Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25
About Wigs.

Americans have made great improvements
in wigs" said a New York wig-maker lately to
reporter. Few people will wear the old
fashioned English wigs nowadays. Instead of
the thick, hot and uncomfortable head coverings
Of former days, we have now the light, graceful
and convenient wigs that are very close imi-
tation of the natural hair Formerly, the fact
that man wore wig was known at glance
Now the imitation is SO close that have known
it to battle examination. The other day young
man, WHO wears a blonde wig came to have it
repaired. 1 found that large lock had been
cut out of it. / asked him how it happened,
and ne told me that a lady had asked him for a
lock of his hair, and that he allowed her to make
her own selection. He confessed to a little
trepldatiOn when she took hold of the lock to
cut it of. But she was gentle with him, and cut
Off the lock close to the head without discover
ing that he wore a wig.
The work of restoration was artistic. It
would not do to replace lock Of full length at
once We began with short pieces, Initiating
the natural growth of the hair The lady never
found out the deception until after they were
married, when she happened to handle his hair
less tenderly. There is an old gentleman with
gray beard for whom have madeavgs since
his hair was black. As his beard began to grow
gray the contrast between that and the hair of
his head was too marked We began BY making
him wig with a few gray hairs sprinkled in.
Gradually the number Of gray hairs was in
creased until now he buys three white wigs a
gear. Black wigs Last longer than white The
latter turn yellow with wear, and we have found
no way of cleaning the white hair without de-
stroying the workmanship of the wig Where
wig covers the entire head it ia easy to make It
fit tight to most heads without the use of any
adhesive substance. But where the wig covers
only part Of the head, or where tOupees or
patches are used, it is necessary to stick ON the
false hair with muciage or adhesive wax.
Wigs cost all the way up from $40 to 800.
according to the f1neneSS Of the hair and the
excellence Of the workmanship. The most
costly wigs are made on a foundation of hair
lace. Each hair is carefully selected and knOtted
to a mesh of the lace. This kind is called the
ventilated wig You can part it anywhere like
natural hair, and the appearance of the parting
will be like that of the natural scalp. The flesh
shows through the meshes of the lace with great
naturalness. That is the kind of wig the
blonde young man wore. Cheaper wigs are
made by fastening hair to long threads and sew
ing strips of it on foundation less costly than
hair lace. Even these cannot be detected by
the ordinary observer, although when you know
that man wear such wig you are sure to
notice it, Very often. however, toupees are put
on with so much skill. by mixing the ends with
the natural hair that the art is not perceptible.
think the tendency is now to conceal badness
rather than to let it be seen. True. in summer
some young men do get their heads clipped like
state prison convicts or the boys in the poor
house. but think the fashion is less favored
than formerly.
Some experiments have been made in the
direction OF transplanting hair into the skin,
but thus far without success. You know you
may stick pin through the outer skin without
pain. Hairs have been drawn through holes
thus made, and roots Of hair have been planted
in the skin. But the result has been to create q
little Inflammation and suppuration at the point
OF contact Of the hair with the skin. The hair
lace foundation Ia the latest Improvement, and
that is fifteen years old. The cheaper founda-
ton ia called the welt " or woven. The cost
lest hair Is that which curls naturally The
curls may be initiated, but no respectable dealer
would sell it for natural curl. The fraud would
soon be discovered. There is q better oppor-
tunfty In curled wig to conceal our art. The
locks may be carelessly disposed with more sue
cess than where the hair is straight. or course
know the names of many prominent men in all
the professions who wear wigs, but it is O point
OF honor with our profession not to reveal them
We would az soon think of betraying the name
OF lady who wears puffs, braids, switch, or
curls OF artificial manufacture.
Many men wear wigs quite as much for their
health as for Appearances sake. 1t has been
found that bald-headed men are subject to colds
neuralgia and catarrh. bald-headed man in
an audience near q window is a nuisance
When others want the window open to secure
ventilation, he, In consideration for his bare
pate, wants the window shut. II he puts on his
hat nobody sees that he does it becaue
he is bald, and he Is thought unman-
nerly. Some professors and doctors wear
skull caps, but they look old, and wigs are
much better.
'"rhe market is always well supplied with all
colors and shades Of hair, the best Of which is
Imported. Men don't wreath their wrinkled
brOws with weli-saved c0mbings' O. women
commonly do. 1t would not pay men to save
the combings. In mems wigs the cost Of the
hair is not SO much as the labor. In women's
wigs the hair is the c0stliest part"
DOWry Of q Hindo0 Bride,
From the Bombay Samachar.