The last time I had to think so much about hands was... frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever had to. But when my editor suggested hands as the theme for this month’s grooming column, I had to sit down and look at my own for longer than I’ve ever felt the need to. It was a moment—I almost felt my life flashing before me. Ups and downs. Wear and tear. People feel it’s our faces that reveal how far we’ve come. It’s our hands that are a far more obvious projection of our lives. The journeys we’ve undertaken and the paths we’ve walked.
Getting back to hands, when was the last time you paid enough attention to yours? Odds are, not enough, not in the recent past. We do so much with our hands and yet, we don’t do much for our hands. When I asked a colleague about it, he looked flummoxed. Apart from washing them, what else must we do, he asked. A lot, I said, and went about giving him a laundry list of things he must do. Which is what I’m putting down here for the sake of all hands that shall flip the pages of this esteemed magazine.
You may also like: Did You Use Hand Cream Today?
Get a manicure
There’s nothing ‘manly’ about having caveman hands. There’s a reason they came out of their caves. We’re in 2025 and men must have hands worth shaking. Unkempt fingernails, cuticles aplenty, skin that’s not been tended to in ages... it’s unhygienic, unpleasant to look at and downright unwanted. A good manicure will definitely do your hands good—getting it once every month isn’t too much to ask.
Have a hand cream handy
Just like the skin on your face, the one on your hands needs some TLC, too. Sure, it’s harder and more resilient but it’s also one of the first places (along with your neck) where your body shows signs of ageing. I’m a big proponent of hand creams. Since our hands are exposed to different things through the day—water and soap when you’re washing them, alcohol-based sanitisers, heat, cold, dust and dirt—it’s important to nourish and moisturise them so that they don’t feel dry or itchy, or both.
Now, go the extra mile
But if you find the time (no one’s that busy, you know), do go for that something extra for your hands. Cleaning your hands isn’t enough—you’ve got to exfoliate them, too. Don’t roll your eyes. Think about it. The number of things you touch through the day, the dirt your hands and fingers accumulate—do you really think it’ll all go away with a mere soap or handwash? No, it won’t. Not to forget the million dead skin cells casually lounging in your hands because you never cared about removing them. You need to scrub and exfoliate your hands—and do it thrice a week.
What else could you do? As a rule, clip your nails and cuticles every week. Or whatever frequency works depending on how fast those bad guys grow back. If you’ve eating something greasy or smelly, wash your hands thoroughly. If you’ve used the bathroom, please wash your hands. Never thought I’d have to write it down for people but here we are.
There’s a bunch of other things. Apply your sunscreen on your hands and palms as well. Every once in a while, soak your hands in a bowl full of milk and rose water. Before going to bed, apply a thick layer of hand cream and lock in the moisture by wearing gloves. But all this might be too much, too soon for some. Or kosher for others. Make your own rules, I’d say. The journey from caveman to metrosexual man (note to self: check if it’s even cool to use that term) is yours to take. How far you’d like to go is also your call. Just ensure you’ve travelled far enough.
You may also like: Have You Tried Snail Mucin For Your Skin?
For every hand, there's cream
The best hand creams for you to choose from
Burt’s Bees Hand Salve
It’s a classic pick for all the right reasons—you’ll never know dry hands.
Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Hand Cream
Works just as well for all skin types and seasons.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Deeply nourishing and smells divine. What else could you ask for?
La Mer The Hand Treatment
For those who like their skincare products with a side of luxury, this one’s for you.
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
It can easily treat the roughest of hands! You’ll know it when you use it.
You may also like: Affordable Moisturisers For Every Skin Type
To read more stories from Esquire India's April 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.