The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-12-11
The Trade in Human Hair.

n tCPOitCl Va bliC 4NOW 4Olh 11ttfstfey
Mail recently had an interview with one
of the largest importers of human hair,
and from him learned some interesting
facts concerning this peculiar business.
In 1859 and 1860 between $50, 900 and
100000 pounds of hair was imported
into this country, valued at something
like Sl,000,000. In 1865 it had in.
creased to nearly three times this
amount. Paris sends large portion to
Russia as well as to America, where a
ready sale is alwaysfound. France and
Italy give the best quality of hair. II
is finer in texture, more even in color,
and glossy. Its chief value is in its
length. After it goes on the market ii
is assorted, which task is attended with
much difficulty. The prices range from
Sl5 to 5000 per pound, according to
color and length. Short, coarse hair is
much cheaper. Gray and white hair
sells from 500 to 5000 per pound. One
dealer in this city was once offered as
much as $500 per pound for parcel of
pure white hair, and this sum he re-
fused, selling it subsequently for $3.50.
The hair is shipped to this country pre-
pared and unprepared. That which is
prepared undergoes process of wash-
ing, securing and cleansing. all the oil,
dirt and other substances being separa-
ted from it, leaving it perfectly free
from all unhealthy influences. That
which is shipped in raw or unpre-
pared state is subjected to the same
process after its arrival. 1t is then
ready to be made into switches, curls,
plaits, fronts, wigs. chignons, and not a
small amount is used in the manufacture
of hair jewelry. The duty on the raw
material is twenty cents per pound, on
cleaned and drawn hair it is thirty cents,
and on manufactured hair it is forty
cents per pound. On other hair, not
human, it is ten cents per pound. There
are many instances given of changing
color.
1t 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
the short space of one week discovered
their hair streaked with gray, giving
them the appearance, although young,
OF being old. This may be said of the
famous elocutionist, the'late DIR. Henry
Below. His hair is said to have turned
to silvery gray in one night, brought
about by domestic trouble. Other per-
sons hair changes color from extreme
fright.
A curious case was mentioned of
worker in metals, who had wrought in
copper only five months, and whose
hair, which was white, turned to green
color. Chemical analysis showed that
the hair contained quantity of acetate
)f copper, and it is to this circumstance
hat the mans hair owed its beautiful
green color, which was both singular
md remarkable.
The practice of wearing false hair is
many hundred years old. The Greek
md Roman ladies were, in olden times,
IS active at their toilet for the head as
he fashionable ladies at the present
lay. Most of the hair at that time was
from the Germans, and thew
n turn from their slaves. Powderinp
he hair is not so much in vogue in this
country as it is in Europe. History
ellis us that the consumption of hair
,owder by the ladies of George Ills
ime was simply enormous. 1t was
calculated that, inasmuch as the mill |
airy force of England and the colonies
vas then about 250, 900, each man used |
pound of flour week for powdering |
he hair. This would give $500 tons
Ter annum-an amount that would sus-
ain $4,000 persons ON bread. Gold and
liver powder was also used. Josephus
elates that Solomon's horse-euards
ally covered their heads with gold dust,
which glittered in the sun, and there
re several instances recorded in the BIZ
lie OF silver powder being used. The
ncient Greeks were very partial to
'ng hair, considering it very becom-
1g,. while the Egyptians regarded it as !.
n incumbrance, and had their heads L
haved. They preferred wigs to natural
air. The ancients, generally speaking,
considered fine head of hair
, desirable that it became almost sacred
18th them. They frequently dedicated
to the gods on important occasions.
lch as marriage, victory, or escaping
ON any great danger, and the burial
particular friends.
I1air contains a very small quantity of
alter manganese. Iron and various
hts OF lime have been found bv the
irious methods of amalgamation. 1t
owing to this that hair is peculiarly
destructible. 1t has been found on .
ummies more than twenty centuries
q in perfect order and not by any {
cans rotten.
During the past few years there has I
zen gradual decline of human hair of ]
G finer texture. Now there is a plut | q
the market of cheap hair and where i
one time the value of human hair i'm Q
'rted to this country would amount to {
100000. it does not now exceed 81 / {
5000. A large portion of hair comes d
pm Paris direct. 1t is obtained in va {
)us ways. as before stated. 1t is gen o
ally collected by agents, who scour '
country towns and villages as ped v
ers and exchange their goods for an s
Iractive head of hair. They then sell
to the larger dealers, while the small n