It is impossible for a lady to possess anything that so adds to her charms as a good head of hair. “It is a crown of beauty.” This accounts for the enormous amount of advertisements of infallible hair tonics and restorers. Beware of such advertisements. We will give you some few simple and most essential rules to preserve the hair. Also some recipes (easily and cheaply made) of the most excellent pomatums. The skin of the head is delicate, therefore especial care should be taken in brushing the hair, and in keeping the scalp as clean as possible. The brush should be of moderate hardness. The hair should be separated, in order that the head itself may be well brushed, as by so doing the scurf or loose skin will be removed; if suffered to remain it becomes saturated with perspiration, and weakens the roots of the hair, causing it to fall off. To retain a beautiful head of hair, it ought to be brushed twenty minutes in the morning, and ten minutes when dressed in the middle of the day, and a like period at night. In brushing or combing it, begin at the extreme points; and in combing, hold the portion of hair just above that through which the comb is passing firmly, so that if it is entangled, it may drag from that point, and not from the roots. We have known the finest heads of hair ruined by careless combing and breaking the hair.
It depends upon the nature of the hair whether pomatum is required. Those whose hair is naturally oily and glossy need nothing to make it so; but dry hair requires it. Pure salad oil, scented, is excellent, and bear’s grease. An excellent pomade is made of beef’s marrow, after it is clarified; take six tablespoons of the marrow, heated, and six tablespoons of scented castor oil, to one tablespoonful of brandy or rum. Stir these ingredients half an hour, until it is beaten to a cream; then place it in your jars.
8.—CARROT POMADE.
This is another excellent recipe. Two thirds beef’s marrow, one third leaf lard unsalted, one carrot grated fine, simmered together for two or three hours.
These pomades should be applied with the hand or a soft brush, and rubbed into the hair thoroughly. Be careful and not oil the hair often, for an over oiled head is offensive. It is well to rub the hair at night with a piece of flannel, so that the oil used in the day may be removed. Every month the hair should be shampooed. A few drops of ammonia in rain water will cleanse it well; put the whole hair into the solution, and wash it; then cleanse it with clear milk-warm water, and clip all the ends of the hair without fail. Every split end will, if not cut off, deaden the hair. Another good cleansing recipe is, one ounce of powdered borax, a small bit of camphor, dissolved in a quart of boiling water. With any recipe for cleansing, the hair must be rinsed thoroughly with clear spring water. All boys and gentlemen should wash their heads all over, hair and all, every morning, and wear ventilated hats. Gentlemen become bald sooner than ladies from wearing close hats so much.
9.—BANDOLINE.
A French recipe, is excellent—because it is harmless—to use in dressing hair to keep back any refractory locks.
Recipe. Simmer one ounce of quince seed in a quart of water, forty minutes; strain cool, add a few drops of scent, and bottle, corking tightly.
Another way of making “Bandoline” is with Iceland moss. Take a quarter of an ounce, boiled in a quart of water, and a little rectified spirits added, so that it may keep.