FASHION’S NEW WHIM

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1931, Page 9

FASHION’S NEW WHIM

CRAZE FOR WHITE HAIR. SYDNEY “PLATINUM BLONDES.” (New Zealand Herald Correspondent.) Sydney, .Nov. 26. “Platinum blonde,” in imitation of certain film stars, is the, latest craze to afflict that portion of Sydney’s femininity that finds it necessary to be constantly “Gilding the lily.” The startling white hair which “platinum blonde” implies seems to be regarded as destructive of masculine hearts. To obtain it is a hazardous proceeding. Reports from Hollywood and New York say that beauty specialists have been rushed by women from all parts of the States who are intent on becoming “platinum blondes,” and they have been told that except for one woman in a thousand it is an experiment that may be fraught with disastrous results. That this is good advice has been borne out in a number of Sydney ibeauty parlours. Inexpertly done, it can easily result in complete, if only temporary, baldness. It is safe only for those whose hair is of so light a colouring that little extra bleaching is necessary. A Sydney specialist has explained that “platinum blonde” is really almost white hair with a faint bluish lavender tint. The effect is secured by a thorough bleaching of the hair by extra strength peroxide, with a few drops of strong ammonia. The platinum rinse—a definite dye —is applied as the finishing touch. If the scalp is sensitive the pain is excrutiating when the bleaph is applied. This does not last long unless there is scalp abrasion, when the results might Ibe serious. ‘ Unless the hair is very light to start with it will need a “touch-up” once a week or the roots will begin to look dark. An oil shampoo weekly is also necessary, and the cost of the whole treatment runs, from 12s 6d to £5 weekly. There are several women in Sydney who are paying more than £1 a week to remain “platinum blondes.” There are others who wish they had never heard of the latest beauty craze. One girl is wearing a wig to cover her completely bald head, bald because she would have the treatment. Another girl, once a pretty natural blonde, lost all her hair, and is now sprouting a thick growth of ugly brown hair. Very few women man harmonise their skin colouring with the blue white hair, so the craze is not likely to last very long.