The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-04-07
BACK HAIR.
An "Expert" Tells How tho Supply OF
Feminine Tresses is Kept Up.

An "Expert" Tells How the supply o
Feminine Tresses is Kept Up.
The Scientific american has dilated OF
the subject of "Back HAIR" and an
nounces that false hair having come K
be recognized as necessity of the mod
ern female existence, it may be ofinter
est to learn how this constantly increas
ing want is supplied" We trust thu
the revolving account of the sources O.
supply which follow these words may
have created due CONSERVATION among
the wearers of false hair, but we also
trust that there may be many scientific
Americans who will have OWNED fol
themselves the fact that nothing SO de.
testable as hair obtained in the ways and
prepared by the processes described in
this article ever approaches the head o1
lady.
AS a matter of personal experience,
and as the result of observations in a
wide family circle, the writer is able To
assert that "false hair -" very seldom
worn by ladies. Addition. hair, how
ever, is constantly used by those who
neither ignore the dictates of fashion
utterly, nor yet consent to be led by
them beyond the bounds Of good sense
or good taste or propriety or of neat
ness. In regard to this additional hair,
it is certainly cot interest to learn how
this constantly-increasing want is sup
Piled" It is even singular that no
statement explaining this matter has yet
appeared, and that the Scientific Ans*ri-
can, whose supply of back hair can
hardly entitle him to the position Of an
"expert," should be the only exponent
of the subject.
As birds shed their delicate feathers,
and as the inferior animals lose their
coats, which are replaced by new ones,
80 the human head gradually changes its
covering of hair, and from the yearly
sheddings OF her own hair, preserved
with perfect neatness and accurate care,
are fashioned for each lady the various
additions of puffs or plaits or curls. as
the case may be, which are demanded
by the style of coiffure in vogue. This
shedding of the hair is a constant pro-
cess. but in our climate is mostly observ-
able in the autumn. when large harvest
of hairs can usually be gathered in.
The revolving picture Of those uncleanly
"snarls of combing which thrifty servant
girls save up and sell can have no rela-
ton to the toilet of any lady. The hair
of those who have learned how to pre-
serve it is constantly washed-daily if
possible--with a small soft sponge,
slightly wet. To the water used is
added, in cold weather, a little glycerine,
and occasionally, in warm weather, the
very smallest dish of ammonia or Of
soda. The process of separating the hair
inch by inch. and washing each part
ing with the small damp sponge, is slow,
but is rewarded by the results Of perfect
freshness and increased growth, ana
as many q lady can testify, half the val
liable and pleasant reading Of the day
can be accomplished while this pleasant
process is performed by herself, or by
her maid, if she have one. The hair
thus washed is lightly combed and then
brushed until dry, and the gatherings
from brush and comb laid, in clean,
light wisps, in n small covered basket
kept for the purpose. Every gatherer of
hair looks with daily surprise on the ac-
cumuIating store, and, certainly twice
in the year, the family hairdresser will
be intrusted with q sufficient quantity
to make up in any form that may be de-
sired. Thus, by cleanly and simple
process, with only the small expense OF
manufacture, all the additional hair
necessary is obtained, exactly matching
that on the head which it is to adorn,
even to the retaining of the newly-ac-
ouired threads of silver which add to
the coiffure the charm of fitness when
middle age sets its seal on the brow.
With the bath. morning plunge Of the
face to the summit of the head strength
ems the front hair, while this imersion,
1fmade with the eyes open, gives a last
ing vigor to the sight which nothing
else can bestow. The occasional aid of
a judicious hairdresser is invoked for a
more ample brushing and washing, as
we'll as a careful clipping, to give
strength to each separate hair, and pro-
mote its growth. May it not be hoped
that this admission to a glimpse of the
"toilette des danes " will calm the anx-
ieties excited by dreadful descriptions of
"dead hair" chair on foot" and hair
"redolent ofthe sepulchre, the gutter or
the servant-girl's comb" and will tran
nuilize both satirical and scientific Amer
icsus as to the question, How this con-
stansly increasing want is supplied. "
For1aey's Progress.