Gnarly man-hands, on me.

Cyngbaeld · #61 04/29/13, 09:46 AM

I use sandpaper to smooth the rough spots and rub goat cream on them.

ChristieAcres · #62 05/02/13, 09:05 PM

Wearing Gloves for gardening/washing dishes, and only using my own Comfrey Coconut Salve, I took these pics of my hands. Also, I eat a Paleo/Primal diet, cook with Pork Lard frequently, and went from having paper thin nails to good strong ones. If it wasn't for my work, I would wear them shorter and probably not polish them. Just a few minutes ago, I went in and start dinner, also splitting some kindling (no damage to my nails). I don't hesitate to do any of my regular chores, just am a little more careful is all. I am also 49 years old.

Irish Pixie · #63 05/03/13, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorichristie

Wearing Gloves for gardening/washing dishes, and only using my own Comfrey Coconut Salve, I took these pics of my hands. Also, I eat a Paleo/Primal diet, cook with Pork Lard frequently, and went from having paper thin nails to good strong ones. If it wasn't for my work, I would wear them shorter and probably not polish them. Just a few minutes ago, I went in and start dinner, also splitting some kindling (no damage to my nails). I don't hesitate to do any of my regular chores, just am a little more careful is all. I am also 49 years old.

Pretty. Acrylics might be able to withstand real work.

I'd like to see them after a day or two of loading, unloading and stacking 300+ bales of hay or splitting and stacking a cord of firewood.

I keep mine just beyond my finger tips and any real work can tear them up at that length even with good leather gloves.

ChristieAcres · #64 05/03/13, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Pixie

Pretty. Acrylics might be able to withstand real work.

I'd like to see them after a day or two of loading, unloading and stacking 300+ bales of hay or splitting and stacking a cord of firewood.

I keep mine just beyond my finger tips and any real work can tear them up at that length even with good leather gloves.

You have me smiling right now, considering I recently helped my DH carry a transmission weighing almost 300#s (yes, little 5'5" me...). I don't plan on doing that again, but I didn't hurt my back. You see, I have stayed in shape my entire life, have worked physically and also at office jobs (I believe in staying fit). We have been homesteading for the last eight years, and I do plenty of lifting, too. Gardening, carrying in firewood, splitting the kindling, and stacking the firewood isn't real work? I also clean out the chicken house, do almost all the work for our 3,000sq ft + garden of raised beds, and that is with strictly hand tools. Since my DH is a Machinist/Welder, he builds railings, gates, and all sorts of other rather heavy objects. Guess who helps him carry or handle the objects? Yep, me, who I guess doesn't know what real work is...I can also split wood, but why should I? DH can do it literally 4 times more efficiently splitting by hand. Since he built a log splitter, we do it together (if he doesn't have one of his 3 DS's over to help him---they are all over 6' tall and very strong men). What I do know? Is how to accomplish all the work I need to without breaking my nails or messing up my hands. I don't think it is that hard to do, either, just have to modify working techniques a bit.

The OP was about??? She wanted to know how to improve the appearance of her hands/nails for a job. I simply showed her it CAN be done

AuntKitty · #65 05/03/13, 10:29 AM

When I read the title of this thread I thought it was going to be a whole nother subject. I need to get out more...

BKB HOMESTEAD · #66 05/03/13, 10:43 AM

Go get some suet, the kind for the birds, warm on the stove to render the fat from it, put it on you hands and wear rubber gloves overnight. Cures the cracked skin that gets dirt in that you can't get out, also heals cracked fingertips and prevents them from splitting.

LisaInN.Idaho · #67 05/03/13, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Pixie

Pretty. Acrylics might be able to withstand real work.

I'd like to see them after a day or two of loading, unloading and stacking 300+ bales of hay or splitting and stacking a cord of firewood.

I keep mine just beyond my finger tips and any real work can tear them up at that length even with good leather gloves.

I used to have acrylics way back when and bucking hay (just a bale or two at a time) was a major nail killer. I don't think ANY nails could stand up to loading and stacking hay. There is no physical way, gloves or no.

Irish Pixie · #68 05/03/13, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaInN.Idaho

I used to have acrylics way back when and bucking hay (just a bale or two at a time) was a major nail killer. I don't think ANY nails could stand up to loading and stacking hay. There is no physical way, gloves or no.

