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Hair Dyes.The change in color, whereby the hair becomes gray, is usually a gradual process ; yet instances occur in which the hair becomes suddenly gray in the course of a few months. This is apt to hap pen after some severe acute illness, such as scarlet fever. There is .a 'popular belief that in consequence of violent emotion, such as fright, the hair can become suddenly gray. It is said that Marie Antoinette experienced such a sudden change in the color of the hair in consequence of the terror inspired by the horrors of the French Revolution. But little reliance can be placed upon such legends ; yet there are well authenticated instances in which the hair has, in the course of a few days, exhibited a decided change in color. In one case the hair became suddenly gray during an attack of acute mania ; in another the hair of a soldier, which had been black before a battle, was found to be gray after the conflict. The prevalence of grayness of the hair has occasioned an immense demand for hair dyes ; and enormous quantities of mixtures are sold under various names for this purpose. All of these are compounds either of lead or of nitrate of silver or of sulphur. Of these three substances the least injurious is undoubtedly sulphur ; yet sulphur alone is not always reliable for the purpose desired. Even sulphur, when used in excess, can be decidedly injurious to the system ; the nitrate of silver affects the general system sooner than sulphur, and has the disadvantage that it colors the skin as well as the hair. The most injurious of all is the lead, which is not infrequently the cause of lead poisoning, indicated by severe attacks of colic and by paralysis, as has been described in previous pages. In order to indicate to the reader the composition of the ordinary hair dyes, the following analyses, made by an eminent British chemist, are presented : Sample No. /, Hair Restorer.-The sample examined consisted of a colorless fluid and a grayish yellow deposit. The deposit consisted almost entirely of sulphur, with a minute quantity of carbonate of lead. The solution contained acetate of lead and glycerine. In a bottle containing ten fluid ounces, forty-four and eight-tenths grains of sulphur, and lead corresponding to twenty-one and eight-tenths grains of the acetate of lead, were found. Sample No. 2} Hair Restorer. -The bottle examined contained eight and one-half fluid ounces of mixture, composed, like the last, of a colorless fluid and a yellowish gray powder, this latter consisting of sulphur, with a trace of carbonate of lead, the solution containing acetate of lead and glycerine. The results of an analysis of the contents of the eight and one-half ounce bottle indicated seventy-five and six-tenths grains of sulphur, and an amount of lead corresponding to eighty-seven grains of acetate of lead. Sample No. j, Hair Restorer. - Like the preparations previously noticed, this consisted of a colorless fluid and a yellowish gray deposit, and also contained the same ingredients - sulphur, acetate of lead and glycerine, the deposit in this case being pure sulphur. A bottle containing eight fluid ounces furnished eighty-one and eight-tenths grains of sulphur, and lead corresponding to fortyfive and one-tenth grains of acetate of lead Another preparation was found to be similar to the others, the deposit containing sulphur, sulphate of calcium, and a trace of sulphate of lead, the solution containing acetate of lead, glycerine and a trace of acetate of calcium, in distinguishing this preparation by the epithet vegetable, the maker has allowed his inventive faculty to overstep the bounds of truth, and has given moralists another instance of the common commercial practice of calling things by their wrong names. A bottle containing six fluid ounces furnished seventy and two-tenths grains of sulphur, mixed with sulphate of calcium ; also,, lead corresponding to fifty and eight-tenths grains of lead. As a matter of fact no hair dye has been invented which is absolutely free from injurious effects. The numerous compounds advertised as " purely vegetable " dyes, are found upon analysis to contain one of the three substances named, as reported in the above analyses. Yet various vegetable substances are capable of affording materials which can be used as hair dyes. Among these is an extract made from walnuts. A few formulae are appended as examples of hair dyes : Pyrogallic acid, - Fifteen grains. Pyroligneous acid, - - An ounce and a half. Rectified spirits, - An ounce and a half. This mixture is to be marked number one. Nitrate of silver, - Fifty grains. Distilled water, - Three ounces. Dissolve, then add a solution of strong ammonia until the cloudiness which appears at first disappears again. This is to be marked number two. The hair should be thoroughly washed with soap and water, and then number one should be applied by means of a piece of flannel. Immediately thereafter number two should also be used to wash the hair. Another formula is the following : Nitrate of silver, - One drachm. Acetate of lead, -"--"- Twelve grains. Distilled water, - Four ounces. Still another may be made with lead alone : Sugar of lead, - Forty grains. Glycerine, - One ounce. Distilled water, - Five ounces. In certain Oriental countries the use of hair dyes seems to be almost universal. The following account of the custom in Persia is taken from Neumann's Treatise on Diseases of the Skin : " In Persia the hair remains black from childhood to old age, as the result of the use of dyes. These are always employed in the so-called Turkish bath. The process is as follows : First, after remaining for a short time in the bath, the hair is well soaked and washed with water, whereby it is cleansed from fat. Second, they take some henna powder, mix it with warm water till it attains the consistency of cream ; this is then smeared upon the hair. This paste is. allowed to remain upon the hair for more than an hour, and is then washed off with warm water. It will now be observed that the hair which was previously of a light color has acquired a dark orange or saffron color. After this the powdered leaves of the indigo plant are rubbed into a paste with water, and the hair is again smeared. This paste remains for an hour and a quarter and is then washed off. The dyeing process is now complete, though the dark hue appears in the hair only several hours later through oxidation of the indigo. " If it is desired to color the hair not black, but chestnut brown, they take one part of the henna and three parts of the pulverized indigo leaves. These are smeared upon the hair after the fat has been removed with soap and water, as in the former case. The longer this paste lies the darker is the shade. One hour is usually enough to produce a light brown color, and an hour and a half for the dark brown. If the first dyeing be found too light, the paste must be renewed. " Since both powders, henna and indigo, are quite harmless, even upon accidental contact with the eyes, their employment causes no injury to the body or to the hair. The Persians, indeed, maintain that this dyeing process strengthens the scalp, a statement which they seek to prove by the fact that baldness is a rare occurrence among them. , " The henna retains its power a long wThile, but the indigo powder takes up moisture and then becomes weak in color. The result is that the powder when exported from Persia is usually quite useless upon its arrival. According to Pollak, a substitute can be prepared as follows: Take eight grains each of pulverized commercial indigo, grape sugar, and a meal made from peas or beans; mix these with two ounces of water and add a little yeast. Put the vessel in a warm place, and employ the liquid for dyeing purposes only when fermentation is going on. After the hair has been smeared once or twice with henna, this fermenting liquid can be applied, with the production of more or less dark color. As the process is a tedious one, it is better adapted for ladies, since their hair will need a repetition of the process only after several months. It is self-evident that the fermenting indigo liquid must be prepared fresh for every dyeing, since the dye disappears so soon as the liquid ceases to ferment. " But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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