The Russellville Democrat., 1880-12-09
HUMAN HAIR.
Where False Hair is eSsained--Chinese Cow Hair anu How it is Used.
 New York Mail

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 i New York Mail.
 k Few persons have any idea Of the amount of human and other hair import, ed yearly to this country. If one-half oi the women knew what they were wear Ing in the shape of headeear, they would be almost ready to tall into mysteries A little light on this subject may be in teresting to thousands of both sexes. False hair is not as asfashionable as 1t used to be few years ago, when tons were imported to this country; nevertheless, at the present tune an extensive busi. ness IS being carried on throughout the United States. In London it is comput- ed that fully six tons of human halr are
 imported every year, and that the trade increases annually. In order to meet
 the demands of this and other countries,
 there must be regular harvest, which can be looked forward to at particular
 season; and as there gre different mark
 cts for black and given tea, for brown or
 pale brandy, 20 IS there market for
 light hair distinct from the market for
 dark hair.
 Light hair is exclusively German
 product, and Is collected by agents of
 firms and companies who visit certain
 parts of Germany and Switzerland. A few years ago light hair was more valu-
 able, and one particular golden tint was
 50 much prized that the dealers only
 produced it for favorite customers,
 and sold it at double it's weight in silver.
 The rich and silky texture of this much
 treasured article had it's attractions for
 poets and artists as well as traders. The
 immortal Shakespeare delighted in golden
 hair. Bassanio, in describing Portia, speaks of Ter sunny locks," and in the
 Two Gentlemen of Verona" Julia gays of Sylvia and herself, "Her hair is au-
 burn; mine is perfect yellow" Black is
 halr only mentioned two or three times in all of his plays, show ne that Shaks- peare considered light h.ir to the attrib- ute of soft and delicate women. With painters light brown hair is generally chosen for the1r subjects, as is clearly demonstrated by walk through any of our art galleries. It is admitted that the
 color of the hair of the English people
 has deepened in tint within the present century, and that this change is owing to the more frequent intermarriage since the Napoleonic wars with nations nearer the sunny South. Whether light or dark, the hair purchased by the dealer is 80 closely scrutinized that they can discriminate between the German and the French article by the smell alone.
 Black hair is mostly imported from Brittany and the south of France. where it is collected once every year by the agents sf Parisian houses. In various parts of the motley crowd of Breton
 fair may be met several of these halr purchasers, who travel the country for the purpose of attending fairs and buy ing the tresses of the peasant girls. In fact, in many instances the girls take thelr hair to market as regularly as if they were selling some kind of provis- ion. These girls are sheared of their hair just like so many sheep, one after the other. They stand round in a ring ready for the scissors, with theIr caps in their hands and their long hair combed out and hanging down to their waists. By the side of the operator is a basket, into which every cutting is placed separ- ately, tied up in a wisp. The girls or women of Brittany do not lose much of their personal adornment by having their hair cut of, as they wear close caps, which entirely prevents any part of the chevelure from being seen. The portion of the crop most suitable for perukes is purchased by particular class of people, by whom it is cleaned, curled and prepared to 8 certain stage, and then disposed of to wig makers for ten and twenty times more than it's original cost. It is then retailed at big profit; for choice heads of hair, like choice old pic lures or choice old china, have no limit to the price they occasionally command, It is only some fifteen years since it was used to any extent in this country, but since that time it has developed itself to a large and almost incredible degree.
 A great deal of the hair that is now imported is not, however, human, mach of it being "Yak" hair, taken from Chinese COWS and other animals. In Europe it has been in use for many years and great attention is paid to it's prepar- ation for the different markets.
 A reporter for the EUentnd Mau recent ly had an interview with one of the largest importers of human hair, and from him learned some interesting facts concerning this peculiar issiness. In 1859 and 1860 betwevA Ies,s 70 and 200,- 600 pounds of hair was imported into this country. valued at something like $l 100000. In 1865 !. ..--r, lcreased to nearly three times this amount. Paris sends large portion to Russia as we'll as to America, where g ready sale is always to be found. France and Italy give the pest quality of hair. It is finer in texture, more even in color and glossy. It's chief value. is in it's length. Alter it goes on the market it Is assorted. which task is attended with much diffi- culty. The prices range from $l5 to $200 per pound, accordingto color and length. Short coarse hair is much cheaper. Gray and white hair sells from $100 to $20O per pound. One dealer in this city was once offered as much as $400 per pound for parcel of pure white hair and this sum he refused, selling 1t subsequently for $450. The hair is shipped to this country prepared and unprepared. That whic,i IS prepared undergoes process of washing, securing and cleansing, all the oil, dirt and other substances being separated from it, leaving it perfectly free from all unhealthy influences. That which is shipped in a raw or unprepared state is subjected to the same process after it's arrival It is then ready to be made into switches, curls, plaits, fronts, wigs, chignons, and not small amount is used in the manufacture of hair jewell ry. The duty on the raw material is twenty cents per pound, on cleaned and drawn hair 1t is thirty cents, and on hair it is forty cents per pound. On other hair. not human, it is ten cents per pound. There are many instances given of hair changing color.
 It is said that persons have from ex- cessive grief found their hair changed from dark brown to almost perfect white; others from the same cause in