People around the world experience extraordinary events that often can’t be explained; from supernatural phenomena and extrasensory perception to ghosts, aliens, and UFOs, there are many stories that detail people’s experiences with these occurrences. In our article, we’ll cover some of the top supernatural theories that are worth checking out.

Bridgeport Poltergeist

We’ll start with a phenomenon that is best known as the world’s most haunted house, The Bridgeport Poltergeist. The story of The Bridgeport Poltergeist began in 1960 when Gerald and Laura Goodin purchased a home on Lindley Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut. When their only son died at the age of 6 in 1967, the family adopted a girl called Marcia, and strange phenomena began once the young girl entered the home. 

The activity in the home worsened in 1974, and the family called the police, after which it was reported in the Bridgeport Telegram, now known as the Connecticut Post, that police and fire authorities had entered a Lindley Street property and encountered unusual occurrences such as moving furniture. 

The Bridgeport Telegram report gripped the nation, and what set it apart from other ghost stories was the fact that it wasn’t simply one person or family experiencing the events; it was also city officials describing rattling furniture and a small girl being slammed against the wall. Thousands of people from across the country began flocking to Bridgeport, spurred on by the recent release of the famous movie ‘The Exorcist’, and gathered in front of the small one-story home in an attempt to catch even the smallest glimpse of the phenomenon.

With over 100 witnesses to the goings-on at the Goodin’s Lindley Street home, many are still enthralled with the tales of the Bridgeport poltergeist, and if you want to find out more, check this website, UFO Insight, where you can find a range of great stories about the supernatural and unexplained.

The Count Of Saint-Germain

The Count of Saint-Germain is one of the most fascinating tales on record, but there are some that would say he may have been more legend than man. There is proof that the Count of Saint-Germain was a real person, but with many differing claims made about him, it is difficult to sort the truth from the embellishments. If all the claims about The Count of Saint-Germain are true, this would make him the Wandering Jew, an alchemist with the secret to eternal life, a proficient musician, an artist, a linguist, a man who could melt diamond and reform them, and so much more.

The place and circumstances surrounding his birth are entirely unknown, but early accounts have him arriving on the scene in Europe as early as 1710. There have been many theories presented over the centuries as to who the Count of Saint-Germain truly was. Some believed that he was of noble birth from a disgraced family, which is why he had to hide his true identity. Whereas others thought he was born long before his presence was first documented and that he was, in fact, immortal. Whoever the Count of Saint-Germain was, he never divulged any information to anyone who knew him during his known lifetime.

The Case Of Mercy Brown

Also known as the Rhode Island Vampire, the case of Mercy Brown took place during the late 1800s when tuberculosis gripped the region and devasted many families. Mercy Brown lived with her siblings and parents, Mary and George Brown, in rural Exeter, Rhode Island, and was one such family devastated by tuberculosis, which was known at the time as consumption. 

In 1883, Mary and her eldest daughter passed away from the disease, and when Mercy’s older brother, Edwin, became ill, their father took him to western Colorado in a desperate attempt to save his life. While her father and brother were away, Mercy caught the disease and later died at the age of nineteen. Due to the harsh winter, her body was placed in an above-ground crypt to await a proper burial in the spring.

When George and Edwin returned from Colorado, Edwin began to deteriorate quickly, and the residents of Exeter began to suspect that one of the Brown family women had become a vampire. Many townspeople pointed the finger at Mercy, and Edwin himself had even claimed to have felt his sister trying to take his life. As such, the people of Exeter were convinced that a vampire was behind the surge of consumption cases gripping their small community. 

Later the bodies of Mercy, her mother, and sister were exhumed, but what they found shocked them. Mary and her eldest daughter were decomposing as expected; however, Mercy appeared to have flushed cheeks, and her hair had grown despite having been buried two months ago. In response, they burned her heart and liver, feeding the ash to Edwin to cure him of the curse of death. Unfortunately, Edwin succumbed to his sickness shortly after and was laid to rest alongside his other family members, including Mercy Brown.

