The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-10-08
The Care of the Hair.

The beauty and growth of the hair
depend upon the health of the entire
body in general and that of the scalp
In particular It's nourishment is
derived entirely from the blood, and
consequently its health is dependent
upon the condition of the blood and
its free circulation through the scalp.
IL on account of Illness, dyspepsia,
rheumatism, govt, constipation, or
nervous strain, the blood has been
impoverished. 1t is not surprising
that the hair and scalp should be
among the first of the minor organs
to show lack Of vitality. II one is
convinced that there Is some serious
disease OF the scalp, 1t is wise to con-
suit a physician without loss of time
this time a reliable hair specialist,
since a delay may make a cure very
difficult.
Before coming to either of these
conclusions, however, it is advisable
to be perfectly sure that the trouble
Is not caused primarily by lack of
normal care and cleanliness of the
scalp. Clogged pores and glands and
a torpid condition of the circulatory
system may lie at the base of all the
trouble. Congestion is as great a
breeder of disease In the scalp as
elsewhere
The ounce of prevention lies in
good general health and the regular
washing and massaging of the scalp.
The necessity for cleanliness should
be imperative for it's own sake, but
II not for its own sake, for the sake
or the clogged pores and sluggish
circulation which are at the root of
disease. No mistaken theories could
persuade us, at least hope not, that
the skin on the rest of the body
should be left unwashed for weeks
or months. We are all gullible when
listening to the magic wisdom of
science, but an admonition of this
Kind would find us quickly restored
10 common sense. Why should our
common sense not tell us that not
only the dust and dirt of the atmos-
phere are settling into all the meshes
OF our hair daily and hourly, even
more than they are going through
our clothing, but that the cuticle of
the scalp is throwing off its dead
scales, and the perspiration and oil
glands are pouring forth their con-
tributions all the time as much as
upon any other part of the skin?
1t Is not necessary to wash the
scalp as frequently as the rest of the
body, because the hair protects it
somewhat from atmospheric dust and
dirt. We can If we will, under nor
NAL conditions, brush a large part
OF this dirt out each night. If, how
ever. the hair is thin so that the dirt
reaches the scalp easily, and If it is
also oily so that 1t clings to it, fire.
Quent washing is required. The nor.
NAL time Is once In two weeks. It
should never be longer than four
weeks and never less than one, ex-
cept under the orders of a physician.
The simplest, safest, and most eff
fective shampoo consists of luke
warm-soft water, olive-oil soap, and
pinch of borax to a large basin
full of water. The stronger alkalis,
such as bicarbonate of soda, potash,
and ammonia are dangerously dry
ing. Olive oil soap Or another soap
equally pure, combined with the
warm water, is sometimes enough
without the borax, but when the hair
is very oily 1t is not quite drying
enough, and the borax is needed
Borax is much better for the hair
than strong alkali soap. The water
should never be too hot nor too cold