The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-06
HER WoNpRous HAIR.
Suggestions to Women on the Care of the
Crown of Glory.

ful head of hair, painters have immortal
lied this browning glory OF woman in every
shade from palest golden to bluest black,
and In every age, cline or country woman
seems to have been made aware OF the fact
that it is one of her most striking charms.
Therefore it is surprising how little regular
or intelligent care and attention is be-
slowed upon this subject by even fashion
able women of the day, who are content
with purchases of various kinds from their
| coitfeuses or an occasional shampoo, car
ing little for a scientific understanding OF
the hair and scalp such as would lead to the
preservation of the hair and make it look
its best, whether the color be dulIest tlaxen
or most brilliant red
The physical structure of the hair is al
most too complicated to be entered into at
present, since our purpose Is to suggest
certain methods of caring for the scalp and
hair itself with view to its Improvement
/ and preservation, especially by those who
cannot afford the services OF the coiffeuse.
But we may pause 10 consider that the hair
is kept in a state of vitality by the secre-
tions around the basis of the hairs where
nature has provided glands containing a
certain oily matter. Two kinds of this
matter are supposed by the scientists, to
exist. Vanquelin, French scientist, who
went very closely into the question, de-
cided that there were variable mineral sub
stances in the hair; that one kind of the
oily matter was white aud common to all
| hair, the other colored, and on which In
/ part depends the color of the hair itself.
| Generally speaking the appearance Is the
ga bo .aol
of the scalp itself. In ill-health, in a run
| down nervous state the hair will frequently
lose all its vitality consequently Its tone"
Will be dulled; it becomes stiff and unman-
ageable, even coarse and rough. Where it
is a question of health the first point to be
| considered is the treatment of the general
| system. Where it is simply from neglect,
care OF the scalp and hair will promptly
effect a cure. But even in the first in
stance much can be done by treatment of
the scalp and judicious brushing.
1t is a mistake to put up the hair care
lessly In the morning, depending upon
! time for a more careful brushing and ar
rangement later, though this is often
necessary to a woman whose life is a busy
one and begins early in the day. But any
woman who wishes TO keep her hair
thoroughly in order should contrive to
| devote at least one-half an hour each day
to its care, even though this be divided
into two parts of the day. Fifteen min
utes in the morning will accomplish a most
! desirable result If systematiZed according
to the following directions. Shaking the
hair loosely about the head and brushing
it quickly all around, after which dividing
1t with the coarse part of the comb evenly
into strands of moderate thicknesses and
brushing quickly downwards, always with
the same motion. When this has been
done all around the head, brushing the
same strands with an upward motion from
the roots back, taking care in both instan-
ces to press the brush well into the scalp
so that all particles collected about the
glands will be removed Next divide the
hair into three portions and il it is long
hold each tightly in one hand, brush
ing the end briskly with the other. This
Will prevent that look of roughness about
the ends of the hair, which often results
in splitting so, that hair must be frequent
ly clipped, not good thing for its general
texture"
4 vigorous brushing OF this kind can be
easily accomplished in about six minutes,
after which a brush kept expressly for the
purpose "a lady who recommended this to
me kept three brushed always on her toilet
table for various processes of the kind
should be dipped lightly in and out of rose
mary water in which very little borax has
been dissolved; pass this lightly over the
hair, slowly damping 1t. After time it
will be found that the hair receives a spe-
cial gloss and smoothness from this daily
dressing. Should there appear any scrof
or loose skin about the ends of the hair
near the face take a small piece of flannel,
dip itin some rosemary water and carefully
81 in afr
ing to the arrangement of the hair itself
Having gone through this process, the hair
will be found very tractable and easy to
arrange, especially in the prevalent modes,
while after it is coiled the final touches to
any wave or crimp about the brow should
be given. If there is time to devote to a
second brushing during the day so much
the better. One-quarter an hour should
be given TO IT at night, repeating the process
of the morning.
The idea prevalent for applying cologne
or bay rum to the head is preventive of
cold after washing is great mistake, as the
process of evaporation is so rapid that they
frequently cause a chill. Brandy or whisky
rubbed quickly over the scalp are the best
preventives of cold, but the odor, of course,
is not pleasant However, this passes away
with little exposure to the air. Almost
every Stdlp ft1ulItS SOIltLlllIR 10 Slluu-
late it occasionly. The following formula
for good hair tonic to be used on the hair
once "A week:
Iinct.
larD - OF.
...l pint
To this may be added little glycerine
If the hair is unusually dry. The use of
too much ammonia is apt to injure the
color of the hair but a little judiciously
applied is most cleansing. IOdide of pO-
tassium and rosemary water, prepared in
proper quantities by a skillful chemist,
makes an admirable wash 10 prevent the
hair from falling out, and a little lavender
water may be added.
1t Is seldom necessary to thoroughly
wash the hair il it is well cared for in the
way above described daily. Once month
is quite sufficient for the purpose, and
then good soap and water, or better still, a
thorough cleansing in connection with a
Turkish bath, will best cleanse the hair.
The white OF an egg applied with a tooth
brush to the scalp, is an excellent dressing
and can be thoroughly washed out after
wards by means OF bOrax or water Sew
eral fashionable women who make point
of the care OF the hair, apply the white of
an egg in this way thoroughly to the scalp
before going TO the Turkish bath. having
the head well washed in the shampoo
room, in order to remove all traces OF the
egg and sickness in the hair itself. A
good Russian or Turkish bath is about the
best way to clean the scalp of the head,