Flannan Isles And The Vanishing Lighthouse Keepers

More than one film has been made based on the story of Flannan Isles and the vanishing lighthouse keepers, and there is still speculation today about what really happened to the men in December 1900. The transatlantic steamer Archtor was the first to notice something was wrong as it passed the Flannan Isles on the night of the 15th December 1900 heading to Leith; the crew noticed the light in the lighthouse was off. After docking three days later, the news that the lighthouse was not being operated and that something was amiss was passed on to the Northern Lighthouse Board.

The Board quickly dispatched the lighthouse relief ship Hesperus to investigate the problem. Upon arrival on Boxing Day, the ship’s captain sounded his horn and sent up a flare in order to alert the three lighthouse keepers, Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and William MacArthur. However, there was no response, and the relief lighthouse keeper Joseph Moore set off to climb the 160 steps to the lighthouse. Once Moore reached the lighthouse and entered the living quarters, he noticed that the clock in the kitchen had stopped, the table had been set for a meal which was never eaten, a chair had been toppled over, and the only sign of life was a canary in a cage. 

Investigations and searches of the island were conducted, but the men were never found, although there was plenty of evidence that a massive storm had recently hit the island. As a result, it was later concluded that on Saturday, 15th December, the men had attempted to secure a box in which the mooring ropes, landing ropes, and other gear were kept and were hit by a large wave surging against the rocks, which completely swept them away. 

However, speculation was rife, and many theories began to emerge, with some people believing the men were eaten by a giant sea serpent or carried off by an enormous seabird. Others thought the men had left the island by boat to escape significant debts, while another theory had them whisked away by the crew of a ghost ship. One theory even suggested foreign spies had kidnapped the men. As mentioned earlier, there is still speculation today as to what happened to the lighthouse keepers of Flannan Isles, and much of the conversation surrounds a logbook found after it was concluded the men had been swept away. In this logbook, there are peculiar diary entries in the days prior to the 15th December 1900 and one last entry on 15th December suggesting that the storm they experienced had passed and that all was now calm. However, it has not been confirmed if this logbook existed or was forged after the men vanished.

The Internet can provide a wonderful experience for children. It allows them to communicate with friends, teachers and play interactive games from the safety of their home.

However, without appropriate risk management, your children could be subjected to inappropriate comments, illegal activity, and identity theft, or possibly become victims of a crime.

Speak to Your Child About Their Online Activity

A parent-child relationship that allows for open communication without the possibility of shaming is great for many reasons. For one, they are more likely to speak about uncomfortable topics, like safe sex, alcohol or drug use, and politics in a secure environment.

Secondly, they’ll disclose their Internet activity when you ask and are less likely to lie to avoid consequences.

Explain to your child you’re not looking to take their Internet privileges away. Instead, you just want to see if those websites are safe.

If you discuss with your child why you’re taking this precaution, they’re more likely to avoid unsafe websites or disclose personal info on safe sites.

Activate Parental Controls and Watch Their Online Activity

Very young children are more likely to stumble upon a website that’s unsafe rather than do so maliciously. Even when they are purposely visiting these sites, it’s typically for curiosity’s sake. 

After all, nothing is more tempting than something you can’t have! Many internet providers, like the ones found on the Australian iSelect Internet comparison page, offer easy-to-use parental controls.

When setting up parental controls, you can ban specific websites, types of websites, or websites that use certain keywords.

You can also prevent your child from deleting cookies or browser history, which allows you to watch their online activity in case a website slips through the cracks.

Keep Track of Total Online Time/Social Media Usage

When considering how long your children should spend online, consult the Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. For children aged 5-17, it’s recommended that they have no more than 2 total hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day.

This doesn’t include screen time for schoolwork, although it might depend on their homework load.

Get your children to agree on a period of time, like 30 minutes per session, where they can use the television or Internet. Make sure they’re getting enough exercise to compensate for sitting.

Know Who Your Child’s Online Friend’s Are

Adults know that anyone can be anyone on the Internet, but your children are more likely to be naive of that fact. If your children are also on social media, predators or other criminals could use readily available information to trick them into revealing other personal info.

Online safety is done both on and off the computer, so you need to first know who belongs to their social circle.

While your children may feel this is a breach of their privacy, you need to make sure that the people who are speaking to your children are physically present in their lives.

Always ask who a person is, if you can meet them, or if you can speak to them yourself if you’re concerned.

