The Butterick Book of Recipes and Household Helps

The pattern people's household book, 1927 — five hundred recipes, then how to lay a table, take out a stain and stock a first-aid cabinet.

HomeCare of the Complexion › Manicuring

Manicuring

To manicure the nails at home have a rather stiff nail brush, a thin pliable file with a round edge, not sharp, an emery-board, small sharp nail scissors, an orange-stick, two buffers, rose-tinted powder and paste, a bottle of cuticle remover, a bottle of lemonjuice or some chemical preparation for removing stains, good soap, some powdered pumice, and bleaching cream.

File the nails quickly, and smooth with the emery board. Shape your nails to fit your fingers.

Soak the fingers in warm soapy water for ten or fifteen minutes, then clean them with an orange stick. While you are doing one hand have cold cream on the other. Loosen the cuticle from the nail with a cuticle-removing lotion. Never use a knife or any sharp implement to cut the cuticle. After the cuticle has been put in perfect order the fingers are dipped into water again. Before beginning the polishing process rub a little pumice-stone over the nails, to insure a smooth surface. A good liquid polish is excellent.

If the powder polish is preferred, there is a pink paste which comes first which will give a natural tint to the nail. After this the powder is put on with a buffer. Then the fingers are dipped in the bowl once more, carefully dried, and given a few last light strokes with the buffer. If the nails crack and split, apply vaseline or a smooth cold cream at night.

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