Handlebar width/finish

i'm looking at getting some deep track drops. is there a straightforward way of deciding what width to get? what should i be measuring?! or is it just personal preference? they seem to vary wildly.

also, i once had some crappy road drops that i guess were chrome plated steel. after a few miles of riding my hands, and the sweat eschewed therein, had discoloured them and so i was constantly polishing them. what's the deal here? am i better off with aluminium? id probably tape the drops only and leave the centre untaped, but my hands'll be all over that bit i'm sure. the nittos i'm after come in chrome and alloy (big weight difference too, but i'd prefer the look of chrome).

any help'd be lovely, thanks.

In theory you should measure the distance between the edges of the bony bit of your shoulder blades and get bars that width.
Decent chrome should not tarnish that easily so the Nitto's should be okay, but like you say they are noticeably heavier than alloy.

great, thank you.

If you can try out different widths as it really does come down to personal preference. In theory, i.e. shoulder width, I should ride 46 cm wide bars but am happier using narrower ones.