Teach Your Children to Keep Certain Information Private

Being anonymous has its perks for children, as malicious people won’t be able to locate your child without information like their full name, where they go to school, or home address.

The best way to differentiate between information that can be public and what can’t is by asking them if they’d give that information to a stranger. If the answer is no, they shouldn’t post it.

This goes for sharing photos that may give others information on their neighborhood or school location.

Parents can change their child’s social media settings to ensure they’re not tagged in photos or posts. You can also turn off geotagging features that may show your address.

Discuss Aspects of Negative Social Media Usage

Besides telling your children to keep specific information private, they also need to know what to do when they’re being harassed by someone online. They should know how to tell the difference between teasing, cyberbullying, and criminal activity.

Explain to your children that if they are experiencing harassment that’s affecting their enjoyment of the Internet, they need to tell you.

However, most of the mean people they’ll interact with are just bored and looking for a reaction, so discuss how your children can block or report them. Ignoring them is another suitable option.

Dry herb vaporizers are growing in popularity but before you can invest in one, you will need to know how to use it. You will need to know how to load the vaporizer, how to adjust to the ideal temperature as well as what to expect overall when you consume this way. Everything you need to know to make an informed decision will be discussed in this article and you will be able to decide which vape is right for you.

There are many benefits of using a dry herb vaporizer to vape marijuana or tobacco including the fact that it is typically more potent compared to smoking. Choosing a dry herb vaporizer can be a daunting task. There are so many different types and models to choose from, as well as various features that will make the experience more enjoyable. One great example of a vaporizer with impressive performance is MagicVaporizers’ Crafty Plus found right here. This device is equally suitable for both beginners and expert vapers. If you fall into the first category, there are some things you need to consider before making a purchase such as taste preference, desired potency level as well as portability. Here are a few steps you need to be aware of as a vaping beginner.

Know the heating method

The first thing you need to know is the heating method. Unlike smoking, no fire is used to heat the herb, instead, vaporizers heat the herb using gentle heat. Dry herb vaporizers typically have two different oven styles: conduction and convection. With conduction, dry herbs need to be tightly packed into a heating chamber where the herb will come into direct contact with the heating coil. When you push the button, the set temperature will be reached in a matter of seconds which will deliver an immediate draw. This method of heating is faster than convection which works when you load your herb into the removable chamber and once the vape reaches your ideal temperature, you need to insert the herb chamber and allow the herb to heat up for approximately a minute before you start vaping. Both require a small amount of bud and convection is generally for desktop vaporizers.

Grind the marijuana properly

If you want to optimize your experience, you need to grind your marijuana properly which is the process of removing the flowers from the stem and finely crushing it using a device called a grinder. You will find many types of grinders including wooden, acrylic, metal, and plastic. You have to remove the lid of the grinder, break apart your weed and place it between the teeth of the grinder, close the grinder, and then rotate it in a twisting motion for about 45 seconds. The result will be finely crushed marijuana that is perfect for consumption. You will know that your marijuana is properly crushed if it is a very fine consistency, as close to dust as possible.

Choose a temperature

The next step is to choose the correct temperature. The temperature affects your high so you want to take precautions. Generally, low temperatures bring out more flavor, whereas higher temperatures result in stronger psychoactive effects. 315 degrees Fahrenheit is the boiling point of THC so if you choose a temperature lower than that, minimal psychoactive effects will be produced.

Clean it

Dry herb vaporizers require a degree of maintenance. If you want to keep your device working to its full potential, you will need to clean it regularly. Most of the small, removable parts of your vaporizer can be soaked in water. For better results, add a bit of dish soap or rubbing alcohol to the water and then use an earbud to loosen up and scrub and gunk that is visible. If you do not clean your dry herb vaporizer and allow gunk to build up, your device will have to work twice as hard as it was designed to work which will result in the heating element becoming damaged and your battery will have a shorter life span. Your vape also becomes clogged when not cleaned which will negatively affect the taste of the herb and in worst cases, harmful bacteria can begin to grow which you do not want to inhale for obvious health reasons.

Overall, a dry herb vaporizer is not a complicated device and is definitely worth the investment. This consumption method is one of the healthiest available and the effects are also more potent with more flavor.

