individual.

Clenched fists, knotted fingers and white knuckles indicate anger, fear or frustration, while folded hands, graceful gestures, spreading fingers indicate spell happiness, peace and even humour.

Hands can also indicate whether the individual is a manual worker or not.

Unfortunately, they are also honest indicators of age.

"There is nothing you can really do about the hands to get rid of aging,'' nail technician/beautician Miss Lisa Truscott said. "Age spots and wrinkles are there for all to see.'' Nevertheless, there is much which can be done to make hands attractive and maintain their good condition. This is especially important during the summer months when sun, heat, salt and chlorinated pool water take such a heavy toll on the skin.

"You should wear a sun block -- not less than factor 15 -- on your hands as well as your face,'' Miss Truscott advised. "Your hands are as delicate as your face, so you should really treat them with just as much care.'' Noting that salt and chlorine were very drying, Miss Truscott said that a fresh water shower or bath should be taken as quickly as possible after swimming, followed by a good moisturising hand cream.

Daily care of the hands includes washing with a mild soap -- preferably liquid with a moisturiser -- and regular use of hand cream.

"You should apply hand cream each time you wash your hands,'' the nail technician said. "And remember to keep a tube at work too.'' At night, Miss Truscott recommended rubbing petroleum jelly well into the hands, applying cuticle cream, and then sleeping with cotton gloves on.

Pointing out that bleaches, household detergents and cleaning agents of all kinds were very harsh on the hands, the nail technician said rubber gloves should always be worn when using them.

"Household cleaners are designed to get rid of tough dirt, grime and grease, so think of the effect they have on the hands. They don't know the difference between a floor, dishes and pots, and human skin and nails. There are so many skin problems which are caused by detergents.'' To combat the sweating which occurs through prolonged use of such gloves, Miss Truscott recommended wearing a pair of light cotton gloves underneath.

"Perspiration is moisture, so it has the same effect on hands and nails that prolonged immersion in water does.'' Sprinkling talcum powder in rubber gloves was not the answer.

"Powder is drying,'' she advised.

When it came to manicuring the nails, Miss Truscott had this advice: Cuticles: Avoid chemical cuticle removers and specialist scissors. Cutting around the nail base can lead to infections and cause the nail to grow out deformed. Since the cuticle is the only living part of the nail, the more you cut it the more it grows. Cuticle is there for a reason. It is there to protect the matrix, from which the nail grows.

Cuticle should always be softened by applying cuticle cream or oil to the area, or soaking it for five minutes in warm water, before gently pushing it back with a cotton wool bud (not an orange stick).

Filing: Daily filing weakens nails, causing splits and breaks. File once a week. To keep snags at a minimum, file when the nails are dry and still protected by old polish.

Never use a metal file. It is so coarse that it actually tears the nail and separates the layers. Instead, use the softest emery board possible, and hold it at a 45-degree angle to the nail.

When filing the nails, do not use a sawing motion -- the friction creates heat which heats the nail and makes the ends flake and peel.

Working from the outside edges to the centre, file in one direction only. The strongest nail shape is square with rounded shoulders.

Buffing: Should only be done once a week because each buffing removes a layer of the nail. Removing too many layers causes splitting. Buff gently -- the friction of vigorous buffing will heat the nail and cause it to flake and split.

Polishes: Use acetone-free polish remover. Acetone strips nails of their natural oils.

Begin by using a base coat. It prevents nail staining and makes polish last longer. Next apply two coats of the polish of your choice, followed by a top coat, which seals in the polish, and helps to prevent chipping and colour fade.

Discolouration of the nails is caused by constantly putting on and removing polish, eventully allowing colour pigment to sink into the nail. Healthy Nails and Skin: Codliver oil (ingested) is very good for both the nails and skin, and prevents drying. B vitamins are also good for the skin and hair. In fact, anything that's good for the skin and hair is also good for nails because they are made up of the same proteins.

Low Fat Diets: No diet should be completely fat free. A certain amount of oil is necessary for healthy skin, nails and hair.

Stress, shock, antibiotics and anaesthetics: These can all affect new growth of the nails, as well as the skin and hair.

It takes about three to six months for a nail to grow up from the base to the fingertip, so anything which adversely affects it will take a long time to remedy.

`HAND-YWORK!' -- Nail technician Miss Lisa Truscott says hands must be cared for as diligently as the hair and skin, particularly during the summer months.