Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-02
WHY SOME WOMEN SHAVE.
Because They Can't Stand the Only Sure
Method of killing Their Boards.

paragraph now making the rounds Of the
newspapers gives the experiences Of New
York barber with women who have such a
strong growth of hair on upper lip and chin,
and even cheeks, that they are forced to resort
frequently to the razor for relief from the dis
igurement. A reporter of The STAR called the
attention of a physician who uses electricity
extensively in his practice to the subject last
night
Doctor, I thought the electric needle had
solved the problem of killing off superfuous
hair" said the reporter.
80 it has with people who can stand it, the
physician answered "The trouble IL that
women of a certain peculiar nervous tempera-
ment can't endure the application of electricity
to their skins 1t is absolute torture to them,
and careful doctors won't consent to operate
on them. While there would, of course, be
little danger Of immediate injury, the effect
on their nervous systems, especially il there
was much hair to be killed, might be
serious. I have known of grave nervous
disorders following the application, by
INSCRIPTIONS or ignorant 'beautifiers' and
electricians of the electric needle in the cases
OF women of the temperament have alluded
to. Some women are very determined, how
ever, and will insist on having the operation
continued until all the unsightly hairs are
killed, although the destruction Of each hair
tooth would cause you or me. Not long ago /
had lady well-known in society come to me
for advice about the removal of an embryo
mustache which threatened to utterly ruin an
uncommonly beautiful face. / don't care to
take such cases, as the process is a very tedious
one, and l told her so. She insisted, however,
saying she did not care what the cost might be
If she could get the job thoroughly and scien-
titically done. At last consented to operate
on her. The first sitting killed about twenty
W nT lhn fntI % hn nj
to be suffering a good deal, but she persisted
in declaring that she didn't mind the pain at
all. At the next sitting l warned her that if
the operation caused much pain she had better
give it up. But she was determined to 60 on
and again assured me that the pain was moth
ing. In a few minutes. however, she broke
down and came near fainting. Then she &C
knowledged that the operation had caused her
the most exquisite torture but she was willing
to endure it if she possibly could, and did hold
out until her nerves were in such state that
became little alarmed about her.
There are other women the physician
continued, whose skins are violently affected
by the electric needle, which causes them to
break ont in red blotches These sometimes
become permanent and are much greater
blemlshes than the delicate little mustaches or
side whiskers, in the hope of removing which
they were acquired. Unskillful operators with
the electric needle are very apt to cause these
dlstgurements to the skin, although some
skins are so irritable that the utmost care can't
prevent them from getting blotchy.
Now you see these two classes of women
can't avail themselves of the electric needle
for the removal of the unwelcome growth of
downy hair on their faces and arms. So they
have to resort to the barber or to some of the
various chemical preparations to be had at
every drug store. Both of these methods of
hair-killing are ineffcacious and often worse
than the complaint. After shaving few times
the dark roots of the hair become so large that
powder won't conceal them, and then the poor
woman who has allowed the steel to scrape her
epidermis is worse off than ever"
But is the electric needle always effective?"
asked the interviewer.
always, if the operator understands his bust
ness. good many of these professional beau
filters know little or nothing about the struc-
ture of the skin or the hair and so fail to reach
the hair follicles with the needle and the hair
grows again after awhile. But If the electricity
is properly applied it is sure death to the
hair"
Doesn't this growth of hair on women's
faces indicate an abnormal or diseased condi-
ton of the skin?' asked the reporter.
Not at ALL" said the medical man. at is
perfectly natural Under the microscope mi
mute hairs can be discovered growing on al
most all parts of the human body On most
women in northern climates these hairs are
so delicate on the face that they not visible.
On other women the growth of hair is stronger
and becomes plainly and unpleasantly visible.
This difference in the luxuriance of the growth
OF hair is, however. no greater among women
than among men. OF course there are cases
in which, under certain low conditions of the
general health. especially among boys and girls
just approaching maturity, an unhealthy look
ing growth of downy hair suddenly appears on
the face. These cases are not very clearly I'M
derstood as yet.
I'm hot climates, you know probably a
majority of the women have unmistakable
mustaches by the time they are twenty-five
This is especially true of the Spanish race.
Northern women going to tropical countries
are apt to have this unwelcome growth appear on
their faces if they remain for any length of time
l have known cases where northern women
coming to Washington from New York and New
England developed downy boards after resid-
ing here a couple of years. 1t seems hardly
credible that such slight change in latitude
would have this effect in stimulating the hair
follicles but there is no dnuht il does >,