Single finger grooming strokes

Three types of strokes

Without motion
	Pressure strokes

With motion
	Scraping strokes
	Slicing strokes

Using only one finger

Single finger grooming allows you to:
•Work precisely,
•Feel the fine sensations coming from your skin,
•Concentrate all your attention on the problems you are tackling.
But it is much slower than four finger grooming and
should mostly be used for trouble spots and hard to reach places.
But, since you've never groomed, your skin is so folded it needs special attention everywhere.

Putting pressure on the skin

Most of grooming's therapeutic effect is obtained by pressing your nail deeply into your skin.
Since it has thickened with folds, grooming its surface will give very little results.
You have to crush the folds and their crossings by putting as much pressure as you can on them without hurting yourself.
You will feel your nail plunge into your hardened skin as it flattens any structure it encounters.
You want to go as deep as you can.

 

•Pressure strokes

This is the basic grooming gesture.
This is the stroke you will use for near 80% of your grooming.
•Place your nail anywhere on your body and press.

Pressure strokes

•Keep the pressure on your skin for one to ten seconds.
•Repeat.

Pecking

When you apply a series of short, one to three seconds, strokes on an area of skin, the procedure resembles the pecking of birds.
You change your nail's position slightly between each stroke.
Pecking is the way to go if you want to cover small regions of damaged or aching skin.

Long pressure strokes

You use long pressure strokes when you've found the right spot.
When your nail is just on top of a fold crossing, you can feel it.
Stay right there. Don't move.
Keep the pressure on your skin for as long as you can.

Nail penetrating a fold crossing

While your nail is pressing, reorient it slightly so it follows the angle of the fold crossing.
You can repeat this stroke, over and over, while you refine your position and angle.

Analyzing nail marks

Pressure strokes leave characteristic nail marks.
Use them as a guide to know if you are putting too much pressure on your skin.
Nail marks should disappear within a few minutes.
If you press too hard, you can easily create marks that will take a few days to fade out or even strike blood.
So «test groom» any area for a while before doing any serious work.

 

•Scraping strokes

You use your nail as a scraper.
•Place your nail a bit beyond or right on the spot you want to groom.
•Press your nail in, but don't put too much pressure.
•Pull your finger inwards a short distance.
•Repeat.

Scraping strokes

As your nail scrapes the surface it grinds any extraneous skin structures it encounters.
You only put pressure on your nail during the pulling part of the stroke. The other half of the motion only returns your finger to its starting point.

A question of pressure

Determining the right amount of pressure to put on your nail while performing scraping strokes is essential:
•Not enough pressure: You are wasting your time and will groom endlessly because your nail is only brushing the epidermis.
•Too much pressure: Stop right now! You are damaging your skin.
Be prudent, patient and «test groom» all areas.

When to use
single finger scraping strokes

Use this technique during the exploratory phase of your grooming, before going to full pressure strokes.
Scrape over problem areas in order to get a feel of what is beneath the surface.
If your goal is to remove the outmost epidermis layer, you should try four finger scraping strokes instead, but you still will have to resort to single finger strokes in cramped, delicate or uneven regions such as around your eyes, nose, mouth, ears, ...
Perform only up to 5% of your work using single finger scraping strokes.
Always reevaluate if you shouldn't go with pressure strokes instead.

 

•Slicing strokes

The finger is positioned sideways.
•You use the corner of your nail in a manner similar to the blade of a knife.

Slicing stroke

Resort to single finger slicing strokes whenever you locate a fold.
You want to put your nail, as deep as you can, inside the furrow of the fold.
You then simply follow its path, opening it as you go.
Folds are hard to perceive, so you may change fold without noticing. This is normal.
You should feel some resistance at the cutting edge.
When your nail meets any obstacle, hole, bump or the closing of the fold, pass over it again and again.

When to use
single finger slicing strokes

•They are effective during the exploratory phase of your grooming while mapping out the relief of an area.
•Use them anytime you want to open up a fold. Make sure your nail goes to the bottom of its track.
•Apply short slicing strokes when you encounter bumps, holes and hard spots. Locate the folds within them and work at opening up their junction.
Slicing stokes should only represent about 5% of your grooming effort.

 

The jerk

The jerk is a short, violent pull on the nail you can use at the end of pressure strokes.
Instead of simply removing your nail, as you would normally do, you give a last burst of pressure as your pull it out.

Pressure stroke		The jerk

When you finish a pressure stroke, your nail is pushed deeply into the skin and is sometimes even held captive by the fold's structure.
Now's your chance to give a last assault as you remove your nail.
Whack your nail in!
So, the jerk is an optional ending.
You mostly use it when your stroke has reached a point of resistance that hampers further movement.

 

Finger strokes

Finger strokes use the flat or the side of your finger to perform the grooming tasks.
No nail is involved at all.
Sometimes, the finger can help the nail cooperatively.
Finger strokes are particularly effective underwater or when your skin is wet.
 

•Finger pressing strokes

Unfolding will occur even if very little pressure is applied.
Your whole fingertip covers a larger area than just your nail.
Your finger acts as an iron would on clothes.
•Put some pressure on your skin using the flat of your finger.
•Move your finger around slowly.

Finger pressing stroke

Pressing can be done with any part of the finger even in conjunction with nail strokes.
One special use of this stroke is the final flattening of your skin;
•After grooming
•After a shower
•Before meeting people

 

•Finger pulling strokes

Use the side of your grooming finger.
•Try to fit any portion of your finger you can inside a fold.
•Press it in as deep as you can.
•Use the leverage obtained to pull and open the fold.

Finger pulling stroke

The fold to be pulled must be deep and long enough for your finger to find a hold on it.
Finger pulling strokes are a great way to open up a fold without hurting the skin at all.
You may get a better grip by performing them in a wet environment.