DREAD OF BALDNESS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXI, Issue 5595, 4 July 1930, Page 1

DREAD OF BALDNESS.

That women’s hair in past days must have'fallen'out much more so than to-day seems to be pretty evident, when reading in old annals of the dread those ancient beauties had of baldness. So all sorts of tonics, pomades, dyes, and strengthened were known to them; some of the concoctions, to us; reading as most ridiculous. Woe betide her rival whose bewitching eyes and fragrant; luxuriant tresses aroused the admiration and homage of my lord! Anger, gave way to cunning, and at the command of his wealthy ’client the trembling “beauty doctor” prepared a certain mixture which would bring about utter devastation to the beautiful locks of the offending rival. An ancient remedy quoted in ah old and authentic book on early Egypt reads thus: "To cause the hair of a hated rival to fall out, take the worm ‘anart’ or the: flower ‘sepet.’ Boil the worm or flower in oil, and put it on the head of the rival.” Oiling the body instead of bathing was' the practice of the wealthier ladies; the oils being rare and difficult to‘ obtain. A lotion called “Kyphi„” compounded from myrrh, broon frankincense, buckshorn, and other fragrant ingredients ensured a particularly lasting and delightful, body odour.