If you are planning for your wedding this month, you will carry two things after your marriage: the love and the wedding ring. A wedding ring is a symbol of everlasting love and commitment. A wedding is indeed incomplete without wedding rings.

By wearing a wedding ring, you can let other people know that you are someone’s other half or soulmate. Nowadays, shopping for wedding rings is a daunting task, especially when you have never done wedding ring shopping. 

If you have no idea about shopping for weddings rings, then don’t fret- there are many jewelers and online jewelry stores that can help you figure out what you need to buy as per your preference. The online jewelry store has a variety of wedding rings with precious metals that will help you narrow down your wedding ring selection.

So, if you are wondering How To Find A Unique Wedding Ring For Your Partner, then take a look at the helpful wedding ring shopping tips that can make your shopping experience good or easier.

Take Your Own Time for Shopping

This is not a hard tip as it is essential to search about your requirement before your wedding. It simplifies that you must never shop for wedding rings at the last minute. However, if you want something unique and special for your partner, then start shopping four months before your wedding.

The couple is advised to must give enough time for wedding rings shopping.

Incorporate Personal Style

Before buying any wedding ring for your partner, think about their jewelry choices, preferences, style, and what catches her eye the most.

The second and most important tip is to define your personal style. Take a look at your jewelry collection first and use the specifications or information for a better experience. Are you like yellow gold or white gold? Which metal do you like the most for your wedding ring? Do you love wearing diamond rings? Is your style traditional or modern?

So, choose something that enhances your personality and represents you because a wedding ring will become a part of you after your marriage. 

Set Your Budget

It is the most significant factor that you need to consider while wedding ring shopping. After analyzing the personal style, set a budget in your mind. Setting in your budget will help in deciding a wedding ring that you can afford and help avoid disappointment at the time of shopping. 

Price range matters for all people, no doubt. So, you are advised to determine your budget and then go for wedding ring shopping.

Choose the Metal

You can choose multiple metals, like titanium, platinum, silver, white gold, rose gold, yellow gold, etc. But Gold and Platinum are the most popular choices among other metals. Discuss with your partner regarding metal choice. 

Check and analyze which metal will look best on your lady. 

Choose Your and Your Partner’s Style

Choosing an engagement ring and a wedding ring is indeed a confusing task. Before buying any jewelry, one can know about their ring styles, and you must consider your jewelry style before wedding ring shopping.

Before selecting any wedding ring, make sure it will suit your lady’s personality and can be worn for a lifetime means it will be durable. If your bride wears suits, then a formal ring can enhance her personality. 

If you visit any jewelry store, you wil find multiple ring styles for wedding rings like twisted rings, stack rings, pave bands, curved rings, diamond cut wedding rings, engraved rings, and many more. It will be difficult for you to choose the best ring style among these collections. So, it is better to remember your lady’s personality and choice. 

Consider Your Engagement Ring Style

If you are going wedding ring shopping and you have your engagement ring, you will find the best wedding ring. So, you are advised to keep your engagement ring while buying a wedding ring for your partner. 

Dont buy a ring that overshadows your lady’s engagement ring. Matching a wedding ring with an engagement ring is essential today. 

Trust Your Jeweller

Remember, jewelry are always available to help you in selecting any jewelry piece. You have to be open with your budget, and then only can they guide you regarding the best ring collection. 

Ask if they have a new upcoming wedding ring collection or unique gifts. Jewelers are experts in analyzing your ring style, metal choice, and best suitable jewelery pieces according to your personality.

So what are you waiting for? Just talk to your wedding ring specialist regarding your choice and requirement, and they will help you with the best shopping options. 

Some Popular & Trendy Wedding Ring Options

If you are going to buy a wedding ring for your partner, then take a look at some wedding ring options-

Yellow Gold ring with white Topaz, Criss- Cross platinum band with diamonds, Infinity Twist Eternity Ring, Rose Gold Ring with Pave pale diamonds, a Gold band with diamond engraving and many other wedding rings options there. 

And if you want to give her a royal look, you can also take a look at women’s diamond wedding rings.

A diamond ring is the most popular wedding ring choice and is a forever trend. 

Cute Medium Length Hairstyles to Try

One advantage of medium length hairstyles is that there are many ways to style it. Whether you want to keep it straight and sleek or wavy and fun, it will all depend on your preference. Luckily, there are a myriad of styles to choose from.

