THE BEARD, MUSTACHE, AND SHAVING Care of the Beard.—Unless prop erly cared for a full beard may seri ously interfere with cleanliness. The beard should be frequently washed with soap, thoroughly dried, and treated with some simple prepara tion. The object of care of the beard, as in the case of the hair, is to keep it clean and to preserve its normal luster. Lotions which have alcohol or other spirits as a base may be used once or twice a week to cleanse the beard of oily or fatty ma terials that may have accumulated, and to clean the skin. These may be applied with a wash cloth and the beard afterwards rubbed dry with a towel. Frequent cutting or shaving of the beard has a tendency to make the individual hairs thick and short.
It does not increase their number. Singeing is harmful unless the hair is treated with oil or grease. Other wise singeing tends to split the hair at the ends and to make it dry and brittle. Lanolin soap is perhaps the best soap for use on the hair and beard.
How to Raise a Mustache.—Stim ulate the circulation by the applica tion of hot towels, followed by rub bing briskly with a rough towel, and apply one of the following mix tures: Alcohol, pint; castor oil, dram; tincture of cantbarides, 1 ounce. Perfume with 20 to 40 drops of any of the essential oils, as cloves or ber gamot, and 1 ounce of cologne or other essence.
Or dissolve in 5 ounces of alcohol 1 dram of compound tincture of ben zoin, 1 dram of tincture of Spanish flies, and 3 ounces of castor oil, and perfume with 10 to 20 drops of any of the essential oils. Do not use this mixture too frequently as it may in flame the skin.
Or melt with gentle heat 1 ounce of white wax or spermaceti, and stir in while hot 15 drops of saturated tincture of cantharides. Remove from the fire, and when nearly cool perfume with 10 or 12 drops of any of the essential oils. This is a pow erful stimulant, but must not be em ployed oftener than once or twice a week, as otherwise it may inflame the skin.
Mustache Pomade.—Melt 4 ounces of white wax, and add 2 ounces of pure white vaseline and ounce of Canada balsam. When nearly cold add about 30 drops of any essential oil or mixture according to taste. For coloring matters, see under "Hair Oils." Or dissolve I pound of white wax, pound of lanolin soap, I pound of gum arabic, and pint of rose water. Melt and mix all together with gen tle heat, and when cool perfume by adding 12 to 20 drops of essential oils according to taste. Color as rec
ommended under " Hair Oils." Shaving.—Those who shave should make it a practice to do so daily, or at least every other day. Some men complain that this practice makes the skin sore, but this will not be the case if a good razor is used, if it is kept in good order, and if the razor strokes are always in the same direc tion, never against the grain of the beard. The use of a good lotion after shaving is another preventive of soreness. A good toilet soap for shaving is indispensable. Shaving sticks or cream which can be rubbed on the face without the use of the shaving mug are a great conveni ence, especially to those who travel. It should be borne in mind that the skin and hair absorb warm water freely, and swell and soften under its influence, and that this effect is greatly promoted by the use of soap. The more time spent in softening the face by the application of lather the better. The razor should be dipped in hot water before using.
Safety Razors.—The modern cus tom of using safety razors is most commendable. These convenient lit tle implements have now been so per fected as to give entire satisfaction. A number of separate blades are sold with each razor, and additional blades can be had at a very, low price. These blades can be stropped by means of a special device, or re turned by mail to the manufacturer to be honed, or thrown away when they become dulled by use. The lux ury of having a set of seven razors— one for each day in the week—has often been suggested in books and otherwise to persons who have felt that they were hardly able to afford it. But the safety razor is a means of bringing this luxury within the reach of all. It is always ready without honing or stropping, can be used without the best of light, is en tirely safe, is economical, and has made a multitude of friends for it self within recent years. Millions of these little implements are being manufactured, and the problems of how to get a good razor and how to keep it in good condition have there by been greatly simplified. It is ad visable to buy only the best-known make of safety razor, patronizing the makers who advertise most extensive ly•in leading periodicals, so as to in sure obtaining a thoroughly satisfac tory article.