By Beth Newman
One of my favorite autumn activities is a nice, long walk through the neighborhood. This walk is even better when my better half, Mr. Kent, accompanies me. We hold hands and gaze at the vibrant splendor of the changing leaves. I mentioned this to a girlfriend not too long ago, who, to my surprise proclaimed, “You actually hold hands with your husband? My husband’s hands are like sandpaper – I can’t stand for him to touch me!”
That’s a pretty bold statement, and a shameful way to live. I knew right then that I simply had to offer a few hand-saving (and in the case of my friend, relationship-saving) tips with some of you gents.
Tip 1: Wash Your Hands
Pretty elementary stuff, I realize, but I’m amazed by the number of men I know personally who don’t do it. (Don’t ask how I know, just trust me when I tell you I do). That means washing in the restroom, washing before you eat, washing after you’ve worked on the car…that sort of thing. Your hands may not look dirty, but millions of little disgusting bacteria are there, which can lead to illness.
Tip 2: Moisturize
The men I know are split on this: many moisturize religiously, while others avoid it like a bad rash. The sandpaper feel my friend described stems from the fact that her husband never uses hand cream. He feels it’s not masculine to do so. I strongly disagree. Nothing’s better than taking the hand of your beloved and caressing its soft, smooth outline.
Tip 3: Nail Care
Do spend a little time on your nails. Clean them, trim them, and pay close attention to your cuticles (never cut a cuticle; after moisturizer, push it back gently with a facecloth or towel). I see more men in the nail salons these days, and I think it’s fantastic. There’s nothing wrong with caring for one’s nails, whether you do it yourself or have someone do it for you. It matters.
Tip 4: Exfoliate
Ask your girl to pick up a tube of hand scrub (Sally Hansen carries a fabulous line). Exfoliate once a week, and then do double duty with the moisturizer. It’s like a facial – a handcial, shall we call it?
And Finally…
Be mindful of where you put your hands. No, I don’t mean that. I’m asking you to please refrain (at least while in public) from inserting your fingers in the following areas:
Mouth
Ears
Nose
Pants
No one, and I mean no one, will want to take your hand if they’ve witnessed any of the above.
Some of you may feel that this is a bit too much, but please trust me on this one. Nothing’s nicer than taking a beloved’s hand….especially when that hand is well cared for.
Beth Newman is dedicated to helping people succeed. Before entering the field of education, she worked as a reporter and producer for television and radio. As a fashion journalist, her articles appear in online and local publications. She’s also editor-in-chief of the webzine Elegant. Beth is co-founder and coach of First Style, assisting preteens and teens with wardrobe selection, healthy lifestyle choices, and etiquette.
Contact Beth today http://www.newmanimage.info http://www.myspace.com/newmanimage
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 8:09 AM
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