Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-16
THE HAIR BUSINESS.
A Trade and.its TrleIss.


Fifty years othe hair trade scarcely
had q name in this city, but row it is ot
enormous extent and employs vast
amount of capital. There are twenty OF
more wholesale houses thus engaged,
some of which are importers, while 9th.
ers are jobbers and manufacturers.
Others connect these branches so as To
improve al ways Of profit. The price
of the genuine human hair is regulated
by its length. Tresses of twenty inches
bring three dollars rer ounce, while
those of forty inches are worth more
than double the price, At such a rate
it will pay to cultivate this crop, but
many are induced to part with it on
much lower terms byln3gaiAlAl
BUYING HAIR.
This business is extensively practiced
in Europe, and is there managed very
adroitly. For several years the hair i'm
porters of this city have been in the
habit Of fitting out peddlers, chiefly
French or German, whose stock in trade
or general outfit are sent from this port.
These men, when they reach the old
country, travel through sequestered dis
triots, offering their wares for sale.
Whenever they meet a farmers wife or
a peasant girl with fine head of hair
they endeavor to obtain the precious
locks, generally in exchange for calico
dress and few ornaments. In this way
a large stock is gathered at small rates,
and this, when brought to New York,
l--..,,Jo N h;rb WHOA
tits q remarkable fact that human
hair grows nearly twice ;as fast in Eu-
rome as it does in America. Hence the
products Of the former country is much
greater relatively to its population than
than that Of the latter. All Europe is
now carefully canvassed in the manner
referred to, and the tresses which may
once have adorned some Suabian house
maid are made to grace the head of a
Fifth avenue belle.
SUBSTITUTES FOR HAIR.
The enormous price of genuine hair
has led to the adoption of many substi-
tutes, the most popular Of which is jute,
a species of hemp. This was very largely
used in the manufacture of waterfalls
and chignons. When properly dressed
iute looks very well, but although
cheaper than hair it is high-priced ar
ticle, and hence Yankee ingenuity has
been exercised to find another substi-
tute. This was discovered few years
ago by an enterprising man Connect
cut born) in a bark of the species Of the
Eastwood tree. When dried, eombed
out, and oiled this locks very we'll. The
cheap coils which are so we'll known as
Japan hair Gre Of this material.
BATEsP4LIs.
Waterfalls are now out of fashion,
but in their day they had their eloquent
apologists, The waterfall, at its largest
size, seldom weighed more than four
ounces; that is, if il vas properly made.
1t was woven over Light wire frame
and thus made as light as possible, but
still it was found to pull the bead back
ward, and HENCE was in degree tire
some. Waterfalls, ehignons, and the
French twist, cost from two to
zen dollars, and sometimes great deal
more. The single curl costs from three
10 SIX dollars. EtiIl
coLoRISG HAIR.
The art Of initiating almost every
,hade of hair is now nearly perfect. By
sending a small sample of natural hair
1ne may have curls, switches, coils, etc,
made to match it in a manner which
ieies detection. Sometimes the natural
lair is colored TO suit the fashion, al
.hough the process is often injurious.
The fashionable colors, which are fire.
luently changed, are technically called
art colors." A few years ago the art
color was red, Then it became gray
not the gray Of age. but fanciful tint
Easy of detection. This did not become
popular. just now, we believe,
he art color is haxen.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS.
The hair trade is a safe and remunera-
i've business. Hair-dressers charge
rom two to FIVE dollars for dressing a
ady's head for a party, and they also
.hsrge handsomely for cleaning the
lust out Of artificial locks. A lady re
emily bad her hair cut of on account Of
n health, and gave the locks to the
iair-dresser for braided uatchgnard OF
he same material. The hair-dresser
.ftervard sold the hair for seventy-fve
iollars.
In this city the hair-dressing shops
,aoh keep from three 70 six hands for
Ierving fheir customers at Their bones,
md during the gay season thsF sre kept
rery busy, their charges being two dol
srs per hour. The writer Of this knew
. uoor clerk married 70 . nrl Who IN
isrs.ood toe hair bafiassE, Eho oPesed
, small shop in siKth avenue. and speed
liz became rich from the profts Of the
rade. and hiE success was not Hnasual.
The great establishments in this city