality hand washes are recommended for use and are usually less drying and harsh than regular soap.

MEGA MOISTURIZING: Hands take a pounding, whether via hard work or the elements. Restore the vital nutrients hands need to stay healthy and looking good by generously applying a quality hand cream several times a day. Nobody wants to look at or shake “alligator hands.”

Should a professional manicure be too much to “hand-le,” simply bolt the door and do it yourself at home. Here’s how:

The at-home manicure

WASH & SOFTEN UP: Start out by washing your hands with a quality hand wash to disinfect and remove grit and grime. Then, soak both hands in a bowl of warm water to soften the nails and nail beds. A minute per hand is plenty.

GET UNDER THERE: Clean underneath each nail with a high-end file to remove the jammed- in dirt and slime that just ain’t attractive or sanitary. Extra dirt gently as any “stabbing” motions aren’t going to end well. Quickly wash hands again.

GIVE EM’ A TRIM: Individually trim each nail with a quality trimmer, starting each nail in the middle and then rounding off to the sides. It’s ideal to leave a thin, white strip on the end of each nail.

BE SMOOTH: Smooth the edge of each nail using a nail file or emery board. Go one way with the file, not back and forth like a saw.  This will smooth the surface and leave nails with a touch of shine.

GET CREAMED: Seal the deal by massaging a quality hand cream all over hands and wrists. Re-moisturize later.

HANDy tip

Using a nail brush in the shower is a great way to get rid of dead skin and eliminate junk under nails and around knuckles. Just squeeze some scrub on those hands and have at it with the brush en route to smoother and more attractive mitts.

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Thanks Mike. Gents, do you pay attention to your hands and nails? What’s your routine like? Do you typically ignore your nails and hands? Curious what you guys think; let us know in the comments below.

A little more about Grooming Lounge:

Grooming Lounge is one of the country’s premiere destinations for men’s grooming solutions, boasting a comprehensive e-commerce and instructional web site, several upscale barbershops in the Washington, DC area and the company’s own lineup of shaving and hair care solutions.

Note: All links within article aren’t affiliate links, just links to the groominglounge.com store.