Care of healthy hair

• Combing, brushing, washing and cleaning children's, men's and women's hair.
• Sun baths.
• Air baths.
• Effects of massage and mechanical stimulation.

At certain times of the year, as most everyone has noticed, animals "shed their hair." The hair drops out by the handful, and the animal's coat is greatly thinned.

At the same time that the old hair falls out the new hair comes in, and soon the animal's coat is as thick as ever. In human beings there is, instead of a seasonal shedding of the hair, a constant falling, and a new growth replacing the loss-although at certain seasons this process may be more active than at other seasons.

This natural falling comes about because the hair loosens from its papilla, and mounts, or is forced into the middle region of the follicle, from which precarious post of attachment it is brushed or combed out -or it merely drops off.If the rate of replacement can keep pace with the rate of loss, the individual will naturally have a fine crop of hair, as long as he has any use for hair.

But to maintain this condition is a problem. Often it is an unsolvable one. This is especially true if there is a hereditary tendency towards baldness, or toward premature loss of the hair.

I would, therefore, urge upon mothers the necessity of giving careful attention to the condition of the scalp in their children, so that the proper exercise and nutrition of the scalp may be begun at the earliest possible age-before the nutrition of the hair follicle is interfered with, or unfavourably influenced from any cause.

This early attention to the needs of the scalp will be what I might call prophylactic-or preventive-not only to keep the scalp in a healthy condition, but also to prevent the development of any parasitic trouble that might, later on, cause the loss of the hair.

The care of the hair properly commences at birth

Very often hair loss in later life is due to lack of care of the scalp of the infant after birth. I cannot impress too strongly upon mothers the necessity of seeing to it that the greatest possible care in the treatment of the scalps of their babies is exercised at this time.

The very first attention should be directed towards the careful cleansing of the scalp of the baby, freeing it from the tenacious substance, called the "vernix caseosa," that covers the entire scalp of the newly born child.

The first shampoo should be more carefully performed than any shampoo the little individual may ever receive or take during the remainder of its life.

Improper management at this time may bring about a condition very difficult to handle, and that might cause a deal of needless suffering to the child later in life. For it is quite likely to set up a chronic inflammation of the scalp. To remove the fatty layer that covers the scalp and free the sweat glands, only the most gentle methods should be employed.

How to care for baby’s scalp

So have the nurse or attendant saturate the scalp with sweet almond oil, olive oil, or Vaseline. Only the purest oil should be used, although a few drops of bergamot or wintergreen may be incorporated, if a little perfume is desired. Then, after the body of the child is washed and the infant is dressed, the head should be cleansed with a liberal quantity of soap and warm water.

Great care should be taken to use only a pure castile or glycerine soap—either in solid or liquid form. If all the fatty coating is not removed at the first bath, the nurse should apply another application of the oil, and leave this on until the next day, when it will usually wash off quite readily.

If all the coating is not removed at this time, still another application should be made—until the scalp is perfectly cleansed. Under no circumstances should a fine comb be used on a baby's tender scalp as this would work irreparable injury. Serious harm is likely to result therefrom.

For a week or two the infant's scalp should be oiled. This will tend to prevent any accumulation of sebaceous matter. It will also protect the tender skin from the hair, until the hair grows somewhat. Every day the baby's head should be carefully washed, not only for the stimulating value of the cleansing, but also to prevent the oil from becoming rancid.

After the hair is grown it is not necessary to oil the scalp so frequently; nor should it be washed oftener than two or three times a week.

The hair and scalp of children; as well as of adults, must be kept scrupulously clean, so as to prevent the clogging up of the follicles by dust or dirt, and to prevent itching and irritation to the scalp, caused by the presence of the foreign matter. This practice should be religiously followed.

The value of brushing the hair

The value of brushing the hair regularly can hardly be emphasized too strongly. In the hair itself it polishes and will tend to increase very greatly its lustre. But the principal value of the brush lies in the influence of its proper use upon the scalp. Frequently in my writings I have spoken of the value of a friction bath, that is, using brushes over the entire surface of the body, until the circulation has been rapidly accelerated to the surface. As a means of accelerating the circulation of the scalp, hair brushes are of equal, if not greater, value than the use of a brush on other parts of the body.

Brushing should be performed once or twice each day. Special care must be used at first, if the scalp is tender, to avoid too much vigor, though after a time there is but little danger of this.

Some women prefer to use a brush with stiff bristles for removing dandruff, and then use a soft one for polishing and arranging the hair.

How to avoid snarls and tangles

Many women have great trouble while "doing up their hair" to prevent snarls and tangles from developing. If these women would always be careful to divide the hair into strands, and to begin combing at the tip of the hair, taking only a few inches, and gradually work back to the roots, a little at a time, they would avoid much of this trouble.

They should also remember always to unsnarl the hair with the comb before attempting to use the brush. For if they start in with the brush the tendency for the hair to snarl and kink is very much greater.

If you treat your hair regularly to this thorough hygienic cleansing, the hair will usually be lustrous and glossy, and will "lie" naturally, without the use of any water, pomades or "tonics."

