Brilliantine No. 3.—Castor oil 10 lbs., pure alcohol 5 lbs., Portugal oil 7 ozs., clove oil 1¾ ozs., petit-grain oil 1 oz., cassia oil 1 oz., citronella oil 11 drachms.
Mix the alcohol and castor oil in a glass-flask, then add the volatile oils and shake vigorously. If the castor oil is pure and genuine, it forms an intimate mixture with the alcohol; if, on the other hand, traces of oil appear on the surface of the fluid, the castor oil is adulterated with other fat oils and unsuitable for this purpose. The castor oil should also be as fresh as possible and, under no conditions, rancid.
If this brilliantine is desired of a somewhat yellowish color, the object may be attained by the addition of sanders-wood tincture or turmeric tincture.
That this brilliantine is of an inferior quality is shown by its composition. It has the further disadvantage that it plasters the hair, especially when the castor oil becomes old. However, there are consumers with whom this quality is quite popular.
The following formulas for brilliantine are taken from various sources:—
I. Veal fat 4 ozs., spermaceti 2 ozs., castor oil 12 ozs., oil of bitter almonds 1 drop, oil of cloves 10 drops, oil of bergamot 20 drops. Melt together the first three ingredients, and add the perfumes when nearly cold.
II. Almond oil 2½ lbs., spermaceti ½ lb., oil of lemon 3 ozs. Melt the spermaceti at a low temperature; add the oil and heat until all flakes disappear. Let the jars into which it is to be poured be warm, and then cool as slowly as possible to insure good crystals.
The following, although somewhat peculiar, is offered as a good brilliantine:—
III. Honey 1 fluid oz., glycerin and Cologne water each ½ fluid oz., alcohol 2 fluid ozs. Mix.
Hair Tonics.—Hair tonics serve for cleansing and invigorating the scalp and for preventing the hair from falling out. Glycerin having a beneficial effect upon the scalp is much used as one of the constituents. The tonics also frequently contain ingredients said to promote the growth of the hair, such as Peruvian bark extract, quinine, tincture of cantharides, and substances containing tannin. Hair tonics containing tincture of cantharides should, however, not be too frequently used, as otherwise an excessive stimulation of the scalp might be the result, which would be more injurious than beneficial to the growth of the hair.