All about hair tonics

• Have they any value?
• When harmful and when beneficial.
• Most hair tonic claims false.

Of all the fakers on the face of the earth, the bald-headed faker that attempts to sell a remedy guaranteed to cure baldness is one of the very worst.

The tone of the hair depends upon the thickness of the layer of tissue between the scalp and the tables of the skull—as I have said repeatedly—upon the freedom of the scalp from parasites and germs, and upon the general state of the health.

If the "tonic" contains an antiseptic powerful enough to destroy parasites and germs, without at the same time causing any destruction of the delicate tissue of the scalp, that "tonic" may be said to have some reason for existence, and its use on these premises may be justified.

If, however, there is any parasitic trouble, and the tight, shiny condition of the scalp shows the loss of the tissue layer, it is obvious that no tonic in the world is going to restore and make good this loss of the layer of tissue, upon which the hair bulb depends for its nutrition.

Irrespective of whether the general health is good or not, if the layer of tissue is lost, no amount of rubbing on the surface of the scalp with the contents of a bottle of hair tonic is going to be effective in restoring the lost hair.

By all means improve the condition of the blood, secure thorough cleanliness of the scalp, and use every means for stimulating and increasing the circulation at the roots of the hair. Doing this, you may be sure that you have employed the very finest "tonic" in the world.

It may be possible, however, frequently to bring about a better circulation of blood in the scalp through the use of stimulating lotions, ointments and washes, though I do not recommend them. Perhaps one of the best of these is the prescription of a famous hair specialist, which consists of :

• Tincture of Cantharides
• Tincture of Capsicum
  of each one and one-half ounces.
• Castor Oil, two drams
• Cologne Water, one ounce

These should be mixed together, and a small amount vigorously brushed into the scalp once or twice each day for a week or more, after which it may be used somewhat less frequently.

Instead of a lotion, ointments may be employed, if preferred. The following ointment is reputed to be an exceptionally good formula, and has been used with great success, not only by hair specialists in the treatment of diseases of the scalp.

This ointment consists of :

• Beta Napthol, 30 grains
• Vaseline, one-half ounce
• Oil of Bergamot, 30 minims

This should be rubbed thoroughly into the scalp twice a day, just as with the lotion, and is particularly effective in the treatment of scalps that have a dry, scaly tendency.

The question of hair tonics is one which has excited a very great deal of controversy. Startling claims have been made for the efficacy of many of these formulae, great advertising campaigns have been conducted, in stimulating their use, and many bitter tears of anguish have been shed over their failure to yield successful results.

Yet, when all the hurly-burly's done, and the smoke of battle clears away, the conclusion is forced on us that if there were any "sure fire" tonics, the bald-headed doctors and the bald-headed barbers who are so skilful in prescribing and so insistent in recommending them, would use a little on their own bald pates and thereby prove the virtue of the product the praises of which they sing in such a robust key.