Ready to rock a stunning style that will transform your looks? We have collected some of the hottest medium length hairstyles for you. Take a look.

1.Side Part

Whether your hair is slightly above or below your shoulders, doing a side part will never go wrong. Use a metallic or wooden comb to part your hair into two. According to LoveHairStyles, you can make the layers messy to draw some attention and show off the golden-brown parts.

2. Smooth Chic With Voluminous Ends

Most people go for straight hair because it looks neat. This style is easy to achieve, and you can wear it on your night out with the girls or when attending a corporate meeting.

3. Middle Part

Do not care much about the part being at the center. Make your off-center part glamorous by adding subtle color to your shoulder-length layers. This is one of the medium length hairstyles worth trying before the year ends.

4. Short, Low Pony

The short, low ponytail style is worn mainly by females who know they have a stunning face shape. It is also familiar with athletes and gym-goers because holding the hair back makes it less distracting.

Messy Ombre

The messy ombre is easy to achieve and suits shoulder-length hair well. An off-center cut with voluminous natural roots adds texture and gives you a flaunting look.

Curls

A shoulder-length hairstyle with curls is a go-to hairdo for many people. Don’t worry if you don’t have natural curls. Also, make the style pop by adding some highlights to it to create a modern look.

Black African Hair

Style your black African hair by combing it to one side into a flirty hairstyle. Add some waves to the layers to make the style pop.

Simple Up-Do

Do you need medium length hairstyles that are easy to style and manage? Well, you should opt for this updo. If you attend a formal event or have a date with the girls, a simple up-do hairstyle will suit you. This hairstyle is not picky with hair types. Hold some hair up and leave some part at the front down.

Collar Bone Waves

The collar bone waves pop well on shoulder-length hair. You can add ombre colors to break the silence of the waves.

Wedding Up-Do

Although every bride has a different taste, most of them go for this hairdo hence the name. The style is youthful and trendy, and the twists are perfect for hair with highlights. Make the waves at the front loose to create a lovely look.

Light Brown Hair

Adding the light brown hue to your shoulder-length hair flatters your face. This style is not picky with the hair type and face shape. The style also adds volume to the hair and makes it look healthy.

Light Blonde Cut

If you have black hair, you can play around with colors like blonde to see if you will like it. The dark roots add dimensions and give you beach vibes. If you like being next to the water, then this is your style.

Bob For Curly Hair

Curly hair is easy to maintain and style. It is even more beautiful with shoulder-length hair. Make sure you moisturize to add life to your hair.

Dark Espresso With Curls Style

This is a perfect hairdo for girls with naturally curly hair. The dark espresso style will flaunt your curls and volume, as it also lightens up the bulk.

Pastel Pink

How much do you like mermaids? Because if you do, then the pastel pink hairdo is for you to try before the end of 2021. The hair color is flattering on all medium length hairstyles and never goes unnoticed.

Lob For Elderly Women

Take advantage of the lightening of hair during your old age by trying the Lob hairdo. The style will suit you well if you have shoulder-length and wavy hair.

Moving to a new home is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. While the excitement about the new life and experiences awaiting ahead will be challenging to contain, glimpses in your rearview mirror can welcome a rush of bittersweet nostalgia. On the side of the spectrum, squirm-inducing anxiety about incoming responsibilities ahead, like finding a house, can creep in at a moment’s notice, leaving you flustered. 

To avoid letting moving stress get the best of you, you may attempt to assume full control of the process, from packing up your belongings to transporting your vehicle. While opting for the DIY approach to moving can save you big bucks, this seemingly brave decision may cause more harm than good. 

Sure, moving alone saves you the money for hiring professionals and helps you evade the hassle of finding the right people. However, are the risks of self-move worth the benefits of saving on professional assistance?

For an inside look into the risks that you take by forfeiting professional help, read on to understand both the hidden and unhidden potential hiccups of doing away with professional assistance when moving. 

Higher expenses

The expenses involved in hiring professional help can persuade any penny-pinching homeowner to forgo moving services altogether. 

However, thinking that you’ll rack up significant savings during your DIY-friendly move is a common misconception that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The harsh reality is that you’re likely to spend more on a solo move, especially if moving to a far distance.