The benefits of sun baths

The direct rays of the sun are a tonic of great value for the hair, for they impart a lustre and a richness of colour which can be acquired in no other way. The best time to sun the hair is immediately after washing the scalp. Allow the full rays to fall full upon it while the process of drying and polishing is proceeding. The fine lustre and luxuriance of the hair of many dramatic stars has often been commented upon, and they often accredit the superior condition of their hair as much to the frequency of the sun baths as to the great care taken of it otherwise.

I must caution my too enthusiastic readers, however, against over-exposure of the hair to the direct rays of the sun for too long a period of time. For sunlight has a. tendency, under certain conditions, to bleach the hair, or to "fade" a pronounced brunette. As with every other good thing in life, let "moderation" be your watchword.

The purifying action of oxygen

Fresh air is one of the greatest of all purifying agents, as well as a wholesome tonic to the hair and scalp. To produce that delightfully clean odour that comes from well kept hair, it is not only necessary to maintain scrupulous cleanliness of both hair and scalp, but also to treat the hair and scalp to frequent air baths.

This will prevent that tendency of the perspiration to act upon the oil in the scalp and hair, which is the chief cause of the rancid odour that is found in many otherwise well kept heads. Elderly women and men, who are obliged to wear wigs, should be especially careful to give the scalp a short air bath at least once or twice a day.

Men should insist that their hats be provided with a means of ventilation, for, if no such means are provided, the heated air is confined, and does much to bring about an unhealthy condition of the hair and scalp. A hat should be as light as possible; should not fit too tightly around the head,. and should be ventilated; and even when all these precautions are followed, if one will make a habit of occasionally removing the hat from the head for a moment or two when in the street, the effect will be beneficial.

And finally remember that hats are an abomination—a civilized accompaniment that should be avoided as much as possible if you respect and want to retain your hair.

Scalp massages and its effects

The value of massage as a means of accelerating the circulation is admitted by all. It has been used for centuries. As far back as history dates, there is evidence of the use of rubbing and kneading as a remedy for pain, soreness or fatigue. The fact that it arouses the circulatory system to extreme activity in the parts of the body being treated, is admitted by all physicians and students. Why should not massage be of great value in awakening to greater activity the circulatory system of the scalp? Its value can hardly be questioned. Hence, the importance of massage of the scalp by the various means here recommended must be accurately understood and these measures regularly practiced.

The most effective aid to strengthen the hair, by bringing the blood to its roots in liberal quantities, is to pull it slightly—all over the scalp. This gently raises the scalp from the skull, and at every point where the scalp is thus raised and thickened the circulation is accelerated. The elements needed to feed the hair are taken up in greater quantities, and the result is naturally stronger hair. Great benefits can always be acquired from this pulling process. Nothing gives the scalp the sensation of being so thoroughly and effectively awakened as does this.

How to pull the hair correctly

The proper way to massage the scalp and remove dead hairs by this pulling process, is to insert the spread fingers into the hair as you would a comb, closing them tightly together as they are passed through it. Every part of the scalp must be treated thus; this method not only strengthens the roots and removes all partially dead hairs, but if the "finishing touches" to the drying process after washing are done in this way, it gives the hair a lustre and wavy appearance that can be acquired by no other method.

Partially dead hairs must be removed

Dead hairs should never be allowed to remain in the scalp ; they should be plucked as soon as they can be easily removed. Under these circumstances, if they are removed another hair always grows from the same follicle or root sheath. But if this dead hair is allowed to remain until it falls out on its own accord, it often kills the root, and the hair never grows again. Therefore, when hair shows an inclination to come out in excessive quantities, the first duty is to pull out all that can be easily removed.

Permanent loss of hair caused indirectly by fear of removing dead hair

Thousands of men, and women, too, have suffered from permanent loss of hair simply on account of their extraordinary endeavours to retain dead hair in the scalp the moment that the discovery is made that the hair is coming out in excessive quantities. They are afraid to brush it—afraid to wash the scalp—afraid almost to touch it because of an erroneous impression that these dead hairs should be retained. They use every possible means in their endeavours to retain these hair "corpses," the roots of which in many instances decay and kill the life of germs that otherwise would have blossomed forth into new hairs.

Dead hairs should be plucked out for the same reason that rotten apples are removed from the sound ones—that the corrupting dead is everywhere conveyed from the presence of the living.

A five-minute massage of the scalp, night and morning, using with a rotary motion, the tips of the fingers solidly placed on the scalp, also has a very beneficial effect. Pinching the skin and gently moving every part of the scalp back and forth, to loosen it, also stimulates the circulation in a most effective manner.

Mechanical and electric stimulation

One of the best and most effective methods of massage is by the use of a well made mechanical vibrator, using a broad soft rubber disk. The instrument affords a simple and very definite way to stimulate the circulation of blood in the scalp, and thereby to facilitate the nutrition of the hair follicle.

The violet-ray also has a wide field of usefulness in maintaining a healthy condition of the hair and scalp. The penetrating germicidal effect of the electric ray tends not only to arrest the progress of most scalp disorders, but also refines the texture and quality of the hair itself.

In fact, the direct aid of toilet accessories in the preservation and scientific care of the hair is a matter that concerns every individual who takes the slightest pride in his or her personal appearance.

Unkempt, badly cared-for hair is regarded in polite circles as even worse than a dirty face. So it behooves us to do all in our power to make ourselves at least as beautiful as Nature intended us to be—and even more so, if possible.