How to groom

Grooming strokes

A stroke is the action of striking your skin once.
Each one lasts from one to ten seconds.
You repeat this movement, over and over, for several minutes.
Strokes are two part actions, <—>, where only the first half is important. The other half merely returns you to your original position.

Support and grasp

Whatever part of the hand that is not used directly in the grooming action may act to support it.
The unused fingers may stretch and stabilize the skin or simply anchor your hand for stableness.
I also recommend that you engage your other hand to help the first.

Moving just the tip of your finger

In many situations, the area you are grooming is small, such as a fold crossing.
You are going over it repeatedly for a while.
In some positions, you can rest the hand on you, relieving you from the weight of your arm.

Going down the path

Once you’re done with a particular spot, you loosen your grasp and follow the fold down to the next crossing.

Nail and fingertip positions

-You can use just the tip of your nail

The nail then performs most of the sensory signal reception and all the grooming work alone.

-You can use both your nail and fingertip

Even occasional fingertip contacts with the skin relay mounds of information.
Any part of the flesh will do.

-You can use only your fingertip

It is amazing how much grooming you can do without using your nail.
Often, just passing your fingertip on the fold opens up the upper skin layer.

Unfolding haste

While grooming, you find out that different places on your body don't react in the same manner to your moves.
One spot may be unresponsive, but another one nearby may seem to appreciate your actions greatly.
Unfolding haste represents your skin’s willingness to be groomed.

This crossing is dull and hard		This crossing crumbles under your nail

Unfolding haste tells you to
groom the fold crossing on the right

You can feel this urge to unfold below your nail.
It tells you that you that you are grooming exactly at the right place and that you should keep on working there.