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Bath Rite-Article from 1944 Finesse

Miss Neecerie

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Finesse was the 'customer' insert to American Hairdresser Magazine. Designed to be set out in the waiting room, it was more beauty helps and advice with some hair styles of the moment added in.

I thought this article was interesting. I have the scan first, so you can see the layout. After that, I have transcribed the actual acticle so that it is readable.

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Bath Rite

Don’t bathe for cleanliness alone. Imagine yourself a slim Grecian goddess with the exotic luxury that attended her bath, and build your dunking into something more then a humdrum routine—something to stir even a Grecian lovely into a state of envy.

A tub of placid water can be a pretty dull affair. But a little of this and that…a fragrant scent, a froth of bubbles, a soothing oil…and you make for yourself a delightful rite. A cleaning PLUS.

Time being the important accessory to the fact of your living these days, you probably can’t enjoy a daily long-drawn-out tubbing. But you can allow yourself this privilege at least once a week. There are several wonderful ways to reap the fullest benefits.

To pick you up and give you the same sparkling sensation that comes after a quick dip in the icy depths of the ocean, begin with a cool bath. Immerse your toes and ankles some six or seven inches, then pour in some bath crystals or salts (mineral or aromatic) and fill the tub with warm water. Lie in the water a few minutes before beginning to wash. Instead of using a wash cloth, a generously lathered sponge or brush worked briskly over your body will set you tingling. Rinse, then hop out and dry yourself with the biggest, roughest towel you can find. Next give yourself a once-over rubbing with scented lotion or after-bath cologne, finishing with heaps of your favorite after bath powder.

To sooth your tired body, relax your frayed nerves and muscles and lull you into a slumber, try bathing this way. Fill your tub with warm water. Pour a generous amount of bath oil in it as the tub is filling. Next apply your richest cream to your face and neck and moistened eye pads over your eyelids. Lie back and relax for five to fifteen minutes. When you get to the actual body clean-up, do the job gently, stroking yourself from toes up with a bath mitt saturated with fragrant soap or soothing herbs. Pat yourself dry. Don’t rub. Smooth on a creamy lotion or after-bath oil, and lastly coat yourself with perfumed talc.

For a morning wake-up, try a shower bath, beginning first with a full spraying of icy water, gradually worked into streams of warmer water. Scrub with brisk strokes from top to toe and rinse with icy water. Spray an after-bath lotion all over the body to complete the eye-opener.

For a more relaxing shower, start off with warm water, gradually getting it hotter and hotter, and end up with the spray trickling cool water over you. Dry yourself with a soft towel, gently removing the moisture and follow with an all-over application of after bath oil topped with talc.

Adjuncts for such pleasant bath rites fall into three classes; Bath oils (in concentrated form) for scent and body smoothness, softening of the water. Bath Crystals (also pulverized) for delightful, fragrant soaking. Bubble baths for sheer luxury and fun plus the delicious scent and silkiness that comes to the water.
Effervescent bath tablets that effervesce and sooth and smooth after the water is drawn. After bath cologne to spray or rub on. After-bath oils for soothing, smoothing, and scenting the skin after drying.Talcs. Special soaps and bath mitts.

Chose your scents from the vast floral bouquets to the fresh smelling pines and more pungent odors. Match’em or Mix’em….and have yourself a good time while bathing or showering.
 

dhermann1

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Cold shower

I guess they were recommending the cold baths and showers because the men were all away at war. I can't imagine a 21st century American woman or man intentionally blasting her or himself with nice icey water. Yeek!
 

Miss Neecerie

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dhermann1 said:
I guess they were recommending the cold baths and showers because the men were all away at war. I can't imagine a 21st century American woman or man intentionally blasting her or himself with nice icey water. Yeek!


hah.....not true.

I know I have read articles that suggest cold and or icy showers for pick me ups before going out on the town.

So very little to do with war, and more to do with what perks you up.

D...also fond of sauna visits and then freezing showers...
 

KittyT

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dhermann1 said:
I guess they were recommending the cold baths and showers because the men were all away at war. I can't imagine a 21st century American woman or man intentionally blasting her or himself with nice icey water. Yeek!

"The practice of taking cold showers in the morning is extraordinarily revitalizing and has been used therapeutically all over the world for thousands of years."

There are people nowadays who take cold showers as a means of warding off colds or other illness, as a cold shower will temporarily raise your body temperature.

More at http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/showers.html
 

LizzieMaine

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I'd love to have the time to do this. The only time I ever have was after I had surgery a few years back and was *required* to take long hot baths for therapeutic reasons. That one was prescription I didn't mind taking.

My grandmother was a big one for baths, but she didn't go in for expensive preparations -- her favorite soak was half a cup of corn starch tossed into the water.
 

KittyT

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I'd find the time for baths, but my problem is that the water doesn't come out of my faucet fast enough to fill the tub before everything has cooled off :-(

LizzieMaine said:
My grandmother was a big one for baths, but she didn't go in for expensive preparations -- her favorite soak was half a cup of corn starch tossed into the water.

I'm the same way. My favorite is epsom salts!
 

ShortClara

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My skin hates soaps and bubbles and such of all kinds, so it's always just plain HOT water for me - and I do get a nice bath once a week or so :)

And the only good use for cold water is to preserve my hair color :D
 

Jenautica

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LizzieMaine said:
My grandmother was a big one for baths, but she didn't go in for expensive preparations -- her favorite soak was half a cup of corn starch tossed into the water.

I tried this last night, but with Johnson's Lavendar & Chamomille baby powder! (its mainly cornstarch anyways) It was quiet lovely, leaving my skin very soft...not to mention, the stuff smells just heavenly!:eek:
 

Adelaidey

One of the Regulars
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211
Location
Chicago, IL
*Sigh*

Now all I want is a lovely long soak in a tub... too bad I'm tall and our tub is tiny! Maybe I can go commandeer my friend's bathroom for a while... she's got one of those gigantic old claw-foot ones... hmm

*schemes ways to steal friend's bathtub*
 

nicoline

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maine
Adelaidey said:
*Sigh*

Now all I want is a lovely long soak in a tub... too bad I'm tall and our tub is tiny! Maybe I can go commandeer my friend's bathroom for a while... she's got one of those gigantic old claw-foot ones... hmm

*schemes ways to steal friend's bathtub*

mmm, my parents have one of those, it really is the best tub ever, when i have a house all my own i'm gonna have one!
 

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