Tips for Sweaty or Dry Hands

Hey there!

I know there are solutions for sweaty hands; it's come up several times in the Magic & Cardistry student group.

I'll ask them if anyone can offer advice, since I've never actually used anything for it.

My solution is more about the versatility of your techniques and routines.

What I mean is, I can do magic with any deck in any situation, but that doesn't mean I do the same magic with every deck, every time.

There are effects I can do with a sticky deck, others when I have a 360° audience, for stand-up or seated performances, close-up (less than a meter away), or on stage, etc.

And while it might seem like you need a ton of different tricks, that's really not the case.

You can simply adapt the ones you already know.

For example, if a deck is brand new, you can do a thumb fan, but if it's really worn out or your hands are sweaty, you do a pressure fan instead (adapting the technique).

An effect you perform close-up for a standing audience can be adapted for a more vertical presentation in a parlor setting.

If your routine has a color change that only works from the front (like a snap color change) and you've got people all around you (360°), you'd do another one, like the Erdnase.

If you can't do the Erdnase because of sweaty hands, then you do the spin color change.

Ultimately, it's about knowing the limitations of each technique and routine well, so you have solutions for any situation.

Whether it's due to sweaty hands, a worn-out deck, or the audience setup.

Hope this helps! 💪🏻

Hey @IvanGvr.Magic, let me tell you about my experience:

First off, wash your hands before you start, if possible.

After that, in my case, my hands don't sweat. My head sweats like crazy, but not my hands. Still, sometimes I notice they're dry.

@alex_moving and I talked about this on Telegram some time ago:

He had tried a couple, specifically O'Keeffes and Papercreme. I've attached a picture:

And he found the Papercreme worked better for him.

In my case, I tried the BIC cream (yep, from the pen company) and it works well.

These are creams that used to be used for counting bills and papers. My dad worked at a bank, so that's how I knew about it. You should apply it to your fingertips before you start and let it dry.

You'll notice better grip, though it's always best to get used to not needing anything. For some techniques, like the Cull, it works well for me.

Hope this helps!

@IvanGvr.Magic:

Could you recommend something for when it's hot and my hands get super sweaty?

For me, when it comes to sweat, a bit of zinc stearate on my hands, and I'm good to go.

For dry hands, any cream (not ointment) for dry skin will work, 😊. Even though there are 'magician's creams' out there, ANY ONE WILL DO.

NOTE: It's very important that the cream is humectant, not just hydrating.

I recently started using a bit of talcum powder on my hands. What it does is create a thin layer that helps block sweat glands.

The effect typically lasts about 30-40 minutes, and at least for me, it's worked out really well.

My hands used to sweat a ton, so I finally had surgery. They make a small cut under your armpit, and then your hands don't sweat anymore.

I'm super happy with the operation because, honestly, handling cards was such a pain, and whenever I'd open a new deck, it would get ruined instantly.

I recommend washing your hands to keep your deck from getting worn out, especially to prevent the edges from turning black, which is caused by hand sweat. Julio mentioned this during a cardistry live stream.

Keep up the great work! We're all here to support each other, so don't hesitate to ask if anything's unclear or you don't quite get something. I do it too, and usually my questions get answered pretty quickly. You got this, keep at it!

My problem here is dealing with dry hands. So far, I've managed it with @jriberamagia's ideas: I adapt my routines, or prepare a repertoire that works no matter how my hands are feeling.