A yellowish tinge of the hair is sometimes seen in patients with jaundice, or gray hair may owe its dull yellow color to the tint of dry albumin of which it is composed. The glitter of steel-gray or silver-white hair is due to the high refractive power of the minute air-bubbles that lie in the substance of the hair.
Treatment.—The color cannot be restored to gray hair. The roots of the hair are embedded in the hair follicles, and cannot be reached by any fluids applied to the scalp. Not only is the use of hair-dyes to be deprecated as an exhibition of poor taste, which happily is going out of fashion, but the use of hair-dyes is extremely dangerous. Cases are being constantly reported by physicians, where the use of these supposedly simple vegetable hair-dyes has been followed by very serious and extensive dermatitis of the face, neck, and shoulders.
Gray hair is really very beautiful when it is of silvery whiteness, and very ugly when it is of a yellowish-white color. It must be treated with much greater care, in order to preserve its silvery whiteness, than was necessary to keep the hair in good condition before it lost its coloring pigment. It should never be wet, except when it is shampooed. For this reason, instead of using hair-curlers, crimping pins should be used. In this way the hair is waved quite as well and the use of water is avoided.
The Cosmetic Care and Treatment of the Hands.—Of all the members of the body, next to the face, the hands have the most expression, and serve as an index of character and refinement.
Not only should the most scrupulous attention be given to having clean hands and nails, but every precaution should be taken to keep the skin soft and the nails carefully manicured. This is quite possible for the housewife, simply by wearing rubber gloves while she does her work. It preserves the fine sense of touch in the fingers, which aids in sewing and embroidery, at the same time that it adds much to the beauty of the hands.
Chapped Hands.—To prevent chapping of the hands in cold weather heavy gloves must be worn or a muff carried. Another aid in the prevention of the skin of the hands from becoming rough and chapped, and the best means for curing them if this has occurred, is by the use of a good cold cream at night, just before retiring. The cold cream should be well rubbed in the skin, especially about the finger-nails, and after this talcum powder be dusted over. This forms a thick covering for the hands, the talcum powder prevents the cream from being rubbed off on the bed-clothes, and, on getting up in the morning, the skin will be found to be soft. Only in case the hands are very badly chapped should old kid gloves be worn at night.
Cosmetic of the Nails.—The physiologic function of the nails is to protect the tips of the fingers against pressure and to give them a firm support; this increases the delicacy of the tactile sensations.
The nails should be slightly curved from side to side, of a light rose color, and smooth surface. The lunula should be visible at the root of the nail. Brittleness of the nails is a defect, which causes them to tear easily; it is generally due to the condition of the general health.
There is a natural tendency for the dirt to accumulate on the under surface of the nail, between it and the finger. This is not only unsightly, but it is often the cause of actual danger, as this forms a lodgment for the germs of disease. Not only is it necessary for doctors and nurses to give the most scrupulous attention to the care of the nails, but, when we learn that one cook has been the cause of spreading typhoid fever through a number of families, in her itinerary in going from place to place, we must be impressed with the necessity of more careful oversight being given to the hands of domestics and housewives who prepare the food.
For the same reason, it is self-evident that the hands should always be washed immediately before going to the table, and cleaning the nails is always a finishing touch in the washing of the hands.