Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Friendly Advice from Carolyn Van Wyck on Girls' Problems ZaSu Pitts has "dramatic hands," whose every gesture is expressive. Supple wrists and fingers are important aids directly applicable to the care of hands. IF neglect of hands impaired their usefulness we would never dare ignore them as some of us do. There is always a ' ' tomorrow ' ' when we plan to have a manicure and do something about that annoying roughness of our fingers that makes sewing and handling silk stockings a hazardous affair. In the meantime, we know our hands will go right on working for us and serving us well, even if we do have to blush for their appearance when anyone glances at them. Our most ready excuse is lack of time for regular manicures and for home treatment But it takes only a few minutes a day to keep hands and nails in good condition, especially if this is supplemented by a professional manicure every week or two. The business woman's time is often planned out in such a way that she can have a regular day and hour for visiting a beauty parlor. Then if she devotes a few minutes to her hands at night, and perhaps again in the morning, they mil never have that neglected look. The woman who keeps house, whose hands must be plunged into hot water frequently, who uses rather strong cleaning preparations and a great deal of soap, should be the most particular about the care of her hands. But it is she who is usually the worst offender. her screen trayals town for dinner. She doesn't have to be "dressed" all day like the business woman, and she doesn't dress up her hands until she dresses up herself. The great drawback to this method is that hands are not so easily metamorphosed, not even by a professional. They suffer quickly from neglect, and it takes a little time to repair the results. But hands that are well treated repay one in firmness and color, and in healthy, shapely nails. The old "ounce of prevention" rule is por '"PHE girl in business must display -* goods, if she is a saleswoman. The stenographer's hands are constantly under the eyes of the men from whom she takes dictation. No matter what her line of work, the average business girl is working side by side with other people, many of them men, from morning until night. Her hands are under scrutiny as much, and perhaps more, than her face. She quickly learns that beautiful rings and bracelets, and a dab of brilliantly colored nail polish, will not transform ill-kept hands into attractive ones. The housewife is apt to feel that she need not be so particular about her hands. There is no one to see them, and it will be time enough to take care of them when she goes out to play bridge, or on the day she plans to meet her husband dovvn 18 I KNOW a woman who does all her housework — not just dishwashing, dusting and sweeping, but scrubbing, washing clothes, painting chairs and tables that have worn off, washing down the kitchen walls when they get soiled. Yet her hands look as well cared for as if she did nothing harder than "sew a fine seam." She hasn't had more than half a dozen professional manicures in her life. On the shelf over her laundry tubs is a jar of skin food — the greasy, nourishing type of cream. As soon as she finishes drying out the tubs after washing, she rubs a little of this cream thoroughly into her hands and arms, not forgetting the elbows, wiping off the surplus with a cleansing tissue. If her hands still feel sticky, she bathes them in plain cold water and dries them thoroughly. On her kitchen sink she keeps a bottle of greaseless hand lotion, to counteract the unpleasant feeling of dryness that dishwater often leaves. Her bathroom shelf holds both types — the hand lotion to be used sparingly after each washing of her hands, the greasy cream to be patted in well at night. In the morning she scrubs her finger tips with a well-soaped, soft handbrush, to remove the cream from under the nails. Hand Righting "Beautiful hands are those that do." But added to the beauty of service, there is the charm of well-groomed, supple hands, with no roughness of skin or nails to mar their loveliness. Letters from readers asking advice are welcomed and will be answered promptly. I ask only that you comply with the following: If you wish a personal reply, or if you request my free booklet on safe and sane reducing, or my complexion leaflet, please send a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. If you want your answer to appear in the magazine, remember that it may take a few months, as space is limited. Your communications will be held in strict confidence, but I cannot answer letters that are not clearly signed with your full name. CAROLYN VAN WYCK CHE never uses any sharp instru'-'ment to clean her nails; nothing but the soapy brush or a blunt, orangewood stick. When her nails are stained she puts a little nail whitener under them or uses a bleach. Lemon juice is her remedy for stained hands. In addition, she does all the little things that preserve beauty and flexibility. If her nails, for some reason due to her general health or the climate, show signs of brittleness, she dips them hi warm olive oil once or twice a week. Whenever she dries her hands she gently pushes back the cuticle with a soft towel. Her street gloves are selected for their softness and warmth, and are loose enough for freedom and comfort. When I remarked one day on the color and texture of her hands she said she believed it was due to the fact that she had always been careful in her selection of soaps and washing powders, and whenever possible she had substituted warm [ PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 114 ]