Suggestions to dry my oily hands to make playing easier?

[geo3217]

I'm in a new dorm and the humidity is freaking crazy. My hands are always really oily and damp, which I hate playing with because I can't slide as easily, and when I do I risk the strings cutting into my fingers. Plus I just find that my hands get sore faster when they're damp.

BTW my hands are usually pretty dry. It's not that I have especially oily hands, just that the humidity makes them like that. Is there some powder or something I can use to dry out my hands? I'm thinking talcum powder would work but I don't have any. Thanks.

[Grachi]

my suggestion is wash your hands before you play to get all the oils and stuff off, and then if they still feel "slippy", this might sound really hokey or odd, but get like fine sandpaper or even a stone/rock ( ) or something rough to rub your hands against... it sounds weird, but a lot of times when i play guitar in the summer around a fire pit or something my hands would be freaking sweaty from the summer heat/fire/humidity and the grass was usually damp and clothes don't help much so i would grab a stone and rub my hands and fingers and it would roughen up my hands and make them less slippery.

[jsgksu]

My uncles always told me you should wash your hands before playing to get the oils off them so that your strings dont get worn out faster than normal. He also always wipes his hands and the strings with a rag between songs when playing out, I think he might use talcum powder sometimes too though. I wonder if that antibacterial shit would work just as well as washing your hands.

[ut4ever8]

I usually just wipe my hands on my clothes or something like that and it usually helps me, but what Jayme said is right. You should wipe the strings down when your hands are that oily, it will help the strings out alot

[Klondog]

I have a lot of experience in this area as I have a dermatological condition which affects my hands (long story- ask if you so desire). Wash your hands first, dry them, wipe off strings, use talcum powder... all good suggestions for sure. Oh, and I never play anything but elixirs. They make a huge difference in how torn up my fingers get.

[Kahn]

Just pour sand all over your guitar, thats what I do.

[jsgksu]

Were not all from Jihad land, we dont have access to all that sand like you.

[Kahn]

Jihad Land huh?

[geo3217]

Thanks everyone. I looked into it and supposedly using talcum powder is pretty common and a lot of guitarists do it, so I'm pretty sure it won't ruin my fretboard with chemicals. However, I bought Gold Bond for some reason thinking it's the same thing. Does anyone know if Gold Bond can damage your fretboard? I'm a little hesitant because it has some things in it (Menthol and Zinc Oxide and some other inactive ingredients) that I'm afraid might be bad for the wood. Thanks.

[wkpggrvn2001]

[MattyTrane]

Thanks everyone. I looked into it and supposedly using talcum powder is pretty common and a lot of guitarists do it, so I'm pretty sure it won't ruin my fretboard with chemicals. However, I bought Gold Bond for some reason thinking it's the same thing. Does anyone know if Gold Bond can damage your fretboard? I'm a little hesitant because it has some things in it (Menthol and Zinc Oxide and some other inactive ingredients) that I'm afraid might be bad for the wood. Thanks.

I think its fine, but whats wrong with just using a towel/washing your hands before playing?

[Easy E]

wkpggrvn2001, could you please cut out this sophomoric behavior of posting pictures just to get a laugh and actually assist someone with a question?

[StayOrLeaveIU]

Thanks everyone. I looked into it and supposedly using talcum powder is pretty common and a lot of guitarists do it, so I'm pretty sure it won't ruin my fretboard with chemicals. However, I bought Gold Bond for some reason thinking it's the same thing. Does anyone know if Gold Bond can damage your fretboard? I'm a little hesitant because it has some things in it (Menthol and Zinc Oxide and some other inactive ingredients) that I'm afraid might be bad for the wood. Thanks.

Gold bond is talcum powder based but it does have those other chemicals, like you said. I wouldnt risk it. I used to use a towel when I played and would just wipe off the fret board and maybe my hands every few songs.