The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-31
THE WIG AND IT'S MAKER.
The Manner in Which Bald Headed Men
and Women Conceal the Deficiency
and DEFY Detection.
81. Loni> G'o,.r- Uemocyat.

a
stage wig would become an object
OF interest and attention even from
the gamins and bootblacks. The wig
must defy detection, the toupcc must
match, the switch or bang must be Of
the exact shade otherwise the wcarcr
will become by-word among their ac-
uuaintancc, for the next worst thing
to being bald is to have people find
out that your hair belongs TO you only
in the sense Of having been bought
and paid for with your own money.
But the wig-makcr is equal to the
emergency, and with dream Of ca
pillary art surmounting his cranium,
the bald man may defy alike criticism
and flies, for no one can tell that the
hair he is wearing is not Of his own
cultivation. A St. Louis gentleman,
who for many years has stood at the
head Of his profession was recently
induced to divulgc the intricacics of
his calling for the benefit of the pub
lie, and among the revelations which
he made was one Of great interest con-
ccrning the manufacture Of wigs. The
first step when customer desires to
be fitted is to make exceeding accurate
measurements Of the dimensions of
the head. These must be mathemati-
cally exact, for variation Of
sixteenth part Of an inch may result
in making the wig mere cap, with
scarcely pretense Of a fit. The
skulls Of people are no more alike than
their faces, for here and there are
often found bumbs and protuberances
which must be taken into account or
the wig will not fit. Having made
this measurement and taken mental
note of every unusual conformation
of the skull, the wig-maker begins on
the framework by laying foundation
of French galoon, kind of silk ribbon
goods, made in Paris specially for the
wig trade. In order to secure the
proper clasp Of the wig upon the head
section Of silver wire elastic is in
serted into the back, and eleven watch
springs, their points ground to blunt
ness and covered with kid, are placed
in different parts of the framework.
When this is finished it is covered
with very strong. but apparently
delicate, piece of goods, and the body
Of the wig is complete.
The next step is the hair covering,
the most tedious part Of Incorporation.
Two or three processes are employed
in this operation, that most in favor,
knotting the hair into the goods with
a needle, closely resembling crochet
needle. This part of the work is usu-
ally performed by girls, who patiently
sit day after day adding hair after
hair, little by little, until finally the
frame work is completely covered.
The most delicate points about the
wig are the parting of the hair aad the
crown, which must be made to simu-
late nature or the artifciality of the
head piece will be instantly detected
by the most casual observer. The
part of the hair is given a natural
appearance by network of very fine
white natural hair, which at this point
on the head takes the place Of tho
framework and extends back to the
crown. The latter is marvel of art,
for to secure natural effect the white
hair and that which is worked in with
it are given no less than FIVE different
directions or pointings, thus produc-
ing perfect imitation of the tiny
semi-bald spot which terminates the
parting of the hair at the crown.
Through the mess work Of white hairs
the skin Of the scalp can be seen, and
the illusion is perfect