Using Hand Softeners

Moisturizer...First off lemme say that I'm a 'sir', but you can talk to me like a woman if it'll make things easier.

The only drawback of using a hand softener as it relates to playing guitar is that it can soften your calluses that you've worked so hard to build up.
I usually deal with this by applying some moisturizer/lotion/softener onto the tops of my hands, and then spreading it while trying to avoid my fingertips and the pointer finger of my fretting hand (bar chords). Of course some of it getting there is almost impossible because you know, you want to be able to get your fingers and nail beds so you don't have gnarly lookin' hands, and you already gotta compromise on the length of your fingernails so... yeah.

After I'm done lubing my mitts I wipe the excess off on some other troublesome areas like my elbows and then try to locally rinse my fingertips. You can do this with a bit of water or even some baby or Lysol wipes (that I carry in my purse/murse), but my favorite choice is holding an alcoholic beverage with condensation occurring upon the glass (Champagne is highly recommended but others stuff can work almost as well) and then wiping it dry.


As for my personal choices of moisturizer? I'm a Neutrogena kinda gal at heart (the one that's called "oil-free moisture for sensitive skin), but as long as you read the ingredients and avoid things with alcohol you can use whatever. Alcohol is a drying agent and while it can add an artificial "plumpness" to your skin it also drys that sh!t out, which kinda defeats the purpose of moisturizing at all. I have also been on a coconut oil kick lately too. It's amazing stuff.

I'm not really keen on any Mary Kay products and haven't tried the one you're using (although I fell in love with one of the songs for their commercials, the "Baby You're A Superstar" one that was all over the last season of P-Run) because.. IDK the brand seems overpriced and "old lady-ish" to me. However, if you highly recommend it I'm open to giving it a shot.

Tune in next week when I'll discuss the pros and cons of liquid eyeliner versus pencil. :)
 
I really don't like my hands feeling slippery or greasy, so I never knew she the stuff, even though I probably should just from all the fingers sticks from blood testing.

And thank you both for reminding me of this.

Edit: Effin' auto-correct!
 
Last edited:
sergiodeblanc said:
Moisturizer...First off lemme say that I'm a 'sir', but you can talk to me like a woman if it'll make things easier.

The only drawback of using a hand softener as it relates to playing guitar is that it can soften your calluses that you've worked so hard to build up.
I usually deal with this by applying some moisturizer/lotion/softener onto the tops of my hands, and then spreading it while trying to avoid my fingertips and the pointer finger of my fretting hand (bar chords). Of course some of it getting there is almost impossible because you know, you want to be able to get your fingers and nail beds so you don't have gnarly lookin' hands, and you already gotta compromise on the length of your fingernails so... yeah.

After I'm done lubing my mitts I wipe the excess off on some other troublesome areas like my elbows and then try to locally rinse my fingertips. You can do this with a bit of water or even some baby or Lysol wipes (that I carry in my purse/murse), but my favorite choice is holding an alcoholic beverage with condensation occurring upon the glass (Champagne is highly recommended but others stuff can work almost as well) and then wiping it dry.


As for my personal choices of moisturizer? I'm a Neutrogena kinda gal at heart (the one that's called "oil-free moisture for sensitive skin), but as long as you read the ingredients and avoid things with alcohol you can use whatever. Alcohol is a drying agent and while it can add an artificial "plumpness" to your skin it also drys that sh!t out, which kinda defeats the purpose of moisturizing at all. I have also been on a coconut oil kick lately too. It's amazing stuff.

I'm not really keen on any Mary Kay products and haven't tried the one you're using (although I fell in love with one of the songs for their commercials, the "Baby You're A Superstar" one that was all over the last season of P-Run) because.. IDK the brand seems overpriced and "old lady-ish" to me. However, if you highly recommend it I'm open to giving it a shot.

Tune in next week when I'll discuss the pros and cons of liquid eyeliner versus pencil. :)
Click to expand...
You may not be keen on Mary Kay but you sure rock the sh1t outta that pink!
 
Moisture in the skin in your hands can only be good. Even the callused tips need to have moisture content or they will crack and get caught on your strings - though the odds of that are reduced if you don't go a few days without playing. I wouldn't put anything on the palms or fingertips before playing, and actually don't ever put anything on my palms.
I'm OK with anything that doesn't have perfume in it.
The satin hands 3 stage is very good, but usually I just put some hemp cream on the back of my hands.
 
PRSAK said:
And you just KNOW that a "gal" with a dolphicorn avatar knows beauty products!
Click to expand...

And this 'gal' uses Champagne as a moisturising aid which is the way it should be done! Although I prefer whiskey when it comes to moisturising my lips.

I have to moisturise the back of my hands in winter... Usually some Nivea stuff that's around. With a 6 month old baby I'm forever washing my hands in anti bac so they're pretty dry.
 
My wife's a makeup artist, and she's always bringing home moisturizers and stuff. Kiehl makes a moisturizer for hands that's unscented, isn't greasy, works great. I need it because my hands get drier than most folks' (dry skin is a worse problem for diabetics). It's part of their men's line. So I feel a little less "sis" when I use it. ;)


Ultimate_Strength_Hand_Salve_3700194708498_2.5fl.oz..jpg
 
Actually keeping to the OP post, I use Vaseline's men's lotion. drys quickly, not greasy or heavy feeling( that coating feeling you get when you use woman's stuff). It has been my go to brand for the past 2 yrs.
 
when I lived in Canada the air was so dry in winter my finger tips would crack and bleed, that's what first got me into using Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand cream, doesn't affect the calluses, but I just use enough to keep hands normal.

Lots of hand washing, or hand sanitisers at work kills my hands now all year round, and the missus doesn't appreciate 'sandpaper hands' for obvious reasons
 
Me, I'm a Traditionalist. It's Jergens Original Scent all the way for me. Many years ago I used a lotion called Rose Milk that came is a plastic milk bottle/jug. It was good stuff too.

Goldtop - Smooth hands and elbows, but still manly.
 
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