A few years ago I had grown my nails out all long and pretty (I can't use acrylics as I react to the glue) had a nice manicure and the hay guy called... that was the end of the pretty nails. I don't think there were more than a couple that weren't broke, split or the polish chipped even wearing good gloves and being careful. Horses are much nicer than nails anyway no matter how pretty.

Same with splitting and stacking wood- even using a splitter there's no way long nails would hold up to any real amount of wood.

It's just easier to keep them level with or just beyond my finger tips and squared off. I think squared off is "in" right now too.

ChristieAcres · #69 05/03/13, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

I need help.
I've never had soft and tender girly hands, even when I didn't work with them so much. They have always been dry and I had to go to have regular manicures just to keep them semi-soft but now my manicure days are over and working outside just a few weeks since it's gotten warm it's clear I have got to do something.
I wear gloves for all the dirt digging and goat disbudding and wood hauling, shoveling out the barn work I do, but I still am getting some pretty nasty calluses. I bought some Lava soap and that seems to be working to keep the dirt out of the wrinkles that are appearing daily, but they are still tough looking hands.
What do you girly types do to keep your hands looking like girl hands should look?

Here is the OP, once again. I not only told Pretty Paisley, I showed her.

Irish Pixie, I unloaded an entire truckload of firewood and stacked it myself, with nails, but you seem to think it is impossible. Maybe for you, it is, but I have learned techniques, since I need to keep my hands looking nice for meeting with Clients, etc... Go take a look at my gardening thread, weeding, shoveling, and all other work done with nails. I don't have to haul wood, but I do carry in firewood. Also, when using a log splitter, DH is the splitter, and I help by loading the wagon with firewood. He pulls it over and I stack that while he is splitting more. I can lift more than my weight, but avoid doing that for obvious reasons. It is better to make two trips with lighter loads than one trip with a heavy load. We aren't getting younger, so we have to work smarter not harder. I feel that means it wise for me to accept help from men who offer it respectfully. DH, his 3 grown DS's, my DS and my DD all know what my capabilities are but all know I am 49 years old. None of them want to see me get hurt. These days, I am endeavoring to avoid pulling muscles, lifting more than I should, and otherwise incurring injuries resulting in long term conditions.

Some of us have to do harder physical work than others, but it is still work to harvest, can, dehydrate, prune trees, and all manners of work expending physical energy. Ask any man or woman who has spent days canning hundreds of jars if they don't consider that work, most would consider that hard work. Not every one here has to deal with hay. We don't.

We are a team here and choose our tasks according to what we each do more effectively. When DH hauls a truckload of compost, I can unload it, but he can unload it a lot faster. When it was time to can Venison, I discovered DH was also much more effective at trimming and cubing the meat. So, he does that, and I can the Venison.

While I am doing a bit of housework today, also needed gardening work, DH is working on the path project on our back garden level (covering & chipping all the paths). He has already washed both of our cars this morning. Why should I wash my car, when he has taken over that task?! That doesn't mean I can't wash my car just because he does it. We get an enormous amount of work done around here due to sharing responsibilities and working as a team.

chewie · #70 05/03/13, 02:38 PM

when my chey was born, i had nails that were often envied. but i almost scratched her face, and hacked em off right then and now can't stand long nails. they are healthy tho., using coconut oil, lard, and goat skin gloves when outside. those are thin enough and cheap ($7 pair that last for a year) to use for everything. also i get sun spots and try to keep my hands from too much sun, same as the rest of me too.

i make my own cream from shea, cocount oil, beeswax, lanolin and vit e oil. bag balm works too but i am trying to stay away from petroluem stuff.

LisaInN.Idaho · #71 05/03/13, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Pixie

I think squared off is "in" right now too.

Definitely so. Mine are more squared off too.

PrettyPaisley · #72 05/03/13, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuntKitty

When I read the title of this thread I thought it was going to be a whole nother subject. I need to get out more...

ralph perrello · #73 05/04/13, 05:29 PM

As long as you are putting yours hands on your man now and then, he will not care if they are a little rough. Actually he will probably not notice they are.

GoldenCityMuse · #74 05/04/13, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuntKitty

When I read the title of this thread I thought it was going to be a whole nother subject. I need to get out more...

What she said!

I was wondering what episode we were having ; 'General Homestead' or 'As the Homestead Turns'

Anyway, Walgreens lotion and vaseline at nite. Of course, our average humidity during the day is about 6-8%.