Whether it’s the brittle nail quality or the dryness that you notice first, you may be wondering how to make your hands look younger. As with other parts of the body, the hands change over time, so you may not only be curious about strategies to care for your hands today but also about how to keep hands looking young in the years ahead. At a senior living community like Arbors of Hop Brook, manicures are one of the available services on site. Outside of professional care at a CCRC (continuing care retirement community) near you or your favorite nail salon, learn more about how to make your hands look younger below.
5 Tips for How to Make Your Hands Look Younger
Manicures and other hand treatments are more than fun and often relaxing activities. From regularly scheduled appointments at your local nail salon to your own maintenance and beneficial practices at home, your hand and nail care is vital in how to keep your hands looking young. To achieve this goal, here are some helpful tips to try:
- Trim your nails regularly. Don’t wait until a nail breaks or is long enough to catch on your sweater to trim your nails. As per WebMD, trimming your nails regularly not only makes them look nicer but also helps reduce the accumulation of dirt and germs, as well as self-inflicted nail damage like biting a nail. Setting aside a scheduled day or time to attend to your nails routinely also helps you keep track of any changes in their state – changes that can sometimes indicate emerging health conditions.
- Don’t forget about cuticle care! OPI highlights the importance of cuticle care, since the cuticles help protect your nails against bacteria that could damage them. Whether they are dry or cracked, your cuticles may not be looking or functioning at their best. Unfortunately, many products, such as soaps and cleaning products, weather and even aging or health conditions, may cause cuticle concerns. Therefore, it’s important to apply a moisturizer or serum to them. Keeping cuticles pushed back is another strategy that may be helpful.
- Choose your nail color and shape carefully. If you get manicures regularly or are interested in the latest beauty trends, you probably know that every year and even season within that year typically comes with new nail polish shades and shapes. On one hand, trying new things can be fun and benefit your overall well-being. On the other hand, Southern Living notes that choosing the right nail color is important for making hands look their best and cautions that a darker color may actually accentuate any spots or dull skin on hands. Similarly, rounder oval nails are often recommended as complementary for individuals of all ages.
- Treat your whole hand. If you are thinking about how to make your hands look younger, it’s probably because something struck you about the look of your nails or your hands overall. In addition to the nails and cuticles, be sure to treat your whole hand, including giving each hand a massage to help with circulation as is often done during a professional manicure. While you may already be moisturizing your hands, especially during colder months or upon noticing dryness, the Cleveland Clinic further recommends exfoliation for how to make your hands look younger. Using a gentle scrub followed by moisturizer can help support softer and smoother skin. Additionally, if you plan to be outside or otherwise exposed to UV rays, remember to apply sunscreen to your hands too in order to help prevent wrinkles and age spots!
- Practice prevention! How to keep hands looking as young as possible comes down to more than regular nail, cuticle and whole hand treatment. In fact, Healthline emphasizes the role of both proper hydration and nutrition in nail strength. Additionally, the American Academy of Dermatology encourages wearing gloves not only during colder months when the risk of dryness increases but also during cleaning or while doing the dishes and gardening. Gloves can also be helpful during nighttime moisturizing treatments, as explained at Real Simple.
One benefit of a CCRC like Arbors of Hop Brook is that our senior living community is designed with all facets of your wellness in mind, accounting for both your considerations of today or those that may arise in the future. Whether you want assistance with how to make your hands look younger or require personal care services essential to activities of daily living, our services are tailored to your specific wants and needs. To learn more about our comprehensive approach to care, our apartments and amenities and more, contact us to schedule a tour today!