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Now that I'm taking lessons and practicing, I have come to care about how dry my hands feel. The dryness has led to some insecurity of my fingers on the black keys. What hand lotions does everyone find works for them as far as solving dry hands without creating greasy hands? Thanks

I use whatever is around. Anything by Aveeno or Jergens works really well for me, but I'm not too picky about my hand lotions.

You just started taking lessons and you have a Steinway B?

Believe it or not, there was a hand lotion thread in the CR a few weeks back. I can't find it now, but my post (which actually received approval by a doctor in the CR) recommended LacHydrin. You can get LacHydrin 5 non-prescription or LacHydrin 12% with a prescription. There's a generic version called AmLactin 12%, which is available without a prescription, although you might need to ask the pharmacist about it. Around here, AmLactin is kept in the pharmacy, not with other non-prescription lotions.

Here is the thread markb is referring too:

Dry Skin

Pay careful attention to the post regaring moo cream (udder cream).

Mark, if I can be of any further help, just let me know. Perhaps you're having trouble finding your C# ?

Not to hijack my own thread, but yes, my whole family is new to the piano and we bought a Steinway B. I think my posts over the last couple of months reveal my logic. Maybe they don't. But I am not one to think that the Steinways or Bosendorfers are the sole province of those who play well. I will get better, as will my family, and in the meantime, our friends who do play are in for a treat.

I use Gold Bond. It is sort of aimed at itchy skin, since it has a bit of menthol in it. I bought it originally because I had some problems with itching on my calves and ankles from dry skin.

After I used it for that, I found it made my hands smoother without feeling like a thick greasy coating. Greasy-feeling hands is the reason I'd never used a hand cream regularly before. Can't stand it!. In fact, when forced to use lotion, I'd immediately grab a Kleenex and try to wipe off as much as possible.

Gold Bond doesn't make me feel like I need to grab a Kleenex.

Thanks for the thread reference.

I swear to God if you don't post a pic of that piano soon I am going to go nuts!!!

Okay, really, when is it coming? I love my B and want to see yours asap!

Thanks for the offer, Jerry. If you could, please help me find my mind; I apparently lost it.

It's not home yet. Using stock options to finish paying for it, and I'm not in an open trading period right now. I do visit it for practice pretty much every day.

my fingers are usually dry and could slide easily on keys. so i use hand lotion regularly. but make sure use the hand lotion is NOT 'oil' based so that you won't feel too greasy.

I MUST have lotion handy! (No pun intended. No, really, I wasn't thinking of it at all!)

This is the best lotion I have ever tried: Glysomed. It is GREAT stuff! It might feel a little greasy at first, but it absorbs quickly and leaves your hands really soft. It ain't especially cheap, but it is worth it! You should be able to find it at places like Target. It's in a super ugly green container. I buy the 1.7 fl. oz. container for about $3.50+. I believe their website is www.glysomed.com

tk: You may not have been intending the pun, but it was still painful. Thanks for the suggestion.

I use "UDDER CREAM". It can be found in almost all fabric and quilt shops. My wife is a quilter, and she, as well as the other quilters, use "UDDER CREAM" because it works very well and does not leave a grease residue that would get on the material. It leaves no reidue on the piano keys.

Chuck

Being a simple girl, I've found that Jergen's works well for me. With aloe or ultra healing are good, plus Jergen's doesn't have a heavy fragrance.

if i use lotion, i'm worried that my hands'll sweat, so i just put lotion on the backs to avoid sweaty palms.

The piano keys must be clean! I've found it best to deep moisturize before bed with pure lanolin if there are any hangnails or splits along the corners of the nail. It helps to have a non drying, very clean soap (i like homemade beeswax soap) just for washing your hands before playing..

This:

No-crack hand cream

I'm a big fan of Neutrogena hand lotion-fisherman's formula for nighttime intensive moisturizing.

It's pretty gunky--about the texture of toothpaste-- but works very well. Do not think you can put it on and go play the piano though! It's a nighttime only thing.

I am a big fan of Aveeno lotion. I like the one with menthol and colloidal oatmeal in it. It and the matching body wash are the only products I've found that are a match for my sensitive skin, the hard water in my town, and the lovely texture of our Canadian winters.

It moisturizes for 24 hours, and because of the menthol has a cooling effect that stops itching.

(Wow! I sound like a commercial!)