Because the costs of taking time off work to manage the process, packing materials, and renting a moving truck often escape the minds of relocating families, it’s easy to buy into the idea that DIY is a straight shot to savings. But don’t be fooled by these misleading advertisements. 

Between spending money on repairing or replacing items damaged or lost in the process and forking over gas money, these expenses can quickly accumulate and eventually surpass the costs of hiring professionals. 

Damaged items

Another common misconception is that a DIY approach to moving is the easiest way to avoid dented coffee tables, shattered mirrors, and scraped sofas. On the contrary, chances of damaged goods are higher if you move on your own.

First, since you are unfamiliar with the packing techniques for different items, you may fail to pack your belongings well. 

Additionally, you may be unfamiliar with packing your items in the moving truck, let alone driving without having the goods troop over, shift or bump into each other during the move.

Similarly, your lack of experience on the long, open roads may spell disaster for your vehicle’s exterior. Sure, a cross-country road trip may sound doable in the moment. However, one wrong turn and you’ll find yourself headed towards a costly collision or damage-inducing road debris. 

Fortunately, with professional auto shipping companies like Guardian Auto Transport (https://guardianautotransport.com/) there to take the responsibility of car shipping off your hands, you can evade these possible traveling risks and get to your destination without any mishaps.

Damaged property

If you’re moving alone, it’s more than likely that you don’t have the right moving equipment (i.e., a dolly, furniture sliders, and a moving blanket) on standby. In case you do, chances are you don’t know how to use it properly. As a result, you may leave behind damage in your old house or start off on the wrong foot by denting your new home’s door frames, walls, or baseboards.  In some cases, you might risk damaging the moving truck itself. 

For instance, if you lack furniture pads, you risk having scratched floors, broken tiles, and damaged hardwood floors. On the same note, if you don’t have thick protective blankets, you may create dents and chips on the walls and around the tight corners.

Physical injuries

Your primary focus when moving is the safety of your knick-knacks and can’t-live-withouts. Unfortunately, your laser focus on the well-being of your belongings makes it easy for safety precautions to slip your mind. Remember, the heavy lifting involved puts you and those helping you at risk of injuries.

You might strain your back, sprain an ankle or pull a muscle. Moreover, you could fall or drop a heavy object on yourself or somebody else, thus sustaining injuries. You can dodge these moving disasters by calling in professional help, as these moving experts have ready access to the right moving tools and know-how to use them.

Lost time

Self-moving is not only expensive but also time-consuming. You will spend time finding the right moving vehicle, packing your items, loading them into the truck, driving, and later unloading and unpacking.

Given your lack of experience in these tasks, you’ll likely spend more than double the hours a professional would spend on menial moving tasks.  

When you hire professionals, they handle all your tasks, start to finish, allowing you to focus on pertinent paperwork for your new house and saying goodbye to your old life and neighbors.

As a bonus, assembling a team of professionals means you’ll be able to wrap up the process in record time, eliminating select moving inconveniences.

Low security

Security is highly compromised during a move. You need to closely watch your old house, new house, and moving truck to ensure that everything you own is safe. Overseeing the safety of your personal belongings during a self-move is easier said than done. 

However, moving companies are always on the lookout to ensure security risks aren’t within eyeshot. Additionally, these professional moving services offer comprehensive insurance policies that will protect you in the case of losses.

You affect your relationship with friends

When opting for a DIY move, you may ask your friends or neighbors to help lift heavy or awkwardly shaped items in hopes of avoiding the costs of professional movers. While this is a good idea on paper, it may later cost you this relationship.

How? For starters, your friends may feel inconvenienced or even endangered when tasked with spending their free time carrying around bulky furniture. Because there’s always a risk of sustaining an injury mid-move, they may blame their injuries on your lack of foresight. If you’re leaving this group of friends behind, you won’t want your last memory with them to be sweat-stained with taxing physical labor. 

Additionally, some people you invite may throw their hands up in defeat at the first sight of your armoire or might fail to show up, leaving you to grapple with disappointment that could affect your relationship in the long term. 

Is it possible to have a 100% successful move?

