THE HAIR OF YOUR HEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 69, 22 March 1910, Page 2

THE HAIR OF YOUR HEAD.

QUEER FACTS Hairs are composed of scarf-skin, and are covered with thin, flat, overlapping scales which is the reason why an eyelash or other hair in the eye irrita it so much. Nobody has ever attempted to reckon the number of hairs that cover the human body, but those of the bead have been counted, and it 's known that 120,000 of them make about an average allowance. Each hair is a tube, with a bu— ,>ns enlargement at the lower end, and grows out of a vase-shaped "follicle" with a narrow neck. At the bottom of the vase is the true root, which is clasped by the bulb aforesaid. When the hair is forcibly pulled out the bulb comes along with the stalk, but the root remains behind to produce another hai.-. This is why, in the case of superfluous hairs, it does no good whatever to pull them out. The roots remain behind undisturbed, and presently there Is a new crop. The only cure for the mischief is to Insert an electrified needle into each one of the little vases, or "follicles," and burn the roots to death. It is a process almost painless, but expensive, because slow, and demanding no little skill on the part of the operator. From the above explanation it will be understood also why a woman's hair may come out plentifully with the comb, and yet She may not become bald. In such a case It simply means that the hairs which drop out have lost their -vitality, and their removal gives an opportunity for new onto grow. But if the roots themselves die baldness Is the inevitable and incurable —- ' suit. Some women's hair Is naturally curly or wavy, to the envy of their friends of the same sex; others have- straight hair, which can only be made to wave- or curl by artificial means. The difference between the two is easily explained. Straight hairs are cylindrical In form; curly hairs are oval in section. A negro's hairs kink because they are flat in places. The heat of the curling tongs when applied to straight hairs, causes each one of them to contract on one side, and to curl in that direction — ■whence the beau— effect obtained, ■which is necess 'temporary. The hairs on a woman's bead grow at the rate of one-fit—leth of an inch a day, or seven inches- a year. This represents an average, considerable variation being found In individuals. It is said that blonde-.—lrs have a higher tensile strength than brunette, and that 120,000 of them plaited into a rope will support a- weight of eighty tons. The very arrangement of .women.* hair : may be expressive of recognisable ideas. For example, fluffy hair is regarded, as suggestive of giddiness, ■while locks that are brushed smooth and close to the head ' suggest an opposite notion of sedateness. Early in the development of civilisation the superior beauty ,of curly and wavy hair began to be appreciated, and, to please ! the men, girls with straight locks tried' to ! Imitate what was so generally admired. 1 Thus, even to _le present day, a curl Is the very symbol and expression of coquettish- • ness. But symbolism in the management of the 1 hair is carried further among the Mb— '■ Indian women of New Mexico than by those ■of any other people in the world. The ! tresses of the marriageable girls ■ are ari ranged at the sides of the head in such a '■ way as to imitate the blossoms of the i squash vine. Later on, after they are mar- : ried, it is the fruit of the same -plant that i te counterfeited by their coiffure, and fin- ) ally, late In life, this, hair of the elderly I females Is plaited down -the bach sin snch fashion as to suggest a. likeness to the withered stalls of the squash, ... 4>\ "■ ' - • ' ■ - J