SOFT HANDS.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 27 March 1936, Page 3

SOFT HANDS.

CARE AND TREATMENT NECESSARY.

To keep the hands soft and smooth a practical daily toilet must be carried out. The hands are quickly affected by the weather, the state of the health reacts upon them, and, naturally, their toilet has a great deal to do with their appearance. Many women think that because theirs are very useful hands which are devoted a great deal to household matters, gardening, or looking after a car, it is quite impossible to keep them dainty. Such an idea is a mistake, for the useful hand can be kept just as attractive as one that has never had to "rough it." All tha is needed is a little care, even for a day. Once the skin is allowed to gel ,rough and chafed it means an open door to various other troubles. The use of gloves is not always practical so if a dirty job has to be undo/ taken when the skin is chafed, minute particles get underneath and are not always easy to remove. A smooth skin will not pick up dirt, except just upon the surface. This is where proper care comes in. There is a right way and a wrong way to wash the hands; the water must never be very hot, and unless it is naturally soft, a little watersoftener should be added; after washing them every trace of soap must be rinsed off. If the skin is inclined to be rough, glycerine will make an excellent finish, just a few drops poured upon the hands while they are still wet and then rubbed all over. When there is very little time to spare over thoroughly drying the hands, a little fine oatmeal dusted over them will absorb any moisture. Before starting upon any dirty job, such as cleaning the car, a little i soap should be pressed under the nails. Dip a cake of soap in water to soften it, and then dig the nails into it. A grease, such as vaseline, can be substituted for the soap, and the latter is the more pleasant to use. After the dirty job is finished, a special cleansing aid should be used, either as a cream or a lotion. It must be used before the hands are washed; wipe them over, then smear on the aid, and wipe the hands thoroughly. If any dirt remains, a little, more of the aid must be used and well rubbed into the pores, but it must not be rubbed in unless absolutely necessary. A little wool-fat is excellent for the hands, either in a cream or alone. A little should be

well rubbed in at bedtime twice a week, left on for about five minutes, then the hands should be wiped over to remove any excess. If a trace of toilet powder is dusted on there will be no unpleasant greasy feeling during the night. If the nails are inclined to be brittle, a little vaseline should be well rubbed in and left on for half an hour. If the brittleness is troublesome, the vaseline must be used at bedtime and gloves must be worn so that the grease can remain on the nails all night.