Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-18
Be Real
Kind to the
Scalp
BY WOODS HUTCHINSON, M. D.


when washing the head is that the
soap shall not be too strong that is
to say, contain too much alkali, as
this excess will proceed to make
soap" with the natural oil OF the
hair and scalp and wash it out, leav-
ing both the scalp and hair hard
and dry. This can be tested by trying
it on the hands. Any soap which lath-
ers too freely, though it may be excel
lent for the washtub or kitchen floor,
should not be used upon the human
skin. Also another straw is that the
lighter the cake OF soap feels in the
hand and the more nearly it will float
in water, the milder and safer for
toilet use it is usually, as this means
It contains plenty of fat and not
too much alkali
For the perfect ventilation of the
scalp the best and most perfect in
strument ever invented is the hair
brush in the proportion of one part
Of bristles to three OF elbow
grease This scalp-saving combina-
ton works partly by lifting and fluff
ing up the hair from the scalp so as
to allow free circulation of air,
partly by stimulating the circulation
Of the scalp by gently pulling at the
roots of the hair, and lasts, but not
least, by brushing out of the hair
any dust or dirt or superAuous oil
that may be in it, or any scales which
the hair has lifted up from its root
sheath.
1t is not best to try to reach the
surface OF the scalp at every stroke,
nor to use too stiff brush, because
the hair and scalp form curious
self-cleaning combination, in that the
hair, although apparently so glossily
smooth, is really covered with tiny
scales which point upward and thus
carry up and out as they grow any
thing which may have got into the
roots Of the hair'bulbs or onto the
surface Of the scalp. So that trying
to brush the scalp itself is unneces-
sary and may easily do more harm
than good,
Use no brush sitter, or harder,
than you can comfortably use on the
back Of your hand for this sort OF
"currying," which should form nine
tenths OF your brushing. although Of
course for simply parting or smooth
ing and disentangling hair, or for a
brief glow" sitter brush may also
be used. As a general thing, wire
brushes do more harm than good to
the scalp.
For the exercise i OF the scalp,
fingers were made not only before
forks but before brushes, combs OF
masseurs. Unfortunately, the habit
OF rubbing or scratching the head has
fallen into esthetic and conventional
direpute, both on account Of its un-
couthness and OF the transient popu-
lation OF undesirable citizens" which
it is supposed to imply, But any
thing which gives US as much comfort
and satisfaction as thorough rubbing
and scratching OF the head does is
pretty likely to have something good
IL it. Fortunately. there is much in
a name, and when we change the title
OF this uncouth and uncultured pro-
ceeding to massage" It becomes
process OF high hygienic value at
once.
Thorough and vigorous massage Of
the scalp for ten or fifteen minutes
both night and morning with those
best OF rollers or vibrators ever yet
invented, the tips Of the fingers, is Of
great value in keeping the scalp, and
through it the hair, in healthy condi-
ton, 1t is best done either just before
or just after retiring at night and just
before rising III the morning, This for
the reason that ii is an admirable
means both OF soothing your nerves
down for quiet sleep at night and,
carried out in more staccato fashion,
Of rubbing yourself awake" in the
morning. Also because il is much less
muscular effort, especially for women
who are not IN vigorous physical
training, to put the hands up to the
! head and keep them there during the
1 ten minutes or so OF active finger
movements when lying down than
when standing or sitting,
7 The one condition which threatens
progressive and advancing loss of hair
is thinning OF the scalp and tighten
-, ing Of it down to the skull, with alb.
( sorption OF the fatty cushion layer
underneath it. And the best known
method OF either preventing or check
ing this wasting away and shrinking
down change is vigorous massage OF
| the scalp. pushing it backward and
| forward and from side to side over the
smooth skull surface beneath.