LADIES' COLUMN. CARE OF THE HAIR.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN. CARE OF THE HAIR.

It is a marvel, with the constant falling of tho hair (says a writer in the Glasa of Fashion), that thin hair should not be more common, or, indeed, that there should be any hair left upon any scalp. The avorage length of life of a hair is from two to six yrars. The average growth is Sin a year. That, some hair should fall every day is a normal condition. Medical authors have placed their number at from 50 to 60. A moil g these are tho young hairs which are shorter than thoso reaching maturity ami not so coarse. It is natural that part of these should fall also, but if the number is largo, more than a fourth of the whole, thon one may know that the hair is thinning and should receive attention. Thin hair aud baldness are so common, tvspooially among men, that the theory has Ixion advanced that man is tending to evolve into v hairless animal. As age advances and tho small vessels, the capillaries whioh nourish tho roots of the hair, become smnllor, tho hair roots are not nourished ami tho hair falls. This happens, too, from f oyers and disease. It is usual for the hair to come in quickly and well after an illness, but it is difficult-to restore it when it falls because of old age. Some writers believe that baldness is due to microbes, and that the reason so many men are bald in because the microbes are introduced by the frequent ministrations of barbers, whose scissors, brushes, and combs are not properly cleansed and disinfected. Aside from fevers and microbes, there are other causes of baldness residing in the scalp itself. The oil glands with which the scalp is abundantly snpplied may not secrete properly ; the result ia that the hair becomes dry and brittle and the scalp unyielding. There may be accumulations of dandnff which choke up the hair follicles. Have you ever noticed the great elasticity of the scalp? To keep the scalp healthy this elasticity should be preserved by massaging it— moving it with the fingers aud punching it. If there is too little fat in the scalp, oil should be rubbed into the roots of the hair. Lanoline is highly recommended for this purpose. It is harsh and sticky when used alone, so it is better, to employ vaseline or glycerine with it./ As it is not considered in these days either fashionable or desirable to appear with greasy locks, it is best to rub it into the roots with the tips of the fingers. Electricity— the faradic current— is excellent for promoting tbe growth of the hair, as it stimulates the blood supply and so increases the nutrition of the hair follicles. The application of water and too frequent shampooing should be avoided. The growth of the hair has been likened to that of a forest. Trees will grow better if the dead ones are removed. So the hair should be gone over frequently, and any haira that are split or unhealthy should be clipped. Barbers and hairdressers have a superstition ia regard to singeing the hair. They take the hair, a small lock at a time, and, twisting it tightly, pass a lighted paper quickly along the bristling ends. The process renders the hair very uneven, as it is seldom that the singeing is confined to the ends. They will tell you that this singeing is very much better than trimming, as it prevents the hair from ' bleeding ' Shaving the scalp after the loss of the hair by fever was also greatly in vogue in times past. It is unnecessary, as the hair is as well strengthened and the growth as well favoured by clipping. The theory that it is best to keep the hair of children short, cutting it frequently, that the hair is stronger and of better quality whe» the child grows up, has had many advocates. Those who should be in a position to know say, however, that it is better not to cut the hair of young girls often, but to trim the ends carefully. The hundred strokes of the brush to the hair of the society belle is classical, and many still believe in its efficacy, Combing is better, as the brush drags out the hair The brush stimulates the circulation of the scalp, no doubt, but it is much better to do this with the finger-tips. The best hair- dressers agree that the hair sould not be washed too frequently, a practice which deprives it of its natural oil. It is urged as auother reason for the more frequent baldness of men that they wash their hair or wet it too frequently. The hair should be shampooed once a month, or if very oily, once in three weeks. Women who live in cities can have this done by professionals, the process taking an hour, including the time needed for thoroughly drying the hair. It is not a difficult task to shampoo the hair at home. A good mixture for this purpose is made of the yolk of an egg, a teaspoonful of green soap, to be obtained of any druggist, a teaspoonful of cologne, and a cup of hot water. These ingredients should be stirred together, and then applied thoroughly to the roots of the hair with a shampooing brush, the hair being divided into small partings for the pupose. The lather is Htiff and will not run into the face and eyes. When the scalp has been thoroughly cleansed, the soap should be washed oui and the hair rinsed and dried as quickly as possible. This can be done by rubbing- it with a towel while the head is held near a register or stove. The brisk friction with a towel is excellent for the scalp, and prevents tbe cold one is liable to take if the hair is left to dry by evaporation. Dandriff is to the scalp what pimples are to the face. It is the result of oversecretion by the oil glands, and leads to falling of the hair. The remedy is very simple. Thorough shampooing * with the green soap mixture once a week for a time will remove the dandriff, and the friction will bring about a healthy condition of the scalp. Ammonia that is not too strong, and solutions of borax and carbonate of potaßsium, are good. A great deal has been said about the injury to hair from crimping and frizzing. The proper use of tho curling tongs does not materially injure the hair. The trouble comes from using them too hot, when they singe and burn the hair. An intelligent idea of the condition of the scalp to which tonics are to be applied should be obtained before having recourse to hair restoratives and tonics, the falling of the hair being the result of varying conditions. If the circulation of the scalp is poor, the hair dry, and the skin tight and unyielding, not moving freely over the underlying skull, stimulating applications to stir up the circulation and restore the hair follicles are necessary. Massage and electricity are the most useful agents. Tincture of cautharidas, more or less strong, according to the necessities of the individual caße, is very useful where the falling of the hair is due to inactivity of the circulation and the wasting of the glands aud hair follicles. Lanolene and vaseline should be rubbed in freely.