Entrusting your hard-earned belongings with a total stranger is no small feat. Nevertheless, hiring professionals to help you make your relocation safer, cheaper, and faster. 

With a professionally-trained moving team in your corner,  you’ll have more time to deal with the emotions of leaving your old life and welcoming the new one. 

Are you a dedicated weightlifter, passionate ballerina, or devoted guitar player? If so, you might consider calluses a sign of all your hard work and are, therefore, something to be proud of. However, these hardened patches of skin are a very different story for the rest of the human race.

To many, calluses are more sources of annoyance and irritation than markings of pride and diligence. That is why we’d rather have them removed than let them take permanent residence on our skin.

Callused feet and hands may prove useful in a sport or hobby, but you won’t need them for much other than that. So, for soft and smooth feet and hands, consider some of these safe practices for removing calluses.

Tips for Safe Callus Removal

Many of us are prone to doing repeated rubbing actions that result in calluses. So, chances are, we may need to apply the following tips to remove these thickened sections in our skin.

1. Leave Them Be

If you’re not in a rush to get rid of your calluses, leave them alone. Just keep whatever you’re doing that’s causing them to a minimum, and they should be out of your hair in no time. Avoid wearing high heels when you can, and replace those too-tight running shoes with a pair that fits just right.

2. Keep New Calluses From Forming

Calluses get out of hand when new layers keep forming over the old ones. You can keep this from happening by avoiding activities that contribute to callus formation in the first place.

If you can’t, keep them at a minimum or wear paddings in areas where most of the friction happens. Add moleskin padding when wearing shoes or heels, and use gloves when doing household tasks that are wearing on the hands.

3. Soak Them

Soften up those existing calluses while giving yourself a relaxing spa-like experience by soaking them in soapy water. Mixing in any soap should do, but some experts recommend using Epsom salts for optimal results.

Not only do Epsom salts have anti-inflammatory qualities, but they also have a gritty surface that scrapes away at those hardened layers effectively. Use this tip to make the next one easier.

4. Sand Them

Once your skin has been softened by sudsy Epsom-infused water, submerge a foot file or a similar item in the water for a couple of seconds and rub over it with your raw layers.

Remember not to go too far, as you could end up removing the entire callus. You will still need to maintain a thick-enough hardened layer to protect that area of the skin from pressure. Fine-grain sandpaper, pumice stone, and an emery board are all good-enough substitutes for a foot file.

5. Moisturize

Lather specifically formulated moisturizer for thickened skin on your hands and feet to keep these areas soft and… well, moisturized! You have a ton of great options to choose from these days, but a good old-fashioned Vaseline should prove as effective as any of them.

To complete the process, pull a pair of socks on before bed so that the moisturizer can work its magic overnight. For the hardened layers on your palms and fingers, use a good hand cream before pulling on a pair of soft gloves and letting the application do its work while you rest.

6. Exfoliate

Urea has proven to be exceptional at exfoliating, so introduce some to your calloused skin and watch those hardened layers practically peel off on your next soaking session. Creams containing salicylic acid are effective, and they also gently discard these rough skin patches.

However, professional advice is necessary where exfoliation is concerned. The process involves harsher ingredients that your skin might not be able to tolerate. Some of the chemicals in these products might also exacerbate an existing skin condition. Thus, don’t buy if you don’t get the all-clear from your podiatrist or dermatologist.

7. Use a Medicated Patch

If it’s just a tiny callus in a specific spot, you can try getting rid of it by applying a medicated patch. Mediplast and Callus Removers by Dr. Scholl’s are excellent options for softening smaller sections of hardened skin. However, they may not be applicable for larger calloused areas on your foot.

If you aren’t sure if they would work in your case, check with your dermatologist. He or she can help you find a way around it or recommend other less-complicated home remedies.

Only Remove When They Get Out of Hand

Having a layer of calluses might serve you better than having none at all. These hardened patches form for a reason—they provide a protective covering for areas that frequently encounter friction. Plus, they do this without compromising your ability to feel the ground you’re walking on.

You might argue that cushioned shoes can offer the protection your feet need, but they will also reduce tactile sensitivity. Thus, it’s never a good idea to get rid of calluses completely. In fact, you can leave just enough for optimal foot and hand protection without compromising aesthetics.