caring for hands

[Bob]

Any ideas of what to do to take care of your hands and nails?  Mine seem to get scratched up quite often.   

[chopin_rules]

I share your problem.. my hands are constantly getting cut and bashed. I hate it soooooo much when people ask you to carry large heavy and awkwardly shaped boxes places and it really hurts and you can feel your hands getting worse as you carry it. My only solution is to refuse to carry things, and to try to keep my nails at a good length so they don't get pulled or snap.
I hate playong when I get a cut, especially on the thumb, on the exact place where the thumb connects with the key, trying to do octaves is really painful and it really effects my practising. That is my problem with my hands, but I can't seem to help getting cuts, maybe it's just one of those things in life that are there to pester us

[ted]

I do quite a bit of work around the house and section and have learned to always wear thick gloves for anything that isn't delicate, especially in the garden. I'm always careful to cut off hangnails before they protrude too far. If one of those becomes infected it makes playing the piano difficult for days. If I do get cuts or if I have to reach down drains I'm always careful to wash in antiseptic afterwards. Using rubber gloves for washing the dishes is a good idea too; it's amazing how many times I've torn a finger under the nail while washing dishes by catching it on sharp cutlery.

[lagin]

My thumb nails get so bashed by playing piano, and they're super short, too!  Arpeggios are the worst.  The top layer of my nail keeps chipping off, and nail polish doesn't stand up to technical exercises either.  Anyone got a suggestion?

[apion]

I was just in a tussel with my two German Shepherds, and I can assure you that one thing you SHOULD AVOID is a toothy confrontation with your canine friends.

I should be fine in about 2 to 3 days.........

[janice]

I seem to have a very difficult time playing when my hands are feeling DRY.  My hands never are sweaty, but they were in high school, but that was ages ago!  I seem to play best right after I put on hand lotion.  Weird.  But I make sure to rub it in very well.  I recently stumbled upon Aquaphilic brand ointment.  I once had a rough patch on my ankle (ewwwwww!) and that really softened it.  So now, I use it all the time!  Makes the skin very soft!  In fact, I have a jar that I keep right on top of my monitor!

[pocorina]

This is so relevant. I am terrified of breaking a finger, but my hands are so cut up and have so many scars. Pianist's hands are supposed to look nice and dainty, though they can pack a good punch!

I take cod liver oil to ensure the joints stay nice. But one thing is my hands are ALWAYS FREEZING!! no matter how warm it is! it's because my circulation is so poor that even if i am warm, my hands are all red and stuff, and my nails are like BLUE!! seriously. i can still play when they are cold, but nobody can understand HOW, when i touch them with them and they jump.

[kilini]

Seems like we pianists have to wear velvet gloves around all the time.

But I never worry about caring for my hands, and I never have any problems.

[pocorina]

Seems like we pianists have to wear velvet gloves around all the time.

But I never worry about caring for my hands, and I never have any problems.

Yeah, I wear pink leather gloves all the time (couldn't find any white ones). Besides, with my condition, white leather gloves would be a bad idea. I think you know what i mean.

[Disarmedpianist]

there's something that works wonders, called Hemp Chanvre, you can buy it from the Body Shop for something like 17 bucks for a 100 ml tube. That thing's expensive, stinks (hey, it's made from weed seed), but it works like a charm. Give it a try, I live in Quebec where winter drenches your skin dry and my part-time job (i work in a coffee shop) where dish-washing for 6 hours can kill your hands. But that thing has kept my hands soft all through winter despite everything... try it, it works. 

[nicko124]

About half a year ago (when i was practising two-three hours a day) i hurt my right hand while playing in goal in Football. The shot hit my hand in a weird angle and it hurt like hell for about a week preventing me from practice. This was frustrating but sometimes a break in the routine can be good if you have become addicted to practicing. After the week absence of playing i felt that i had made good progress on many difficult passages.