Women: what do you do about man hands?

me0231

I started lifting in August and I've developed a bunch of ugly calluses on my hands. I've never seen any women at my gym wear gloves, so what do you girls do? I'm not lifting super heavy or anything, but the deadlifts and lat pull downs are killing my hands. Not a fan of the rough man hands and no amount of lotion seems to help

Davidsdottir

Can't help you there. Personally, I'm proud of my calluses!

H_Ock12

I have large man hands (and feet,lol) anyway...I learned to live with those early in life. The calluses I don't mind either...like my scar collection, I consider them badges of honor (and I can always peel them off when I'm bored). If yours bother you, try wearing gloves when you lift.

klrenn

I don’t let them build up too thick. I have calluses, but they’re not rough or hard.

Pumice stone in the shower (but don’t completely wear them away) and moisturize.

Eta: and yes about proper grip (someone above mentioned it) when deadlifting, don’t grip the bar so that it goes across the middle of your palm...this pinches the skin between the bar and your fingers and causes more calluses.

me0231

Thanks ladies! I’ve paid more attention to my grip when deadlifting today, definitely room for improvement.

PAFC84

I wouldn't wear gloves personally. They might help stop calluses from forming but they also stop you from gripping the bar properly.

litoria

Enjoy them! You don't get hands like that from doing nothing :-)

DancingMoosie

I wear tacky lifting gloves from Walmart. I don't mind the calluses too much. I grew up doing gymnastics, callused hands are normal to me. Just buff them down if necessary.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I use a pumice stone on my hands after I shower to keep the calluses smooth. I also don't think calluses = manly. I'm sure women have been getting them forever just like men. We aren't soft delicate creatures that can't do hard work.

angmarie28

I wear gloves, i have very sensitive skin, and lifting without gloves literally hurts pretty bad, gloves and lotion really helps limit the man hands

cwolfman13

Proper grip...

BeccaLoves2lift

I wear gloves. Also moisturize.

its_me_april

haha "man hands". . . I personally don't care. My hands do have calluses but I don't like gloves. I've tried them and don't like that I can't feel my hands gripping. Plus my hands would get sweaty when I wore gloves. I have accepted the calluses and don't mind them! good luck!

ISweat4This

Yes to pumice stone and keep your hands moisturized. I keep lotion at my desk.

RaeBeeBaby

An old trick from my grandma - rub vaseline on your hands (or feet) and put cotton gloves (or socks) on before bed. I now use coconut oil and normally only do this with my feet once in awhile. After a summer of flip flop sandal heel and no time or money for a good pedi, this actually works wonders.