Evening star., 1902-09-13
Women Travel 5000 Miles
a Year to Get It.
GREAT ART IN DYEING
A REDDISH GOLD TINT Is THE
UP-To-DATE SHADE.
Is So Skillfully Applied That the Un-
initiated Would Not Suspect.
It's Use.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
1t is probable that more English women
dye the hair than those of any other ma
tion of up-to-date Importance. To them
it seems as nothing to cross the channel
to Paris, the Mecca of such art, and to
remain there for the purpose of having
the deed fifty accomplished. Also with the
French and Americans the custom has
now reached a state of triumphant vogue.
This, no doubt, is outcome of the very
great improvement which during the last
few years has been achieved in the dyes
themselves and in the better knowledge of
how to apply them. Indeed, it seems but
a short time ago when a woman with dyed
hair could be detected blocks away. In
variably it has dull and heavy look, and
gave her besides a most unwholesome ap-
pearance. only TO be rivaled by that of the
man with dyed whiskers
The of henna was formerly asSidu-
ously avoided by any who did not wish to
turn their locks to unhOly shade of
red, and generally relegated to Algiers,
where the women prize it to dye the left
hand and the fingernails of the right. Only
is this practice saved from being barbaric
by the extreme eXclusiveness of its patrons.
Today, on the contrary, We hear of dyes
that are actually beneficial to the hair,
causing it to thrive with new vigor and
been discovered that henna, through Sc
cret of application, is capable of turning
the hair not only to red, but to a most
ravissante brown, casting at the same time
innumerable lights of gold and red, and
absolutely defying detection by any ex-
cepting friends of Extensively good men,
orieS.
Henna is the Stuff.
But henna, from the beginning of things
the benefactress of oriental women, is not
to be lightly dealt with by modern products
of civilization. The French, besides with
the people of the east, seem to hold closely
the secret of its best use. To Paris, then,
must both the English and American
women go whenever they wish to have
their gray hairs hidden by it, or more be-
coming lights cast over unattractive locks.
Before the first application Of the famous
herb by a well-knOwn coiffeuse $50 francs,
about $50 in American money. must be
resigned, and in the performance three NOR
tai hours are consumed. Bravery and
faith, indeed, are required to pull one
through this trying time After the stuff,
in the form of a paste, looking like melted
chocolate, has repeatedly been rubbed
through the hair with a fiat camel's hair
brush at intervals of about fifteen minutes,
a series of scrubbings and douches takes
place, second to none.
cOmical picture is then presented by the
seeker after beauty, as, muffied in towels,
she leans from a low chair We'll over the
bathtub's side, her hair falling forward into
it's depth, and with attendants on either
side of her alternately emptying great
pitchers of cold water over her head. The
fluid which thus the water brings out of
the hair, and seen in the bottom of the
tub is greenish and oily and not in the
least suggestive of future lovely results.
After such a treatment it is assured that
the hair will remain intact for six months
that is with the aid of slight touchings up
from the bottle Of stuff, in exchange for
80 francs, is usually carried away from the
hairdresser's. About $50 year, outside of
travelling expenses, must therefore be re-
garded as the cost of keeping a head dipped
after the most approved method.
Head of the List.
Several American women, the list headed
by Mrs. Astor are known to go regularly
to Paris for this pre-eminent purpose, while
in much greater numbers naturally the
English women cross the channel. 1t may
here also be said en- passant that it is ac-
counted a good thing to get from the seat
of fashion the latest and most becoming
way OF wearing the hair. This at present in
Paris is regarded as being partly on top
of the head, to retain the pompadour ef-
feet, while the rest is placed in coils a lit
tie lower down the back. 1t is still the
fashion to have the hair well undulated.
The more costly and numerous the shell
ornaments the head can carry the better
pleased also Is Dame Fashion. Even the
high combs OF tortoise shell used long ago
are now thought very modsh to fill the
gap between the front and back arrange
ment Of the hair. Indeed a good deal of
attention is paid by recherche women to
the style and sizes of the combs they Sc
lect. Above all else, 1t Is essential that they
should fit we'll the head. BY this means Is
comfort secured and the chances of losses
much leSSened.
That imitation amber decorations are
prone to turn blonde hair to greenish is be-
coming known, and therefore those having
this color would do well to buy the real
article, which unfortunately is prohibitiyely
costly to many, or else to provide them
selves with tortoise shell of palest possible
hue Mothers even, on account Of its dis
colorations, are avoiding the Of amber
combs for their infants soft down.