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Creatively
Frugal Hand
and Nail Care
What are your best low-cost tips for having great-looking
hands and nails?
"The best hand treatment I
know of is this: take one small spoonful of olive oil and one
small spoonful of white sugar in the palm of your hand. Rub this
mixture all over both hands for several minutes, scrubbing them
all over, especially around the fingernails. Rinse under warm
water and dry. Your hands will be baby soft!" ~ BethAnne
"As a gardener, I really do like the feel of all the
plants AND the dirt. The gloveless approach is not easy on
hands, but there are some helps. After years of reading about
and trying digging my fingernails into a bar of
soap before gardening, I usually found that to be less than
helpful. Now I put liquid hand soap on and under my
nails, also emphasizing the cuticle area. After it dries I
slather on a silicone hand cream. This system allows
me to work with little damage to my hands and to readily clean
them up. When I sometimes really scratch up my hands, I
liberally coat them with petroleum jelly then wear gloves to
bed. Then next morning they are ready to go again."
~ Anna Marie
"I like to use hot water straight out of the hot
water tap for the dishes. Naturally, this is wayyyy too
hot for my hands, so I wear a pair of white cotton gloves
underneath the rubber ones, which has two benefits: added
insulation from the heat, and easier to get on and off.
Of course, wearing gloves
means that dangerous chemicals from the dishwashing liquid
don't affect my hands.
Immediately after the dishes,
or even inserting my hands in any water or using any
chemicals, I have pump bottles of moisturizer nearby and
rub in a small amount quickly, just to keep me going.
Last thing at night, I put
petroleum jelly on them, as well as on my lips, which
crack easily without. My daughter has inherited this
problem. Petroleum jelly is cheap and effective - even
Marilyn Monroe used it!
My mum was told about wearing
hand cream to bed having lavished it on her hands and then
putting her hands inside gloves. I have done the same
thing with the dishwashing double-gloves and, because of
the warmth, the moisturizer really does get in." ~
Leonie
"Always wear gloves when washing dishes, cleaning
the house, or gardening! My skin stays nice, and
my nails are strong. Lotion, a good nail file,
clippers, and a buffer are all that's needed for
maintenance." ~ Anonymous
"Drink milk!
Three or more glasses of 2% milk every day do
wonderful things for my fingernails. Drink water!
Eight or more glasses of water every day keep my skin
moist and prevent water retention (puffiness)." ~
Coleen
"I found 'Obey
your body - Original Dead Sea Minerals' to be a very
helpful and inexpensive way to keep your hands looking
manicured and sensational all week long. It comes with
the basics: cuticle cream, buffer, file, lotion, etc.
But, what makes this kit so remarkable is the fact
that it has this four-sided magical buffer that leaves
your nails looking as if you just polished them with
clear nail polish. The shine on your nails lasts
for up to 5 days regardless of how often you wash your
hands. I have so many people complementing me all the
time on how beautiful my nails look. I'd like to think
it also is aiding with my nails growth because my
nails never chip and stay very long. I got it at the
local mall, at one of those vendor carts for $20, but
I know the regular price is about $30." ~ Ronice
from CT
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"Vaseline and gloves! I keep a
large jar of Vaseline next to the bed and every night I coat them twice.
I let the first coat sink in and then reapply. Nothing works better. My
hands get so dry on my job that they crack and bleed. This is the only
treatment I have used that truly works. And you don't have to buy name
brand. Gloves are the other big help. When washing dishes, using floor
cleaners and working in the garden. Especially if the air is cool/cold,
I always wear gloves. Since I live in the Midwest, that is most of the
year! I also found that coating my hands with a good CREAM--not lotion
which contains water--before putting on my dishwashing gloves helps
because the hot water helps it soak into my hands. I have tried a lot of
products, but Vaseline and Nivea cream work the best for me." ~ Liz
"I have a problem with dry and
splitting nails. I finally found the solution - Vaseline! If I
massage Vaseline into my nails twice a day it keeps them strong and
healthy. I keep a small jar in my car. I rub the Vaseline on my nails
before I drive to work and by the time I get there, it's completely
absorbed. I keep another small jar next to my bed and massage it into
my nails before I read or watch the news. Again, it's totally soaked
in by the time I fall asleep. When my hands and feet are very dry, I
rub Vaseline over them and wear cotton gloves (99 cents) and socks to
bed to keep the Vaseline from ruining the bedsheets. On the few
occasions when I get my nails done, the manicurists always comment on
the great condition of them, especially the cuticles. They never need
any work." ~ Fran
"Homemade Paraffin Bath for Hands:
Melt blocks of paraffin wax in an old slow cooker you don't use on low
temperature. Wash your hands with any face scrub soap and rinse.
Dip one hand in wax, remove and let harden. Repeat the dipping
several times and then wrap them in cellophane and then in a towel.
Leave on until completely cold. Peel wax off and put in slow cooker
and repeat for other hand. Your hands will be so smooth and soft.
Reminds me of the expensive Mary Kay hand treatment. Also gives relief
for arthritis. Save wax and reuse. Kathy from Alabama
"I work in retail where
everything comes in cardboard boxes. Needless to say, my hands get
very dry and cracked. The best thing I have found for that is to use
cornmeal mixed with liquid soap. It works great. Just pour some
cornmeal onto your hands and then squirt some soap on top. Rub
this in just like you would plain soap. Rinse with warm water. The
result is smooth soft hands. It's the cheapest way to exfoliate your
skin. For a softener afterwards, you could use Vaseline, or (this
sounds gross, but it works) apply mayonnaise to your hands before bed
and put on some cotton gloves. Smooth hands in the morning. As far as
the nails, I can't help you there, mine have always grown under, back
toward my fingers so I keep them cut off." ~ Michelle
"When my hands become dry and
rough I use a homemade sugar scrub. Mix 1/2 cup of white sugar
with enough olive oil to make a moist paste. Rub the paste over
your hands and massage into the skin. Rinse with water, pat dry,
and use your favorite moisturizer. I prefer to do this at bed
time." ~ Angela
Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to share
his or her ideas!
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