Screenland (Nov 1941-Apr 1942)

All Hands to the Fore T has been a long time since your two little hands were as important as they are now. They are more important than ever in a strictly pretty way. This Unlimited Emergency has brought romance to the fore, and hands play their special role in this game. Many engagements will be precipitated by the times, and resulting marriages. Are your hands lovely enough for that first precious and sentimental diamond engagement ring? And how will they look with that platinum or golden band? And even if romance hasn't yet hit home, do your hands invite it? It is a very good time for strictly pretty reasons to give your hands a thorough survey. Decide what you like about them and what you don't. And what you don't like, proceed to correct at once. For you can correct skin condition and nail condition, and you can even do much with shape by exercise and learning to use your hands gracefully. Hands are more important, too, in a strictly practical way. Think of what they will do in the next year, aside from the usual routine things of the day. They will learn to drive, to handle intricate machinery, to bandage — to do a dozen and one things beyond the day's usual work, according to the defense and training courses planned. To keep hands efficient — quick and sure — they must have good care. The working hand actually needs it more than the playing hand. Joan Bennett contributes some facts on her nails, because she has beautiful nails. Joan is fortunate in having naturally strong 54 nails, but there is a paragraph for the girls who don't, later on in this . story. Though she wears her nails fairly long, they are not pointed but gently rounded. This shape is attractive, gives the fingers more graceful shape and length and adds strength for resisting breakage to the nail. Joan has a manicure once a week, which is about right for all, and cuticle is never cut but pushed back gently with a cottonswabbed orangewood stick dipped into cuticle remover or oil, according to need. Joan covers the entire nail from cuticle to tip and uses two coats of polish. A star's hands are always in the spotlight. Above, Joan Bennett before the mirror dressing table in her Holmby Hills home, massaging with hand cream. She uses a motion from fingertips to wrist, as if fitting on gloves. She is wearing a beautiful diamond ring and wrist watch, and gown of pink and white marquisette with blue ribbons. Below, Joan is autographing fan pictures and wearing another of her collection of exquisite diamond rings. More romance, more engagements, more marriages than in two decades. More work to be done by everybody. And all hands in the spotlight. You can make and keep them attractive! By Courtenay Marvin I think it is fine to walk into a pretty salon, to put your hands on a soft cushion and order just what you want in the way of finger beautification — and get it. I also think every' girl should know how to do a good manicure for herself. Then there is seldom an excuse for grubby nails. You can learn every trick of the trade by watching your manicurist, and a little care and patience will enable you to do a good job for yourself. Some points to remember are : a fine, well-made file when there is much shaping to be done, which should be used in light, quick strokes upward to the center from each side ; emery boards should be used for minor shaping and for smoothing the nails. Never shape down too closely at the sides. Most women do this, and the result is roughened skin or hangnails and not nearly so good a shape. To see a nail set inside the finger is anything but attractive, and this close side filing produces this effect. Also, it makes nails more prone to breaking, splitting and raggedness. The essentials for a home manicure are a good file, emery boards, orangewood stick, cotton, cuticle remover, cuticle cream or oil, polish remover and polish. If you are smart, you will start at once to use a polish base. You have no idea how much more beautiful your polish will look, how much longer it will last, if you apply one of the clear bases first. Let it dry a few minutes, then apply polish. I have tested many bases thoroughly. With no base, I expect a week of good wear from a manicure; with a base, I find the same manicure will last ten days in perfect condition, though the nails have grown a little. Many of the bases may be used again over the polish after it