May 2026 · 3 min read
Your hands are used more than any other body part and protected less than your face. A good hand care routine makes your manicure last longer and keeps your nail beds healthy. Here is a daily routine that takes 2 minutes.
Hands get sun exposure every time you drive, walk, or sit near a window. The skin on your hands has less melanin and thinner dermis than your face — it ages faster. Apply SPF 30+ hand cream every morning. We carry a zinc-based SPF 40 hand cream at the salon for $12. Contains shea butter and vitamin E. Absorbs in 15 seconds — no greasy residue.
Apply one drop of cuticle oil per nail after washing hands. The oil prevents the cuticle from drying and cracking. Cracked cuticles lead to hangnails and infections. The jojoba oil pen we sell ($8) fits in a pocket or purse. One application costs $0.01. A pen lasts 4-6 weeks of daily use.
Before bed, apply a thick hand cream (shea butter or urea-based). Put on cotton gloves. Sleep overnight with the gloves. The occlusion effect (trapped moisture) increases absorption by 60% compared to cream alone. In the morning, your hands are visibly softer and any rough patches are gone. The gloves: $5-8 for a pair of cotton ones, washable, last 6-12 months.
Once a week, use a gentle sugar or salt scrub on your hands. Focus on the knuckles (where skin is thickest) and the palms. Rinse, pat dry, apply a thick cream. This prevents calluses and keeps the skin smooth. Do not use a scrub on cuticles — cuticles are delicate and scrubbing causes micro-tears.
Do not use your nails as tools (opening soda can tabs, scraping stickers, picking at things). If you must, use the pad of your finger, not the nail edge. Do not soak your hands in water for extended periods (dishwashing, baths). The water swells the nail plate and causes gel polish to lift at the edges. Wear dish gloves. Do not pick at your cuticles. Picking causes infection and damages the nail matrix. If you have a hangnail, snip it with clean cuticle nippers, do not pull it.
Cuticle oil $8, SPF hand cream $12 at Jeannie Nails.
