How to Do a Snake Hand Trick

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 25, 2024 Fact Checked

Hands are incredible things, and they can be formed into some cool shapes and figures thanks to bendy fingers and opposable thumbs! The snake is a neat figure you can make with nothing more than your bare hands, and the snake's mouth will even open and close. You can make a basic snake, or get more detailed with a snake that has a moving tongue, a dragon, or even a fire-breathing dragon that will wow an audience, impress friends, and entertain kids. Since it can be tricky to scroll through instructions while making a snake with your hands, consider asking a friend to help you out with the directions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Basic Hand Snake

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1
Open your hands with your palms facing you. On each hand, pinch together your index finger and thumb, as though you were picking something up with those digits.
- When your hands are in the proper position, they will look like Fs in America Sign Language.
2
Bring your right pinky in front of your left hand. Lay the pinky across the base of the middle/ring/pinky fingers until the tip rests on your left index finger. Your right pinky will form one of the snake’s eyes.^{[1]
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- Twist your right ring/middle fingers behind the middle/ring/pinky fingers of your left hand.
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Angle the ring/pinky fingers on your left hand so that your left ring finger rests on your right index finger. Your left ring finger will form the snake’s second eye. Rest your left pinky on the inside of your right palm.
5
Fold your hands together. Bring together the tips of your pinched index fingers/thumbs. Your two thumbs now form the bottom of the snake’s mouth, and your two index fingers form the top.^{[2]
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- You can open and close the snake’s mouth by moving your index fingers up and down together and your thumbs in the same way.
- If necessary, adjust your right pinky and left ring finger on your index fingers so they stick out to form the snake’s eyes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a Snake with a Moving Tongue

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1
Put your hands in a prayer position. Place your palms together so all your fingers are lined up.
- With this hand snake figure, the thumbs will form the bottom of the mouth and the middle fingers will form the top.
2
Close your left ring finger over your right hand. Behind it, close your right ring finger over your left hand. Close your left pinky over your right hand. Twist your right hand slightly and slip your right pinky between your two palms.^{[3]
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- The tips of your ring fingers will form the snake’s eyes.
- The pinky inside your hands will be the snake’s tongue.
Continue pressing your middle finger tips together as you open your palms to face you. Pull your index fingers back behind your middle fingers. Bend your middle fingers and point them toward you, and allow each ring finger to naturally slide up the back of the opposite middle finger.^{[4]
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Press each index finger tip into the back of the same hand's middle finger (this forms the eyes).
5
Press the tips of your thumbs together and into the tips of your middle fingers. This is the bottom of the snake’s mouth, and the tips of your middle fingers are the top. Move your thumbs up and down together to open and close the snake’s mouth.
- When you open the snake’s mouth, wriggle the right pinky finger that’s in between your palms to move the snake’s tongue.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Dragon

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1
Position your hands. Straighten your fingers and open your palms with them facing you. Make sure your pinkies are touching. Keep your other fingers at ease (not rigid or pressed together).
- With this hand dragon, the index fingers and thumbs form the mouth.
2
Keep your ring fingers straight and bend them forward. You want them bent at the knuckle where they meet the hand and pointing straight at you. Now, slightly twist your hands so that you can cross one ring finger over the other.
- The ring fingers will create the dragon’s eyeballs.
Fold your left middle finger over your right ring finger. Fold your right middle finger over your left ring finger. Keep your pinkies sticking straight up.
Bend your right index finger and bring it underneath your left ring finger so the tip of your ring finger rests on your index finger. Straighten your right index finger so it’s pointing straight at you. Repeat with the left index finger and right ring finger. Press the tips of your index fingers together.
5
Bring the tips of your thumbs together under your index fingers. To move the mouth, move your thumb and fingers up and down while keeping your thumb tips together and your fingertips together.
- At the moment, your pinkies are forming the horns or spikes of the dragon. To create a fire-breathing dragon, pull your pinky fingers inside the dragon’s mouth and criss-cross them so they can move around more easily.

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Tips

Perform some finger exercises and stretches before trying to maneuver your hands into different figures and positions.

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