Potassium permanganate hair dye.—Potassium permanganate 5 ozs., distilled water 2 quarts. Crystallized potassium permanganate dissolves with great ease in water to a deep violet fluid. By bringing the solution in contact with an organic substance—paper, linen, skin, horn, hair—it rapidly discolors, imparting to the substances a brown color, which originates from peroxide of manganese. Free the hair from fat by washing, and apply the dilute solution with a soft brush. The color appears immediately, and according to the degree of dilution, all shades of color from blonde to darkest brown may be produced with this perfectly harmless agent. It may, of course, also be used for dyeing the beard.
Bismuth hair dye.—Subnitrate of bismuth 10 parts, 10 per cent. solution of potassa and citric acid each a sufficient quantity, glycerin 150 parts, water sufficient to make 300 parts. Intimately mix the subnitrate of bismuth and the glycerin by trituration, then heat the mixture in a water-bath, and gradually add to it solution of potassa, under constant stirring, until the bismuth salt is dissolved. Next add a concentrated solution of citric acid until only a slight alkalinity remains. Finally add enough water to make 300 parts, and perfume according to preference.
Walnut hair dye.—Bruise 40 parts of fresh green walnut peel with 5 parts of alum, digest with 200 parts of olive oil until all moisture has been dissipated, strain and perfume the oil according to preference.
Pyrogallic hair stain.—Pyrogallic acid ½ oz., water 3 ozs., alcohol 1 oz. This liquid gives a dark brown color.
B. Double Hair Dyes.—These and similar hair dyes consist of two preparations, kept in bottles I and II. The bottle II, which serves for the reception of the silver preparation, must be of blue or black glass, since silver salts are decomposed by light. For use, pour some of the fluid in bottle I into a cup, and moisten the hair with it by means of a soft brush. Then pour the fluid in bottle II into another cup, and apply it with another brush.
For dyeing brown. I (in the white bottle).—Liver of sulphur 7 ozs., alcohol 1 quart. II (in the dark bottle). Nitrate of silver 4 ozs., distilled water 1 quart.
For dyeing black. I (in the white bottle).—Liver of sulphur 8 ozs., alcohol 1 quart. II (in the dark bottle).—Nitrate of silver 5 ozs., distilled water 1 quart.
Liver of sulphur is a leather-brown mass, readily soluble in water. The solution has to be filtered before it is brought into the bottles. By bringing the solutions together black sulphide of silver is formed, which effects the dark coloration of the hair. After using the dye, a disagreeable odor of stale eggs adheres to the hair, which is, however, readily removed by washing.
The silver hair dyes may also be made by preparing the fluid in bottle II as follows: Add drop by drop water of ammonia to the silver nitrate, kept constantly agitated until the precipitate formed is redissolved.