Yikes!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Yikes!
9
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 12:19am

I read in a book that women like men with good-looking hands because they like to imagine themselves caressed in those hands. Unfortunately, I have ugly hands: I have a bad habit of picking calluses, causing redness and swelling on my thumbs. Moreover, I get a lot of cuts, scrapes and chapped skin from playing street basketball.

In the past, some people commented on my hands, but I never cared. Now, after reading the book, I feel like maybe I should do something. So what is your opinion about hands? Are they really important or am I fretting too much? I would hate to see myself turned down because of my hands. Yet, at the same time, I know too that I am not too interested in grooming, outside of a neat hair, close shave, clean clothes and shoes....

This makes me wonder where do women get the energy for manicures, facials, saunas....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 12:34am

That's why men chase women.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 8:19am

My opinion and my opinion alone here. I've been told I'm somewhat idealistic.

Honestly I've got better things to worry about than what a guys hands look like. As long as there aren't sores and cuts all over them, or there isn't obvious dirt under the nails - I really don't notice a guys hands.

But that's just me. I myself chew on my cuticles and don't bother to get my nails manicured. They're cut and clean and all that but I'm too busy to worry about what my nails look like. And I would appreciate the same in a guy. As long as he's clean, you know?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2004
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 9:48am

I am also bad with my hands. And I have been so frustrated this week because it seems that every day I am getting a paper cut or getting scraped! My nails are also weak and tear a lot.

I deciding a couple of weeks ago that I am going to get a manicure every week. I think that's the only way to get them half decent.

Before, I averaged at best a manicure every month. Which clearly wasn't enough!

My biggest problem is that my work schedule is not the same week to week so it's hard to schedule something until the last moment...

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 9:59am

As a matter of fact, I would like to say for me personally, I like a man with "manly" hands. Cleanliness is important, but men who use their hands physically get callouses (women, too, but I'm interested in men, so that's what I'm talking about).

I am attracted to men who do NOT typically have perfectly manicured hands. I like callouses on a man, as I enjoy the differences between myself and men. That being said, I don't dwell on it, I don't know if I even consciously think about it, since I usually have other things on my mind beyond the man's hands!

As far as being rejected by your hands, do you really care if you're rejected by someone that shallow?

Women find the energy because we want to. Or we don't. Some women actually don't get manicures and the like- but you can't tell, since they aren't as physically active with their hands, and they don't get as rough and beaten up as a lot of men's hands can. Or women do it themselves at home while watching Grey's Anatomy.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2005
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 11:47am

Yes, cleanliness matters. A lot. But if you're generally clean (not talking metro-sexual here, just well groomed) then your hands probably are, too. To me that's just a sign that someone takes care of themselves. How your hands look due to sports, work, etc. is not going to send someone running for the hills. I know plenty of occasional nail biters in happy, healthy relationships.

What I would caution you on is reading some article or book and taking it as gospel. Most of that stuff is pure crap and only applies to a small portion of the population. I once read an article that said if a man puts ketchup on scrambled eggs then he will probably act like a child and you should not date him. That's absolutely ridiculous to me. I draw conclusions from real issues when I date someone, not how they eat their eggs.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2005
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 5:11pm

I am a habitual nail biter/cuticle chewer and I am in a good relationship. Having clean hands is more important than pretty hands when it comes to guys As long as you are well groomed and wash your hands when necessary I dont see what the problem is with a few athletic callouses and cuts. My boyfriend has athletic hands too and I love them.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: akt226
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 7:17pm
Thanks for the replies, and since the book has a long, long list of do's and don't's, knowing that I don't have to follow it religiously helps me breathe a little better. I know that I should curb my picking habit. However, I am not going to worry about my cuts and bruises from basketball. Actually I may enjoy talking about them because they are a stripe of my personality.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
In reply to: akt226
Sun, 04-09-2006 - 2:52pm
I must admit that a man's hands are a big deal for me. I like nice, strong hands and nicely shaped forearms. I have no problem finding the time for manicures because I can do that at lunch but it's expensive after awhile. I used to keep my nails long but cut them short recently. It's too much with all of the traveling that I do - it's tough on my nails and not as easy to maintain them so now I keep them short.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
In reply to: akt226
Sun, 04-09-2006 - 3:04pm
I personally don't really take a huge notice on what a man's hands look like unless of course they are very dirty and just gross overall. If I'm attracted to a man and his hands aren't perfect, if they are rough and cuts here and there that's not going to deter me from that person. I think that would be just too picky if I were to do something like that. Of course I do like really nice big hands and that's a bonus but imperfect hands would not prevent me from wanting to be with someone who I like.