Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-07
RALD-HEADED BELLIES.
The Trouble That Af1icts Society Girls
Women Who Have to Shaye Their
Heads and Faces

| The Trouble That Ah1icSs Society Girls
Women Who Have to Shaye Their
| Heads and Faces.
Within the last few months, says the
Louisville Times, the number of ladies ap-
/ pearing on our streets with closely
clipped hair has been noticeably great.
Thinking that there must be some cause
for this, a Times representative began
making inquiries among his lady ac-
quaintances, but always found them on
the alert upon this subject and every
avenue of approach well guarded. No
miss or matrOn who would give him any
points on the tender subject Of woman's
head could be found. The difficulties
which he met only served to heighten his
curiosity, and when he happened to see
the sign-board of "Dermatologist, Lately
of the Royal Court Hair-Dressing and
Hair-Cutting Establishment, of London"
he at once made his way up the stairs to
interview the professor.
The professor ushered the inquisitive
scribe into his parlors with courtly grace.
In glass case on the wall of the room
were a number of wigs and other hairy
cOntriYances of almost every shade and
shape. Combs, brushes, curling irons,
bottles of chemicals, mirrors, micro
scopes, and number OF queer-lookIng
instruments were scattered about on the
tables and dressers in orderly confusion.
When the visitor had explained his mis-
sion, the professor smiingly consented to
the correctness of his observations, and
explained that in most cases the hair had
been i'll used and was now cut short in
order to give it a new start.
professor, do you in your calling meet
W tn many bald-headed Women"' was the
first direct question.
s'Not with great many that are bald in
the generally accepted sense of the word
that is, entirely bald. The number Of
ladies who are bald in spots, say as large
as your hand, would astonlsh you. How
ever, there are some who are entirely
bald, and this one was nearly so when she
came to me for treatment" he said, hand
ing me letter from a lady in Franklin,
KY; "but she isn't so now, as she testi-
fes," he added, with smile.
''DO you require them to cut their hair
short when they come under your treat
ment?'
sob, no; not necessarily. There is no
doubt about the ACCESSIBILITY of so doing,
though" The professor then remarked
that one never met a bald-headed man or
woman in France, seldom did so in Eng
land, while in America they were aston
ishingly numerous. He attributed this to
the careless use accorded the head-dress in
this country.
The scribe next met another professor
of the tOnsorial parlors, and requested the
result of his experience.
"Well, yes; there are many more bald
headed ladies in Louisville than you
think. Considering the fact that women
are so backward about exposing the fact,
even to ask remedy, it would lead to the
conclusion that there is a wonderful num-
-r,FI, 4 L. 4
a neat set of curls or frizzes, or even
wig.
eyes, sir; l always advise the clipping
of the hair. The idea is to allow the free
circulation Of the air; nature will do the
rest. The principal causes of badness
are lack of ventilation to the scalp and
the use of injurious compounds supposed
to aid the growth or beautify the hair.
There is not as much badness now among
ladies as there was some ten years ago.
In those days the fashion was to wear the
hair plastered down smoothly on each side
of the temples, leaving WIDE part in the
middle Of the head. The constant pulling
down of the hair from this center part
and the cutting off Of air circulation soon
caused gradual widening bald streak
across the top Of the head. The pun,
loose manner of dressing the hair now in
vogue is much better. The only true way
to redeem the hair is to cut it short. On
one or two occasions, where the case was
rather desperate, L have shaved ladies'
heads slick and clean. One customer
had her head treated, and did not go out
side OF the house for more than month.
She was rewarded with strong growth
of new HAIR, but very few ladies can or
will sacrifice the time necessary for such
radical treatment.
"There are a few ladies in the city who
shave their faces. We have a few such
customers, but they generally shave
| themselves. There are some ladies here
| who would present quite a respectable
! mustaehe if they did not shave regularly
| once a week. One of our prominent bust
ness men came in yesterday to have me
| sharpen and put IN order his wife's razor.
| He told me she had very decided growth
of hair on the under side of her chin and
had to keep it shaved down carefully.
s'There is a difference in badness in the
| several cities / have visited. Boston and
! Philadelphia have most bald woman,
| Chicago is bad Cincinnati is better,
while Louisville ranks best, accord
! ing to my experience. forgot
/ to mention New Orleans, which
! is decidedly the worst of all. l explain
/ this by the fact that so many pomatums
and preparations for the hair of every kind
/ are used by Southern ladies.