How to Beautify and Preserve the Hair

To Beautify the Hair- Keep the head clean, the pores of the skin open, and the whole circulatory system in a healthy condition, and you will have no need of bear's grease (alias hog's lard). Where there is a tendency in the hair to fall off on account of the weakness or sluggishness of the circulation, or an unhealthy state of the skin, cold water and friction with tolerably stiff brush are probably the best remedial agents.

Care of the Hair- To keep the hair healthy, keep the head clean. Brush the scalp well with a stiff brush, while dry. Then wash with castille soap, and rub into the roots bay rum, brandy, or camphor water. This done twice a month will prove beneficial. Brush the scalp thoroughly twice a week. Dampen the hair with soft water at the toilet and do not use oil.

Hair Wash- Take one ounce of borax, half an ounce of camphor powder- these ingredients fine- and dissolve them in one quart of boiling water. When cool the solution will be ready for use. Dampen the hair frequently. This wash is said not only to cleanse and beautify, but to strengthen the hair, preserve the color, and prevent baldness.

Crimping hair- To make the hair stay in crimps, take five cents worth of gum arabic and add it to just enough boiling water to dissolve it. When dissolved, add enough alcolhol to make it rather thin, Let this stand all night and then bottle it to prevent the alcohol from evaporating. This put on the hair at night, after it is done up in papers or pins, will make it stay in crimp on the hottest day, and is perfectly harmless.

 

 

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Barber's Shampoos- Are very beneficial if properly prepared. They should not be made too strong. Avoid strong shampoos of any kind. Great caution should be exercised in this matter.

To Remove Superfluous Hair- With those who dislike the use of arsenic, the following is used for the removal of superfluous hair from the skin: Lime, one ounce; carbonate of potash, two ounces; charcoal powder, one drachm. For use, make it into a paste with a little warm water and apply it to the part, previously shaved close. As soon as it has become thoroughly dry, it may be washed off with a little warm water.

To Curl the Hair- There is no preparation that will make naturally straight hair assume a permanent curl. The following will keep hair in curl for a short time. Take borax, two ounces; gum arabic, one drachm; and hot water, not boiling, one quart; stir, and, as soon as the ingredients are dissolved, add three table-spoonsful of strong spiritis of camphor. On retiring to rest, wet the hair with the above liquid and roll in twists of paper as usual. Do not disturb the hair until morning when untwist and form into ringlets.

 

Bibliographical Reference :  Jeffries, Prof. B.G., and J.L. Nichols, "Searchlight on Health: the Science of Eugeneics",  Published by J.L. Nichols and Company, Naperville, IL,  1919, pp.107-110.

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Edited by Sharon Saracino. ©2003 Granny’s Closet /Sharon Saracino.  Photos from "Granny's Closet" private collection © 2003.  Graphic design and the contents of "Granny's Closet" © 2002-2003.    Updated April 21, 2003