THE BEAUTY OF HANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21167, 27 April 1932, Page 5

THE BEAUTY OF HANDS.

REVEALIER OF CHARACTER. THE NEED FOR CARE. BY THE HON. MKS. FRANCIS LASCELLES, Aunt of the Princess Royal and the Eurl of Harewood. i\o. V. A famous portrait painter recently told nie she considers that the hands aro quite as important as the faco in her work, and certainly they reveal character readily to those who trouble to study them. Although well-cared-for hands arc now the rule, and time for hand culture has its appointed place in the day's programme, we still have an absurd idea that the hands of the modern woman aro not nearly so charming as those of long-dead beauties. They certainly aro different, but so is our modern ideal of beauty. When women of leisure refrained from games and from every manual occupation their hands were naturally soft, white and plump. As life has becoino uioro vigorous so our hands have become thinner and more muscular, but the active hands of to-day may have more real beauty of shape tliari had 'those soft and useless hands of long ago. The hand naturally enough follows (he contour of the figure, and now that women aro tall and thin it would bo unnatural if their hands were small and rounded. We live in a very nervous age, and 110 doubt the present-day habit of constantly moving our fingers has considerable influence on the shape of our hands. Very few women can keep their hands in repose for more than a few seconds at a time. This is one of the results of a hurried and strained life, which wc should guard against. Individualism Shown. The Italian painters of the sixteenth century often employed different models for the hands and for the face. One wonders if the lovely hands of tho Botticelli typo really belonged to the beautiful women whose paintings they accompanied. Hut, hands to-day arc characteristic, lhe more they are used tho more individuality they display. Most people read character by face, but tho discerning turn to the hands for confirmation of Iho opinion (hey have formed. Hands betray a woman's age sooner than do the lines 011 her face; and thin, active, vigorous hands age sooner than do rounded, soft hands. It is often a shock (0 sco the hands of a woman who has spared no pains to keep her face young, but has neglected her hands. The tightened muscles and swelling veins of the wrinkled hands reveal all that her careful toilet has tried to hide. To-day tho diversity, of women's work has made it particularly necessary for us to cure for our hands. The woman motorist, with her hands at the wheel in all weathers, finds, however carefully she is gloved, that constant care is needed to save the hands from becoming red, and in the winter months chilblains arc a real danger from lack of circulation. The woman gardener again finds careful gloving does not save her from the danger of enlarged knuckles, unless she is careful to exercise and nourish her hands when she comes in from her work. But the typist, like the pianist, finds in you'll her work actually improves her hands, as the fingers grow thin and pliant; later, however, the hands of both pianist and typist are in danger of becoming too wirv looking unless they are regularly cared for. Hand Culture. However anxious for beautiful hands the modern woman may be she will not sacrifice her career for them. Instead she determines to counteract any of the illeffects of her daily life by intelligent care. Hand culture, therefore, has become an art, an art, moreover, in which the amateur is learning to excel. The professional manicurist is a very highlytrained specialist, and can achieve wonders in developing the best possibilities of the ugliest hand, and making a naturally pretty hand a real thing of beauty. Many women, however, can spare neither time nor money for frequent visits to a specialist, but it is a good plan to go just occasionally if possible, to get a fresh start and expert advice. White hands are, of course, every woman's ambition, but the athletic woman can hardly expect them, fortunately a little sunburn is no great disadvantage. The real difficulty lies with red bands. Redness must be banished at all costs and the simplest way is to use plain lemon juice. This is of course the main ingredient of many expensive creams and lotions. The liberal use of nourishing cream keeps the hands from both hardening and wrinkling. Some specialists advise gloves worn at night after the cream has been thoroughly rubbed in. These must be loose with their finger tips cut off and the palm slit open for proper ventilation. The care of the nails needs discrimination, as they should be cut to suit, tho shape of the fingers. Short lingers can be elongated by cutting the nails to a point, long, narrow fingers demand a flat arch. A well-arched half-moon adds distinction to any hands, and should bo carefully cultivated. "Making up" the nails is an important matter and should be carefully carried out. Only a beautifully-shaped baud can risk drawing attention to itself with highly-coloured varnish. As a general rule, a natural shade of polish will make a well manicured band look its best. There is a very real grace and beauty in the way women use their hands; pose and expressiveness are individual and can bo acquired by any woman. The slender. well-kept, modern hand Seen to-day is nof to be judged by the standards of a former generation; without doubt the hands of the modern woman are as beautiful as any of those hands of the famed beauties of the past.