Clammy hands :( this is a bit long

livelifeloud started this discussion · 12/1/2010

Hey! Im new to the forum and i've been doing pole for a bit over 3 months i completed a beginners course and i have my very own X-sport pole (which I love!) and get weekly lessons. I know you've all heard this before but its really getting me down now but i really can't keep a grip and now iv picked up the really bad habit of constantly drying my hands and the pole with a towel before I start a move. I get moves quite well but i'm just getting so upset becoz i can't link moves or dance to my favorite songs because of my hands and i feel like there is no hope i used to put it down as a nervous thing at first but i really don't think this is the case anymore. I've read loads of articles about products but i'm really aware that a lot of them just make u stick to the pole and this wont help when trying to do a routine and that people start to rely on them too much i think this would just be the same as me drying my hands all the time. I also tried some leather gloves with the fingers cut off but my fingers seemed to be enough to make me slip. 🙁 I love pole so much but I'm loosing my confidence in it and im not really able to enjoy it anymore I'm scared ill never get rid of this problem 🙁 Is anyone the same or am I just a bit strange? Does anyone know any tips or anything that would help me be able to dance fully to a song it seems to be my goal now instead of moves. I'd appreciate any help (I'm desperate) and i'm sorry if you hear this all the time Thanks! xxxx

11 replies

Charley · 12/1/2010
You are so not alone! I have very sweaty hands too. It was a major point of frustration for a very long time. The good news is there are things you can do about it. One of the best methods is just washing your hands with a harsh dish liquid - dawn dish liquid works great! You can also use anti perspirants. Tite Grip is a product you can apply a couple of hours before you pole dance and it will help control sweating. There is also No Sweat - which I like but again that's been most effective if applied a couple of hours before poling. There is Grrrip - my current favorite which is much like dry hands but also allows for you to spin, it doesn't give you super grip but it keeps your hands dry enough to get through a routine. I had the pole cleaners apply Grrrip directly to the poles at USPDF ECR and I applied tite grip several times before my performances and it worked out pretty good for me. Some people use just plain old rubbing alcohol and find that is enough for them. Gloves are good - I have the Mighty Grip gloves because I had tried other types and nothing really came close to the gloves that are made for pole dancing. You DO need to apply some kind of anti perspirant under them so they don't slip though. As far as being dependent on products...in any sport there are things you need to perform your best. Football players wear grippy gloves so they can better catch and hold the ball. Gymnasts use chalk and aerialists use rosin or firm grip. So, I personally don't buy into the "don't use grip aids" thoughts. If you sweat, use anti perspirant, if you're dry then you need to use something that will soften your hands up enough to grip the pole. I hope this is helpful. All of the aids I have listed and use are under $10. 😁 😀 🥂 🌸
hannahpc · 12/2/2010
I I completely understand! My hands sweat so much. I use the product dry hands, but I still sweat through it after about 2 moves. I've been poling just over 6 months now, and have noticed that the stronger I have gotten, I am able to link a little bit more together, but no way can I do a dance or anything. It definitely sucks. I can't do a routine because of it. 🙁 I do hope that as time goes on it will get better. I've also used gloves sometimes, but then my fingers sweat more and it's just as bad.
monica kay · 12/2/2010
Don't get down about it! 😉 It will get better. You just need to find the right products that work for you- everybody has their own different formulas on how to combat their own perspiration. Just keep trying different things and eventually something will work AND the more you pole, the less your hands will sweat anyway. If for some reason you never figure out how to end the sweatyness, I dont think that should hinder your dancing. I worked in a club briefly and one of their best dancers hung a sweat towel out off her hip so when she was way up on the pole, she could wipe any moisture- and this was mid-performance. See? Even the pro's have sweaty palms sometimes 🙂 The mighty grip gloves are great too, but it seems like they may be a disposable product because mine ripped after a week ❗
TrixieLovett · 12/2/2010
I feel for you sister. I've been dancing for over a decade and am like a junkie sometimes, trying every new fad of grip aid that comes down the pike! What I have found works best for me is using a prescription strength antiperspirent on my palms at night, which I then wash off first thing in the morning. It won't help you immediately, but will give relief long term, as I have found. I actually went to my MD and explained what I wanted and why. He's a Sports Medicine specialist and was once the doctor for the Olympic Boxing Team. He approved of the idea and it's kept me poling for many moons now. There are several prescription strength products out there now that you can just pick up at Walgreen's. Keep twirling sister. We are all here to support you!
Mary Ellyn · 12/9/2010
I agree with Charley...there is no reason NOT to use grip products as many sports do and most of the professional competitive polers use them as well. You may just need to experiment to find the right one for yourself too.
Shellectra · 12/13/2010
I have the same problem and have been considering gloves for grip! Are you meant to apply a grip 'product' to your hands before slipping them into the gloves? I constantly slip down the pole in inverted moves and it is so frustrating! My hands feel just that... "clammy" it sucks
livelifeloud · 1/3/2011
Thank you guys so much for the advice and posts I feel much better that it's not just me! I'm trying to find some products but im in the uk and i can't find anywhere that does grrrip or no sweat so i think the web is the key!! I had taken a wee break over xmas and my new years resolution is to go pole mad!! haha So when i get these products and give them a try I will keep you posted on how I do! If this doesn't work then i can try to incoporate a towl on my hip it could work! To everyone else who has this problem lets get through it together and thank you so much for the advice!
Amaranth · 1/3/2011
Hi livelifeloud - congrats, I've been lurking for the past couple of months and you've brought me out into the open... *Realises her error, screams, hides behind her pole and peers out* ...Quite. As a fellow UKer I felt obliged to offer suggestions as I keep having the same frustration of being unable to find products that seem to freely available in the US! Mighty Grip's official website redirects to poledancehaven.com for the UK. They seem to sell a range of their products there including the gloves. More generally you can pick up grip products from amazon.co.uk, eBay and the like. Search for products by name (Amazon currently have Mighty Grip for one). You can also try sports shops for general liquid chalk products but some may or may not work for poling and not sure if they'll help with the clammy hands so much. I know one girl who uses hairspray on her hands to get grip and to dry her skin out. It works for her apparently, but does leave a lot of really stubborn marks on her pole. I certainly wouldn't want to get on it after her, but I suppose if you're the only one dancing it may not matter so much?
Peter · 1/4/2011
@Livelifeloud Hi, have you tried iTac2 Pole Dance Grip, if not send me you mailing address and I'll put a free sample in the mail to you. iTac2 is the only organic product on the market, made from beeswax, comes in 4 different strength levels and is now exclusively distributed by X-Pole. You can learn more at www.poledancegrip.com . If anyone else would like to try iTac2 please submit your request online via the website. Happy New Year Peter
daysy_q · 1/5/2011
i have d oposite problem, my hands get stuck on the pole to where i cant spin or do anything at all, i have always had grippy hands but until now it was never a problem, im afraid of using lotion, loose all grip n fall on my butt... so help please!!!! by d way im new to this so please any help and tips are really apreciated. 😉
Armanii · 1/10/2011
I have the same problem - I have very overreacting sweat glands in general, especially on my palms. I'm brand new to pole dancing and I love it and I'm trying to find ways to fix it :( I do agree that dawn liquid soap without the hand mosturizers is good it dries them out but in a few mins they start sweating again :(