Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/282

 Dissolve three ounces of clean powdered gum-arabic in half a pint of rose-water. Strain and add sufficient aniline red (about one drop of the solution) to give it a rosy color. This not only fixes the hair in place, but lends it a peculiar brilliant gloss, very attractive. It is similar to the celebrated Crême de mauve, which is after all nothing but glycerine scented with extract of jessamine, and colored with aniline red. The striking tint which it gives the hair rendered it quite popular at once.

A small quantity of powdered alum is sometimes added to either of the above receipts, in order to render them still stronger, but usually they will be found to answer perfectly without this ingredient.

For the same purpose, hairdressers frequently employ what are called hard or stick pomatum (bâtons fixateurs). They are of wax with more or less animal fat, and scented and colored in various manners. Usually they are not injurious, but they leave a greasy appearance, and are inferior to the bandolines above mentioned.

Ladies need not be informed that to curl the hair, curling sticks and curl papers are the usual methods. The latter should not be wound too tight, as the strain upon the roots of the hair is hurtful to its growth. By judiciously using the mucilaginous washes just described, the hair will remain in curl or in waves without such violence being required.