Feeling feminine down to your fingertips

There’s nothing more wonderful than looking in the mirror and seeing a beautiful woman staring back at you. Your crossdressing transformation can take a variety of different elements to make it work: hair, makeup, breast forms, a corset, pantyhose, high heels. It’s a lot of work to look good as a woman! But have you been neglecting something… maybe your fingers?

It’s easy to discount the importance of your hands, because we use them for everything and often don’t think about how they look. We all remember that episode of Seinfeld and ‘man hands’! A polished, put together woman knows that your hands are an indication of your femininity! Here’s some easy things you can do to improve your feminine presentation when cross dressing, including some fun DIY ideas!

Clean ’em up!

This is a great thing that anyone can do, whether you’re worried about being ‘caught’ or you’re just looking to spend some time taking care of yourself. If you’re wearing nail polish that’s chipped, take that off and start fresh!

Start by washing your hands with a good soap (bonus points if it’s nicely scented). Use a nail brush and gently scrub your nails and nail beds to remove any deep dirt that’s gotten stuck under your nails and around your cuticles. With a trusty set of nail clippers (not pedicure clippers — the ones with the nice rounded edge), trim your nails to be even in length. With an emery board, gently file the sides of your nails to remove any uneven or jagged edges from the clippers and to help reshape your nails further.

Planning on using some polish? Get a buffer and gently buff each nail. This will scratch the surface of your nails up with small little grooves and divots so the polish will hold better to your nails when you apply them.

Finally, using a cuticle pusher or even your own nails, gently push back your cuticles. This helps prevent hangnails (ouch!) and makes your fingernails look longer. How feminine!

Exfoliate and moisturize

Another step that anyone can do is to take care of your skin! Use an exfoliating soap or cream for your hands (Gojo Hand Cleaner is probably something you have in the workshop that’ll do the trick) and wash them again with a soap and dry them well. If you’re planning on painting your nails, do that now. Play some of your favorite music and celebrate your femininity while you have an at-home spa experience!. Once that’s done, grab your favorite scented hand cream and rub it in to your hands. Pay special attention to your cuticles! This also helps prevent hangnails.

Get your nails done at a salon

Looking for a fun way to have a truly feminine experience? Book an appointment at a salon and get your nails or toes painted! Look for a shellac manicure for something that will last about 2 weeks, and a gel manicure for 3 weeks. If you’re not sure about having painted nails all the time, many salons offer what’s known as a ‘sports manicure’ or ‘mens manicure’, where the nail technician will shape your nails, massage your hands, and leave you feeling beautiful (without any polish left). If you’re daring, ask your manicurist for nail extensions or nail art!

Don’t know what color to choose? Neutral colors close to your natural nail colors are less noticeable, and French manicures are a stylish and elegant modification from that.

Try fake nails

Here’s a favorite for a night out on the town or a weekend away: fake nails! Yes, you can go to a salon and have a manicure done, but that can take time or be hard to remove for a single night on the town. That’s when fake nails (or press-ons) become a girl’s best friend. What you should know about fake nails: You get what you pay for. Be cautious of press-on nails that seem like they’re too good to be true — they probably are!

There’s two primary types of stick-on nails: glue dot nails and glue on nails. Glue dot nails will have a little silicone or latex based piece of double-sided tape that will connect the fake nail to your fingernail. These can be a bit tricky to line up (you have to be dexterious to do it right), and they often do not last long (sometimes less than an hour). Nails that use nail glue will last much longer, but still can be removed at the end of the night without (too much) harm to your fingers.

When shopping for press-on nails, choose a style and pattern that you love! Press-on nails are like an instant manicure and can transform your hands in an instant. We recommend putting your fake nails on last as it can take a little bit to get used to the length.

You can choose plain styles of press-on nails for a subtle manicure:

You can also choose more exotic nails to make a statement:

Accessorize!

Don’t forget to add those finishing touches! A feminine watch, a cute bracelet, and/or some rings will transform your hands to something oh so feminine. You’re sure to catch yourself noticing a little bit of sparkle throughout the day.

Things to watch out for: Keep ane eye out for inexpensive rings. If it’s worn for too long (weeks or even days), the coating can come off and the metal of the ring is oxidizing against your skin. Invest in quality pieces that you plan on wearing every day, and save your money by buying inexpensive statement rings to add some sparkle.

What do you do to feel more feminine? Leave a comment below.