BOBBED HAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 7

BOBBED HAIR.

Sir,---If women and girls like to shingle, blister, bob, and bingle, why shouldn't they? They evidently do so for tneu* own personal comfort, not, as so many seem to think, to ape the opposite sex; there is nothing in that. All the same, there would have been pandemonium, if, before the craze had come in, women were forced, through Act of Parliament, to crop their locks. A fox among the geest, would have been nothing to it. Personally, I do not- care for the fashion, and am sure the everlasting cutting is apt to coarsen the hair. However, if the fair stx don't mind having wiry hair, let them shingle, buster, bob and" bingle. Non-bob. Sir, —In reply to " J.F.8.," our mothers did not "bob" their hair, nor <' : d our grandfathers shave their beards. ■ Women, however, in this age can think foi themselves and study their own comfort, and are 110 longer dependent 011 men, who have not the courage to appear in the city dressed comfortably on the hottest day. How can "J.F.8." be so ridiculous as to ask if our mothers' mode of dress 'was sanitary ? Of course, bobbed hair is more sanitary. It is washed more frequently, because it dries quickly. The sun and air can got to the scalp, and prevent various skin diseases. Hairpins digging in the head have been known to cause glandular swellings and headaches. Women's dress to-day is comfortable and does not embarrass her in any way, as the crinolines, and whale-boned "suits of amour'' our mothers wore, with long dust collectors trailing behind them. Consequently women to-day are stronger, healthier, and are cheerful companions, to their husbands, not drudges, as their mothers were. Worthwhile wontfeu would prefer to remain single and free than marry a mar with "J.F.B.'s" outlook. So he need not bother to ask one of the Ha» and Half's.

Sir, —Having read some of tho scathing remarks on the abovo subject I would like to say a word in its defence. To start with, ask any doctor what he thinks about it. Has it ever struck "No Shingle," " G.H.R.," " 8.M.G." and such how tired wo women are of seeing their lovely heads all in a row, aliko as two peas? Originality! Have they got any with their shaved heads and faces? Now, in spite of our shingled locks, there are scarcely two aliko in cut, and, if done properly, all beautiful. Even in the older "woman there is something delightfully clean and fresh abont it. I say nothing about those who still cling to their locks, but for goodness sake let ns be free to do as we wish. If " No Shinglo " finds it so " pitiful " to look at us, why not keep his eyes fixed on the unbobbed hair, or, better still, stay at homo and look at the cat. Thero aro plenty of broad-minded men about, " 8.M.G.," (for which wo aro truly thankful); husbands, brothers, aye, and sons, who still admire women and see more " graco and loveliness " in character, than in hair, and such is tho man n woman admires to-day. I say to all my sisters, young and old, let our watchword be, Onward And Upwajid.

Sir, —It is as natural for men as for women to have long hair. Can "J.E\B.," therefore, tell mo why he cuts his own, seeing ho is so great an advocate for long hair ? Perhaps ho just follows suit like any sheep, without even knowing tho reason why. If such is the case, as I naturally presume, let him grow his hair and plaster it on tho top of his head with hairpins this hot weather and then he will understand the reason for short hair, and not waste more time in writing criticisms on bobbed hair. Wo would not like to think our mothers were not sanitary, but they spent much more time in being so than wo women (especially business women) of today can afford. It took a very long time to "do" hair in some of the past styles, and tho only recompense for time expended was much discomfort. The thought of many bygone styles of hairdressing, especially the hideous, elaborate fashions where awful horsehair pads were used as a base, is to modern women, who rejoice in tho cool, free comfort of cropped heads, a very nightmaro. I am afraid "J.F.B.'s" statement that he would not marry a woman with bobbed hair will not cause a weeping epidemic among modern women, because the first requirements in a good husbund are broad-mindedness and a kindly tolerance. Will "J.F.8." answer my question, "Why does ho cut his own hair?" Sanitaby Croi\

Sir, —Why all tbe argument about bobbed hair? Many years ago men wore their hair long. Why did they cut it? Presumably because with, the progress of the times they found it useless, uncomfortable, inconvenient and untidy. Manv women and girls now feel the same. They take an active interest in this busy world. A hundred times I have said, when struggling'with a refractory "bun," "I wish it was fashionable for women to have short hair." My wish has been granted and I am bobbed. Bobbed hair is not a fashion or a craze. It is a comfort and convenience for which woman has been looking for many a day, else why did we screw it into knots and ' twist it round our heads in an endeavour to get it somehow out of the way ? In the days of languishing women and beribboned cavaliers it was worn loose oh the shoulders. The athletic girl, the business girl and the busy housewife welcome its neatness, its comfort and convenience. Woman's hair properly cared for, even if short, can still bo her pride. There is individuality even in a hair-cut. Let the bobbed hair stay—it, is a sign of progress. Minus Bun.

Sir—To shingle or not to shingle is the burning question of to-day with most women who have had the courage to retain their hair. Those who have already been shorn have taken the wise precaution of taking their tresses home. Why ? Because, no matter what they may say about the exceeding comfort of the tressless head, were fashion's mandate to go forth in favour of elegantly-coilTurecJ heads again, the rush to the barbers' shops for switches and transformations would bo mighty and sudden. There has been a good deal said about man's opinion regarding the disappearance of woman's crowning glory. We all know that man has always had more than a passing admiration for woman's hair, simply because it was n possession which was feminity incarnate. One of the nicest stories on record tells how Lady Godiva saved Coventry by her ride through its streets with her splendid hail as her onJy covering. Now, let us turn to the children. What do they think of it? What woman does not remember the time when she was a little girl, how mother was her ideal of all that was beautiful,, how she used to sit and watch her twist up her wonderful hair, and thought of the time to come when she would grow up into a big lady and do her hair up just like mother ? And what more delightful game could small girls play than being ladies and turning their hair up! The little girl of to-day can form no ideal of the sort of woman she wishes to become, for Is not mother, with her extremely short dress and bobbed hair, only an enlarged replica of herself? Let us hope there will bo a big revolution in this direction shortly and that woman returns to her own kingdom of feminine charms. Unshorn Lamb. I