Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-22
Taking Care of the Hair.

Taking Care of the Hair.
Beautiful hair adds to the attractions
of pretty face, and half redeems a
plain one. No part Of the body requires
more attention than the hair, and yet,
while pains are bestowed upon the COM
plexion, the hands or the figure, this
adjunct of beauty is frequently almost
neglected. One of the consequences of
this is that at least seventy per cent of
the applications for advice to the toilet
columns of ladies' papers are upon the
subject of the hair. Premature gray
ness, badness, dandruff and the thou
sand and one troubles to- which the hair
is subject, may be traced, as a rule.
directly or indirectly, to want of suffi-
cient care in keeping the scalp in a
healthy condition.
In order to secure thorough clesnli-
ness, it is not necessary to indulge in
daily, or even weekly, ablutions, for it is
quite possible to wash the hair too much
good comb and brush are excellent
agents to employ for the purpose of
keeping it clean, vigorous and healthy.
The comb is intended for the hair only,
and not for the scalp, its mission being
to remove all tangles by separating the
individual hairs and preventing their
becoming matted together.
The hair should be brushed we'll night
and morning with brush containing
moderately stiff bristles, which should
always be kept most scrupulously clean.
This process of brushing the hair should
be done as firmly and gently as possible,
SO as to ensure cleanliness and smooth
ness, and at the same time avoid any
injury to the scalp. Very stiff or wire
bristles should be carefully avoided.
Take care not to 60 at it too strenu-
ously; brush gently but firmly, and from
the roots to the ends, with single
sweep of the arm.
Above all, the brush must be i'm
maculately clean and only frequent
dipping in ammonia and water will
keep it in proper condition.
To arrest falling hair, cure dandruff
and start new growth of hair on the
head there is nothing like massage. In
two or three weeks, if the hair is mas
saged every night with some good tonic,
wonderful improvement will be seen.
To massage, begin at the eyes, temples
and behind the ears, and gently draw
the hands upward to the crown of the
head, rubbing the tips of the fingers in a
circular movement.
The hair is parted every little space, SO
that the scalp may easily be reached
without getting the tonic on the hair.
The tonic is then worked into the scalp
by massage. With the thumbs held at
the back of the head at the base, the
finger tips are pressed gently and firmly
on every inch of the scalp.
Trained hands possess soothing
touch, which not only invigorates the
scalp, but relieves tense nerves and
smooths away distracting headaches.
One of the most soothing treatments
known is to battle the head in camomile
tea, an old fashioned remedy yet not
without its merits.
An inexpensive and efficacious hair
grower is made from pure castor oil
two ounces) and eau de cologne Sixteen
ounces.) If the spirit is of the proper
strength the oil is freely dissolved in it.
Cleanliness of the scalp is absolutely
essential to the health and beauty of the
hair, but a thorough shampoo once in
three or four weeks and nightly brush
ing with perfectly clean bristle brush
are quite sufficient in ordinary cases.
When exposed to an unusual amount OF
dust, the hair should be protected by a
covering.
An excellent shampoo is made by
shaving fine cake of pure olive-oil soap
into quart of boiling water. 1t may be
perfumed, if so desired. When cold ii
will be about the consistency of jelly.
When needed for shampooing take
about two tablespoonfuls of the mixture
and add small lump of soda, about the
size Of filbert.
An excellent remedy for removing
dandruff can be made by taking half a
teaspoonful of borax and a heaping tea
spoonful of common sulphur. Pour
over them a pint of boiling water and
when cool bottle. Shake frequently for
three or four days and then strain.
Moisten the scalp with this four times
week.-Ex.