The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-10-15
Hair Dyes-The Hair.

In August we published report of an
examination of hair dyes, stating that Is
out of 16 contained lead. The number of
inquiries asking about the 10th one, which
| contained no lead, has been amusing
| We might have saved great deal of writ
| ing had we said that the 10th dye con-
tanned Nitrate of Silver, which is nearly as
Objectionable as lead. The receipt of so
many letters upon the matter of hair dye
leads us to ask, why dye the hair at all p
There seems to be no efficient preparation
for changing the color of the hair, which
has not a metallic base, and which, by its
| continued use, is not likely to produce in
jury to the health. But leaving the ques-
ton of health out of consideration. it
seems to us an utterly useless practice
| We say useless, because it deccives no one
| A person who dyes the hair may think it
so cleverly done that it will appear like the
natural color. This is great mistake, for
any one with half an eye for color will de-
tect dyed hair across the room or street.
If the hair turns gray, let it be gray rather
than sail under false colors. We cannot
conceive of any argument for dying the
hair that does not apply equally well to
| painting the checks. Yet many who color
| the hair would be Mortified if any one
| should suggest the use of rouge.-A
word about the treatment of the hair
| There is much less use made of hair
washes and the like, than there was some
| years ago, but much more than there ought
to be. Having been in the way of knowing
the composition of many of these, we can
assert that as general thing they are of
no value except as they induce people to
take care of their hair. Some thirty years
ago preparation called {" Balm of Column
bia, +" was exceedingly popular. 1t was an
'herby" smelling wash, but it was a cap
| ital thing for the hair. The directions
were to wet the hair thoroughly with the
Balm, and brush acHh q stiff brush for
| halt an hour. The whole value of this Gel
ebrated "Balm :" lay in these directions
and they are COED to this day, though the
| stuff they accompanied have long since
| passed to the limbo of things forgotten
| There is wondrous virtue in stiff hair
brush, well applied. The majority of the
| brushes sold are poor things, fit only to
polish the hair. Don't buy n brush by
the back, but by the bristles; these should
| be unbleached and uneven-unbleached
that they may retain their elasticity the
longer, and set unevenly in order that the
brush may penetrate better. Have brush
that will go through the hair, quite down
to the scalp, and use it thoroughly, daily;
and there will be very little need of any
thing beyond water as a hair wash. Avoid
shampooing liquids, as they contain a
| strong alkali, which removes the dandrutf,
etc, it is true, but at the same time takes
out the natural secretion of the scalp
| CASTLE soap and water will be found quite
as et1icacious, though a little more trouble
some in its application. A solution Of
borax is frequently used to cleanse the
hair, and so is the yolk of an egg. Where
the hair is brushed thoroughly there will
seldom be any need of applying oil; though
| there are some whose hair is so very dry
that little oil seems necessity, and beef
marrow or salution of castor oil in alcohol
are frequently used Glycerine dissolved
in water or Bay-rum makes pleasing hair
dressing american Agriculturist.