MANICURING Finger Nails. — The condition of the finger nails is one of the best tests of the care given to the toilet. Well-groomed finger nails are, as far as they go, a mark of refinement. Needless to say, the toilet for any social occasion is not complete until the nails have been thoroughly cleaned, trimmed, and, if possible, manicured. Young men are usually the worst offenders in this respect, and they would often have cause to blush if they should hear the comments caused by their appearances in so ciety with finger nails " decorated in mourning." Machinists and others whose work tends to cause the finger nails to be come grimy will find, it helpful to in sert a little lard or cold cream under the nails each morning. Housewives will find this a good plan when blacking stoves.
The most useful article for use on the nails is a small orange stick, which can be obtained for a trifle at any drug store. With this the nails can be cleaned each time the hands are washed and the skin which ad hcres to the nails carefully pushed back. This may also be done with a dry towel. It will prevent the skin from cracking about the roots of the nails and forming hangnails. This method practiced daily will greatly improve the general appearance of the hands.
The nails should never be bitten. By this practice the appearance of the hands may be spoiled for life. To prevent children from biting their nails, rub a little bitter aloes on the tips of the fingers. If this does not effect a cure, tie glove tips upon them until the habit is given up.
Ingrowing Nails.—The finger nails do not often grow in, but when this happens a notch cut in the middle of the nail will have a tendency to draw it up from the sides.
Nanicnring the Nails. — Special care and training must be bestowed upon the nails, as their condition in regard to shape, color, and texture of skin makes or mars the loveliest hand.
It is within the power of any wom an possessed of average ability to be come her own manicure. It takes only a few minutes each day to put the nails in perfect condition, and properly kept nails are indications of refinement. A manicure outfit will cost two or three dollars. Buy good instruments to begin with. You will need a flexible file, emery boards, buffer, orange sticks, cuticle knife, curved needle-pointed scissors, nail scissors, some red paste and white nail powder, and a good bleach of glycerin, lose water, and oxalic acid.
Begin by shaping the nail with the file. When you• have finished one hand, the fingers should be dipped into a bowl of lukewarm water, into which has been poured a few drops of some pleasant antiseptic as lister ine or peroxide of hydrogen. Let them remain in this some time to soften the cuticle, and then dry them with a soft towel.
With the point of the orange stick clean the nail, dipping the stick in the bleach if this is necessary.
Loosen the skin around the nail with the cuticle knife. This skin should be lifted up, and not pushed down and back, as the latter movement cracks and splits the cuticle. Keep dipping the knife in the water, as it helps to lift up the cuticle, which must be well raised before it is cut. Now use the cuticle scissors, and try to trim the cuticle in one piece, oth erwise you are likely to have ragged edges and hangnails.
Be extremely careful about this special part of the treatment, for the nail may be altogether spoiled by a too zealous use of the cuticle knife and scissors. Use your red paste sparingly, and rub it well into the nails with the palm of your hand. It is better to dip the fingers in the wa ter again and dry thoroughly, as you cannot polish a wet nail. Cut off a hangnail with the nail scissors, and smooth the edge of the nail with the emery boards. Dip the buffer or pol isher in the nail powder. Place the center of the buffer on the nail, and rub slightly.
In a short time you will find it very easy to manicure your own nails.
To Whiten the Nails. — First cleanse and soften the nails by soak ing in soft water in which a little pure toilet soap has been dissolved, and then dip the fingers into a mix ture composed of 2 drams of diluted sulphuric acid, 1 dram of tincture of myrrh, and 4 ounces of soft water. Rinse with clear water and polish.
Or, to remove stains and discolor ations, moisten a chamois buffer or a piece of chamois in a mixture of lemon juice and water, or vinegar, and water. Dip it into powdered pumice stone or putty powder, and apply carefully until the stain is re moved. But rub as little as possible, and do not use these substances oftener Than is necessary, as their constant use tends to make the nails thick and coarse.
To Toughen the Nails.—Mix 8 grains of pure rectified tar with ounce of cold cream, rectified lard, or suet. Apply liberally to the nails at night and draw on a pair of loose gloves.
To Polish the Nails.—Apply, with et chamois buffer, a mixture of 1 ounce each of finely powdered emery and cinnabar, softened with olive oil, almond oil, or the essential oil of bit ter almonds.
Diseases of the Nails.—Splinters under the nails which cannot easily be drawn out by pincers may be re moved by softening the nail with pot ash lye diluted with an equal quan tity of water. Apply this with a brush, then scrape the nail until the splinter is laid bare and can be re moved. To check the action of the lye when necessary rinse with clear water and apply vinegar or lemon juice. In all cases, however, when foreign bodies get under the nails, it is best to consult a physician.
The white spots which superstitious people, half in fun, sometimes say are produced by having told lies, are caused by air getting under the nails during their growth and being con fined there.