# American Pocket Library of Useful Knowledge/The Hair

THE HAIR,
REVISED BY J. D. MOORE.
Its Proper Management.–Under the ordinary circumstances of health, in conjunction with temperance and regular exercise, the only safe and effectual means of preserving the hair and of promoting its growth and beauty, is the frequent use of the comb and brush, and regular ablution.
It will be readily perceived, by a reference to the structure of the hair, that whatever has a tendency to impede the passage of the fluids by which it is nourished, from the root along the tube in the centre of each hair must necessarily prevent its proper growth, render it thin, and deprive it of its soft and glossy appearance. There can be little doubt that this is the effect, to a certain extent, of the practice of twisting the hair from its natural position, and of plaiting or firmly braiding it. The injurious consequences of such ​modes of dressing the hair can only be obviated by a daily resort to the comb and a hard brush, which, by disentangling, restores it to its natural direction, and, freeing it from every restraint, enables it to receive a due supply of its appropriate fluids. The growth of the hair is not, however, always impeded by artificial means: this may result, also, from allowing it to become entangled and malted together–a condition to which it is extremely liable from its peculiar form. Hence, under all circumstances, frequently combing and brushing it through its whole length, is absolutely necessary to its proper preservation.
Independent of the good effects of these operations in rendering the hair pervious to the fluids which rise from its roots, they facilitate its development also, by freeing the scalp from accidental impurities, facilitating the circulation through its vessels, and thus enabling the hair to perform freely its functions.
Another means of promoting the growth of this structure and insuring its permanency, is by frequently cutting it. It is in early life, particularly, that frequent culling will be found highly advantageous.
When the hair becomes thin and irregular, or its beauty is otherwise impaired, we know nothing better calculated to restore its proper growth than cutting it short.
In children, keeping the hair short is a circumstance of no little importance, and should not, from any light consideration, be neglected. Their health is prejudiced by a contrary practice. Nothing is more common than to see a luxuriant head of hair accompanied in children by paleness of complexion, weak eyes, and frequent complaints of headache. The following excellent remarks in a little work entitled “Advice to Young Mothers–by a Grandmother,” are recommended to the attentive perusal of every parent.
“The hair in children should be cut short until they are eight or nine years old–as the cooler the head can be kept, the less danger there is of many maladies peculiar to that part of the body, especially water on the brain. Besides, there is good reason for believing, that children who have a great quantity of hair, are those most liable to eruptions, as scald head, &c. It is at least certain, that in them, eruptions are very difficult to remove. The trouble, also, of keeping long hair sufficiently clean, and the length of time necessary for this purpose, is often a cause of much ill humour and many cross words between children and their attendants, which it would be better to avoid.
“Mothers whose vanity may be alarmed lest repeated cutting the hair for so many years should make it coarse, may be assured they have no cause for this apprehension, provided the hair be kept constantly brushed.”
When there is any tendency to sores or eruptions on the head of children, fine combs are very apt to promote them. There is no doubt that the heads of young persons which are never touched by them, may be preserved much cleaner by strict attention, than such as are scratched and scraped every day. If any dirt appears on a child’s head, which a brush will not remove, that particular part should be rubbed with a towel and soap and water; but in general, the brush will be found quite sufficient lo keep it perfectly clean. The seldomer, indeed, a fine comb is applied to the head, the better; when, however, those of ivory, tortoise shell, or bone, are used, the greatest care is necessary lest they wound the skin and produce a sore, or, by unduly irritating it, augment the production of the scurf they are often intended to remove.
Washing Hair.–The beauty and permanence of the hair are best promoted by the strictest cleanliness. To prevent its becoming greasy and dirty, it ought to be washed frequently with soap and water. Soft and slightly warm water is best.
Objections are made by some to wetting the hair–but the prejudice against the practice is absurd. No possible injury, but, on the contrary, much good will result from frequent washing of the head.
The females of the South Sea Islands, remarkable for their fine long hair, promote its silky gloss and beauty by regular and frequent washing.
Hygiene des Dames, approving the practice of washing, observes, in regard to the length of the hair of females, that as the most beautiful hair is the most difficult to keep clean, it is precisely this sort which requires to be washed often and carefully, and the bath is recommended as the most convenient means of doing this. Besides, says the author, the fittest gloss is imparted by the water, provided the hair be quickly dried and immediately combed and brushed.
Headaches complained of by females are often occasioned by a deficiency of moisture in the hair, by which the comb or brush is prevented from fully detaching the scales that form upon the scalp and clog up the pores destined to the passage of the perspiration.
Husbands finding Fault.–Some men make their wives very miserable by a thoughtless habit of finding fault with everything which comes in their way. The man who heedlessly finds fault on every occasion, only lays the foundation for his own sorrow, for he takes away an important motive which actuates the wife to faithfulness and pains-taking; and she must be more than a common woman, who, in the face of repeated fault-finding, can find a heart long to exert herself, only to receive again the same reward.
Quarrels.–One of the commonest and most foolish things in the world, is to quarrel, no matter with whom, man, woman, or child; or upon what pretence, provocation, or occasion whatever. There is no kind of necessity in it, and no species or degree of benefit to be gained by it. No man ever fails to think less of himself after than he did before one: it degrades him in his own eyes and in the eyes of others; and, what is worse, blunts his sensibility to disgrace on the one hand, and increases the power of passionate irritability on the other.
THE WORLD: ITS EXTENT AND POPULATION. Divisions of the Globe, in the Order of their Populousness, with their Population to a Square Mile.
ORDER OF POPULATION.
ORDER OF EXTENT.