HAIR OILS Use of Hair Oils.—The natural lus ter of the hair is often destroyed by the excessive use of hair oils and similar preparations. The sebaceous glands which secrete an oily sub stance are attached closely to the roots of the hair, and normally sup ply it with sufficient oily matter to keep it in good condition. To pro mote the activity of these glands and to distribute the natural oil evenly to the extremities of the hair is one of the principal objects of brushing. This is why a person whose hair is naturally too oily should refrain from brushing the hair more than is necessary for cleanliness. A multi tude of hair oils and similar prepa rations are on the market, and va rious preposterous claims are set forth by their venders. Many of these contain minerals and other in jurious ingredients, and none of them are equal to the simple preparations which may be compounded at home froth the following recipes. We ear nestly advise against the use of any preparation the ingredients of which are kept a secret, and the quality and condition of which cannot' be definitely ascertained by the user.
The hair is liable to certain abnor mal conditions, as premature gray ness, falling out, dryness and harsh ness caused by the absence of its natural oils, and partial or total baldness. Certain special methods of treatment and remedial agents may properly be employed in such cases, and recipes for compounding these are given below.
Hair Oils. - Preparations recom mended to replace the natural oil of the hair when that is, for any reason, deficient, are based upon various fixed oils, with the addition of essen tial oils as perfumes and various remedial agents. The best quality of hair oil is, perhaps, that based on the oil of ben (which is colorless, odorless, does not become rancid, and therefore requires less perfume than others), olive oil, the oil of sweet alm onds, and castor oil. Cotton-seed oil is employed for the cheaper va rieties. As specific remedial agents they frequently contain cantharides. Alcohol and other spirits are used to cut oils, and also as preserva tives.
Bear's grease was formerly in high approval for this purpose, but mar row oil from beef marrow is equally good and much less expensive, be sides being free from the objection able odor of bear's grease. In fact, the latter is not usually obtainable, as substances sold under that name are largely diluted with various other animal fats. These preparations re quire only mixing and the addition of a few drops of essential oil or other perfumes according to taste. The ex
tent to which they should be used will, of course, depend upon the con dition of the hair and the tastes and preferences of the individual. Their principal use is in cases of unusual dryness or harshness of the hair, or when the natural oil of the hair has been temporarily removed by sham pooing.
To Compound Hair Oils.—Oils pre scribed in these compounds should be first melted together with gentle heat. Next add coloring matter, if any is desired. Now put in remedial agents, add spirits, if any, mix while warm, and allow to cool before adding per fumes.
To Color Hair Oil.—Any desired color may be imparted to oils for the hair by treating the fixed oil used as a base before the other ingredients are added. To accomplish this the olive, cotton-seed, or other oil which is used in the largest quantity in the mixture should be warmed with gen tle heat, the coloring matter added, and the whole simmered without boil ing, until the desired color or a little stronger tint is obtained. This may require from one to two hours. The oil should then be poured into a closed vessel and kept in a warm place for a day or two so that it may be evenly tinged with color. Finally it should be warmed and strained through coarse linen to remove the dregs and to give it brilliancy and luster.
For red, pink, or rose, use alkanet root—about 2 drams to a pint. The trouble of straining the oil may be avoided by putting the alkanet root in a muslin bag and suspending it in the oil, but the former method is to be preferred.
For yellow or orange, use a little annotto or palm oil.
For green, use a little green parsley, or lavender in the same manner, or dissolve 2 or 3 drams of gum guaia cum in each pint of oil as above di rected.
Perfumes for Hair Oils.—Instead of taking the trouble to measure the exact quantities of different perfumes directed to be used in various recipes, many persons select a particular per fume for their own use, or blend two or more essential oils to produce an individual perfume suited to their taste. The combinations of essential oils that may be made up are, of course, countless; but the ones rec ommended elsewhere will serve as suggestions to those interested. An ounce or two of any of these per fumes added to a pint of rectified spirits produces an agreeable per fume or " cologne " for personal use.