REVOLUTIONS IN HAIR-DRESSING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 40, 4 October 1890, Page 15

REVOLUTIONS IN HAIR-DRESSING.

EVER lias there been such a revolution in hair1 dressing as during the past few months. Last • year it hardly mattered at all what quantity of hair we possessed, as a small quantity could I be made to look quite fashionable by natten- * ing it against the head at the back and raising the curly fiinge in front. A mass of hair was then unbecoming, even if lightly braided and carefully stowed away beneath the front portion, which was gently drawn over and finished in a tiny knot at the back.. Last year the tendency was to over-droop the face by means of putting the front part loosely out. Now that is quite out of date, for the present method adopted by le beau monde is to draw the whole of the hair together and knot it loosely at the back of the head about on a level with the tip of the nose. The great idea is to get our tresses as loosely shaggy as possible, and this is rather a difficult task, especially if the hair is inclined to be silky, for if not very tightly pinned to the head it is liable to come down at any moment, and this catastrophe, in these days of pads and frizettes, would prove very embarrassing. With the exception of a favoured few who possess a more than ordinary quantity of hair everyone wears pads ; in fact, it is next to impossible to get the desired effect without their able assistance. This is certainly the season for those possessing a large head of hair, and there are so many pretty and becoming ways of wearing it. No. 1 illustration is, to my mind, an ex-

ceedingly simple and most effective way of dressing the hair, and it needs no explanation beyond the fact of my advising everyone who chooses this fashion, to tie the hair firmly, in order to establish a good foundation for the hairpins, before attempting to wind it into the knot. Long'jewelled pins for ornamenting the hair are again coming into vogue, and many ladies fasten their small jewelled brooches on to the end of a hairpin and substitute this for the real article, which is rather costly, and cannot be used for any other purpose. Turquoise stones set in filigree gold work look lovely in fair hair, but I have lately seen some much less expensive pins, which look almost as well, made of blue enamel, and an original young friend of mine managed to convert two or three different sized Venetian beads (the blue ones with gold and white spots) into an extremely pretty hair ornament. Next to diamonds I think garnets look best in dark hail-, and pretty cut steel balls are very useful for ordinary occasions.

No. 2 is very easily arranged, and seems to suit people who do not wear a fringe, and No. 3 is largely patronized l>y those with high foreheads who do not wish to make the head appear high in front. The last sketch, No. 4. is the hardest of all to arrange, and pads area necessity in its composition. If the wearer has long hair, even if thin, there is not so much difficulty, and in any case the best plan is to divide the hair straight across the back of the head from ear to ear, then arrange live or six pads (have them made in sizes, the largest immediately at the back of the head) becomingly, taking care to pin them only at each end ; then draw the back hair through over the lowest, then under the next and over the third, and back again over the one that has been left uncovered between. Brush the front hair right over towards the back, ami proceed in exactly the same way, ami finish by hairpinning' securely at each end of the rolls, which should, if well done, be quite smooth and glossy. The fringe, if one be worn, should be lightly curled in rolls to correspond. This mode requires some practice, but a French lady twirls it up perfectly in aliout three minutes with every hair in its right place, so that with deft fingers one ought soon to get into the way of Something after the style of the Grecian head-gear is most becoming, especially to a tall fair lady with plenty of her own hair. The three velvet bands (or gold braid in

an open-work pattern, which I have seen effectively worn) should be confined just behind one ear with a jewelled pin, and finished on the opposite side l>v a coquettish little bow stuck with some jewel turquoise. I believe in a good brushing to cleanse the hair. There isnothinglike it, and ifbruslied

thoroughly night and morning it will only require wash ing four times during the year It is a bad plan to braid the hair too tightly at night, for it requires a great deal of air, and it is quite bad enough for it to be unnaturally pinned to the head during the daytime, and all who have any regard for their ‘ glory ’ should plait it very loosely,

and not tie it at all when retiring for the night. When the hair breaks or splits at the end clip about half an inch oil’ with a sharp pair of scissors, ami then singe with a candle, so that you may .close up the tubes, and so prevent the moisture from escaping.

Meg.