HAIR DRESSING. As a matter of convenience, as well as of taste and fashion, the dressing of the hair has received much attention in all civilized nations, ancient and modern. The growth of hair on the sides and lower part of the male face has caused some perplexity in management, and as a method of overcoming the difficulty, shaving has been resorted to, although at the sacrifice of what nature gives to distinguish the male from the female countenance, and also to protect the respiratory organs. See BEARD. The Jews, by their scriptural law, were enjoined not to shave. The Romans shaved, and so did their immediate successors, the Itomanized Britons. The Saxons and Dimes did not shave, and wore long hair. The Normans shaved, but they, too, adopted long hair as a fashion ; and from them, and the more modern French, the courtiers and cavaliers of the 17th c. adopted the practice of wearing those flowing " love-locks" which excited the ire of the Puritans. It was, however, in the management of ladies' hair, that the art of the professional hairdresser was in those times mainly exercised. Iu the 18th c.. through the influence of French fashions, the dressing of hair, male and female, roe to a great pitch of extravagance and folly. The hair of a lady of fashion was frizzed up in convolutions and. curls, decorated with ribbons, jewels, and feathers, and filled with pomatuth and powder to a degree monstrous. As women of less exalted rank slavishly attempted to follow these absurdities, the business of dress ing hair was extensively followed. The cost of a full dressing being, however, too ii;gh to belightly incurred, often one dressing was made to suffice for a week or fortnight, during which period such care was taken to preserve the greasy fabric undisturbed, that it became the resort of insects, and how to extinguish these odious pests was in itself a matter of serious concern. From pressure of business, it frequently happened that, previous to balls, ladies' hair had to lie dressed one or two days in advance ; and to keep the head-dress uninjured, the lady sat in a chair perhaps two nights, instead of going to bed. The writer of this has conversed with a lady who in this manner sat up
one night for the sake of her finely powdered and frizzed-up hair. A taxation on hair powder, along with the simplification of fashions consequent on the French revolution, not only expelled hair-powder and perruques, but brought the profession of hair-dresser within reasonable bounds. As regards ladies' hair, fashion is constantly altering ; and at present the chignon, consisting of cushions at the back or top of the head, and cov ered with hair, is gradually giving Way to a system of coils and plaits. With respect to men's hair, short cutting is now universal, and any indulgence in long hair behind is thought to mark a degree of slovenliness or whimsicality of fancy. Pursued as an ordinary business in England and continental countries, hair-dressing in the United States is entirely resigned to men of color, and in connection with many of the hotels they :Ire provided with workrooms.
Innumerable are the oils, essences, and pomades which are vended for the hair, on the assumption that they improve and nourish it. According to the experience of the best perruquiers. all such applications, any unguent in particular, and hdwever sanc tioned by tradition, are injurious. In ordinary circumstances, regular but not violent brushing is preferable for maintaining cleanliness and glossiness. When the head becomes affected with scurf which the brush does not remove, let the following effica cious and simple method of purification be adopted. Beat up an egg, and rub it well in all over the head ; then pour over it warm water, which, while removing the egg, will likewise carry away all the scurf ; lastly, dry thoroughly with a cloth. The head may be hung over a small tub during the process. After this, the hair will be very clean, and will take on a tine gloss with a brush. On no account use sharp combs to clean the head, for they are apt to irritate the roots of the hair, and after all fail in the desired object.