Keeping nails/ hands looking decent

[SaraJH]

Hi all,

So, my first foray in getting my hands 'stuck in' this afternoon has resulted in some shocking looking hands!

Do you all wear gloves? Can you recommend some really close fitting thin gloves that I can wear? I have a big box of latex gloves but I can't imagine wearing them to garden in, they would get far too hot.

Any recommendations much appreciated

[jackarmy]

Find another hobby?
sorry but thats the way it is Sarah

[roitelet]

Gloves, you will find some that suit. Don't just look at gardening gloves.

Then a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and sugar rubbed in well and then lots of soapy water will shift the dirt.

[noviceveggrower]

I wear gloves now. Never use to but I find my hands just can't take the battering anymore .
I use the non slip type



But I also find washing my hands afterwards with a liquid soap helps.

[veggiechicken]

Gloves when I remember.
Gone are the days when I expected my hands to be clean and no mud under my nails!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ves_82390.html

[sparrow100]

Gels on nails - they're almost indestructible, or keep them short for the season.

I soak my hands till the dirt's out then coat them in heavy duty moisturiser overnight.

[veggiechicken]

Why have I remembered this?

[SaraJH]

Thanks all,

I have scrubbed my nails and used so much moisturiser but my hands are still really dry. I may get some swarfega and give that a go.

I usually have gel nail extensions (not that long)

Will have to find a good combination of gloves, cleanser and moisturiser.

BTW for all the women out there, the BEST EVER hand cream I have found is Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment. Yes, it's expensive but you don't need alot and it sinks in straight away and is totally non greasy. No, I don't work for Clarins!

[Potstubsdustbins]

When I was doing installation work about the only thing to shift the grime was bleach, but there again no one seem to worry if I had soft hands or pretty nails

[Guest]

I use either latex gloves or ppe gloves or both. But that is more of a wuss thing as I have gotten older (whats lurking in the soil) rather than dirt in general.

In regards to washing I keep a jar of homemade scrub near the basin. Brown sugar, salt, honey and liquid soap.

I am yet to find a cream that works, my hands crack badly in winter and most creams don't do a lot to help. I haven't tried clarins so fingers crossed

[4390evans]

I never wear gloves, I like the feel of soil. I tend to wash my hands then do the dishes when I am finished in the garden.
I havent got the nicest hands anyway but I do use cream every day.

[Scarlet]

I use gloves when I'm attacking the nettles, brambles etc. other times I don't bother. My hands get really dry and washing them often makes it worse.

I have hand cream everywhere I use lots, little and often is the key. Used as a barrier it stops the dirt getting ground in. I love l'occitane which I think is pretty good, kids often give it at birthdays but the best one for really dry sore hands is the wiltshire beekeeper gardeners handcream, made of beeswax and I think olive oil. Smells delicious and doesn't line the pockets of those big companies. There must be some local beekeeper that does similar.

[Nannysally99]

I'm with NG, latex gloves now for me. Too many bugs and gawd knows what in our soil.
I have a large box and just pull out another pair when it gets too clammy

[SaraJH]

Hmmm, I think I may just use the latex/ surgical gloves.

Thanks all.

[mothhawk]

I wear the blue nitrile gloves as I have to keep my hands very clean for work (food industry). I wear them at work all day anyway, then I simply bring home my used ones and wear for gardening. I don't find my hands get hot in them, but they do get a little damp.

To counteract that, and to make the gloves easier to remove (at home you understand, don't do this at work of course), I keep a box of cornflour just for dipping my hands in. A light dusting makes gloves easy to get on and off, and absorbs any dampness.

For tough jobs I put a thick pair of gardening gloves over the top so the nitriles don't get ripped.