AN ERROR IS THE MAKING OF A GLAMOUR GIRL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 25

AN ERROR IS THE MAKING OF A GLAMOUR GIRL

Because of a careless hairdresser, a perky young towhead rose to movie stardom,, became the No. 1 platinum blonde of the nation,, and sent thousands of other blondes on a hunt for silvery locks (says the "Chicago Tribune").

Since the tragic death of Jean Harlow at the peak of her dynamic career, her platinum curls again have become a source of speculation and rumour. Naturally there has been the inevitable, loose talk by uninformed persons.

But beauty culturists and physicians are agreed on one point. The particular peroxide bleach which gave the Harlow hair its champagne or platinum blonde lustre, and which has succeeded on a few other women, had absolutely no deleterious effect on her system.

It was composed of harmless drugs and powders. It caused no coarsening of the hair, or drying of the scalp. It did not devitalise her vigorous young body. So naturally, the doctors and cosmeticians pointed out, it ' was no cause, direct or indirect, of her death.

It was several years ago, before Jean Harlow got her first break in pictures, that the accident happened which insured her success and started her on the way to a fortune. This is the story, as told by a beauty specialist who has been dressing women's hair for 45 years.

Miss Harlow was a natural blonde, but what the cosmeticians call a

mouse-coloured blonde. Her hair was light! almost an ash shade, but looked dull and lifeless.

"She was in a beauty salon one day," said the narrator. "The operator commented on the lack-lustre quality of her hair, and suggested a peroxide rinse to brighten it. Miss Harlow agreed.

"The usual rinse is what we call 9 volume peroxide, 6 per cent. But carelessly the operator used 18 volume, then packed the hair for half an hour, gave Miss Harlow a brisk shampoo, and let it dry.

"When her hair had dried, Miss Harlow looked in the mirror. Her hands flew to her cheeks, and she burst into tears. Her ash blonde coiffure had become a silver grey. It was shocking."

But the budding young actress quickly recovered her composure. She decided the new hair-do was becoming. Howard Hughes saw her, decided she was just the girl he needed, and starred her in "Hell's Angels." Harlow was made, as they say here.

Line Quarberg, then a publicity agent for Hughes, .began his job of promoting Miss Harlow to the public. His was the inspiration that tagged her the "platinum blonde."

Thousands of love-hungry women saw her shining tresses, decided that this ash silver was the only thing, and began a march on the hairdressers of the nation. From this start arose the first rumour which is now following Miss Harlow in death.

Only natural blondes can become platinum. A brunette hasn't a chance. Any attempt results in blondine hair with a gold or red cast. But the fashion-following women of America did not know this. So their cagey hairdressers said:

"Modom, modom. Don't try to change your lovely hair to this platinum they talk of in Hollywood. It is poisonous. It makes the hair fall out. You will be bald. You will kill yourself."

There are some metallic and analine hair dyes which may be injurious to the scalp if used incautiously. There is a toxic dye, para-phenylene diamine, which gives a brownish tint and which results in scalp poisoning in about 4 per cent, of the cases, according to physicians.

But the peroxide bleach, basis of all platinum treatments, is completely harmless. If ammonia is used without the advice of an expert, however, as a few women have done, the hair may become brittle and dissolve. But ammonia in the hands of an expert hairdresser is not injurious,