If you stop and think for just a moment, you will realise that one of the first things that you do when you meet a business client or a social acquaintance is to extend your hand. Shaking someone’s hand is the commonly accepted greeting here in Australia, and it has been that way for many years. Everyone says that first impressions are incredibly important in a business and social capacity, and they would be right. People judge you within the first few seconds of your greeting, and if your hands and nails are not up to the task, maybe they will take their business or their friendship elsewhere.
This is why you need to do all within your power to take better care of your hands and nails. It is fair to say that the majority of Australians don’t do this very thing. We very much take our hands and nails for granted every single day, and many of us plunge our hands into liquids and other things, which just isn’t good for them. Many of us don’t even apply gel polish to give our nails the strength and protection that they need. If this sounds like you, then the following are some of the top ways that you can start to take better care of your hands and nails, from this point onwards.
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- Protect your hands – This is a simple statement, and is one that should be easy to follow. When we get into the particularly cold times of the year here in Australia, the cold air really takes its toll on your hands and nails. It’s important to try to keep them warm, so investing in a quality pair of gloves is money very well spent. Your hands have to put up with a lot every single day, dealing with direct sunshine, cold air, dirty air, and so many other things.
- Start a moisturising routine – If you are the male of the species, we don’t want to hear you saying that this is something that only women do. That is just not true in today’s very modern world. Many men take the time to moisturise, not only their hands but their whole body as well. By now, you should be moisturising your face, and it doesn’t take long to apply a little bit more cream to your hands and nails. The skin on your hands, and especially your cuticles, dries up very quickly due to what we put them through every day.
- Turn down the shower a little – Everybody loves to have a hot shower, and of that there is no doubt. However, what you might not be aware of is that if the water is too hot, you can take all of the moisture out of the skin on your hands. This is when you turn down the shower a little, when it comes to the thermostat. This is especially important if the outside is particularly cold, and you subject your hands and nails to very hot water.
- Put some sunscreen on there – We do experience our fair share of sunshine here in Australia, and for that, we are generally happy. All of those UV rays can really take their toll on your hands and nails. This is why you need to invest in a quality sunscreen with a high SPF level. You need to apply it before you leave your home early in the morning, throughout the day, because you’re going to go outside for lunch, and later when you make your way home. If it is a cloudy day, make sure that you apply your cream nonetheless.
- Start exfoliating – Much like suggesting a moisturising routine, all of you guys out there, you need to get the notion out of your head that this is something that just females do. Your hands go through a lot every single day, and especially so if you are working on a building site. The ladies should already know about the benefits of exfoliating on a regular basis. This is only something that you need to do a couple of times a week, so invest in a quality hand scrub to keep your hands and nails smooth and strong.
- Invest in quality nail products – This will include buying things like cuticle oil and gel polish, so that your nails look fantastic, no matter what. If your job involves sales, you are constantly using your hands to point to the products that you are selling. It means that your hands are constantly in the new client’s eye line, and they need to look their best. You might even want to treat yourself to a manicure from time to time.
- Use a proper nail clipper – It makes sense to invest in a quality clipper for your nails, which are suitably sharp and have additional add-ons as well. Make sure that you cut your nails on your hands straight across, and watch out for skin snags. A nail file would be something useful to have with you at all times. To protect your freshly clipped nails and cuticles, be sure to wear rubber gloves when you do things like washing the dishes.
This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other things that you can be doing every single day to protect your hands and nails. One important consideration is to keep your hands out of your mouth and to stop biting them. This is a nasty habit to get yourself into, and not only does it damage your nails, but you are also introducing many different kinds of harmful bacteria into your mouth. If your hands and nails are starting to look a little bit tired due to what you put them through, it seems only fair that you treat them now and again.
Book yourself a pedicure today, let them apply the right kind of professional products, and reward your hands for the hard work that they do.
