508 



HAIR-EEL 



HAIR MANUFACTURES 



solution of some metallic salt known to have the 

 effect of darkening its colour, such as salts of 

 silver, mercury, lead, and bismuth. Pyrogallic 

 acid is also employed to give a brown tint, while 

 a solution of peroxide of hydrogen in water im- 

 parts a fine golden colour. The most perfect 

 mode of dyeing the hair black is that of pre- 

 viously preparing it by a complete soaking with 

 a solution of sulphide of potassium ; the strength 

 of this solution must depend on the depth of tint 

 intended to be given ; the stronger the solution the 

 darker the colour will be. When thoroughly 

 wetted, the hair is allowed to dry partially ; and 

 whilst still damp it is to be saturated with a solu- 

 tion of nitrate or silver, of a strength proportionate 

 to the depth of colour desired. This makes a 

 very permanent dye, which only requires renewing 

 where the new growth of hair becomes conspicuous. 

 The fashion of dyeing the hair is very ancient, and 

 belongs as much to savage as to civilised nations ; 

 but in the case of the former vegetable dyes have 

 been chiefly used. In China and other eastern 

 countries the juice of the petals of Hibiscus Tri- 

 onum, the Bladder- Ketmia, and probably other 

 species of Hibiscus, is in general use. 



The detection of stained hair is sometimes an 

 object of medico-legal investigation. Lead may be 

 detected by boiling the hair in dilute nitric acid, 

 and then applying the tests for Lead ( q. v. ) to the 

 acid solution ; while the presence of silver may be 

 shown by digesting the hair in dilute hydrochloric 

 acid or chlorine water, when the resulting chloride 

 of silver may be dissolved out with a solution of 

 ammonia, and submitted to the ordinary tests for 

 Silver (q.v. ). 



Hair-eel, the form into which horse-hairs left 

 to soak in running water are preposterously 

 assumed by many to develop. The hair-eel or 

 horse-hair worm is really a Nernatode (q.v.); see 

 also EEL, THREAD-WORMS. > 



Hair Grass (Aira), a genus of grasses, having 

 delicately panicled inflorescences, bearing spikelets 

 with two unequal glumes, and two perfect flowers, 

 each with two thin membranous bracts, of which 

 the outer is generally awned. The species are 

 natives of temperate and cold climates. Five 

 species are natives of Britain, and are chiefly found 

 in moors, sandy pastures, and other situations 

 where the soil is unfertile. The Tufted Hair Grass, 

 or Turfy Hair Grass (A. ccespitosa], common in 

 better pastures and meadows, is a beautiful grass 

 when in flower, but forms coarse tufts of very 

 rough leaves, which are usually rejected by cattle. 

 It attains a height of 2 to 4 feet, and is sometimes 

 used for thatching ricks of hay or corn, and in some 

 places for making mats. It grows luxuriantly in 

 moist situations, and indicates a badly drained 

 soil. It is occasionally tolerated, in order to add 

 to the bulk of Bog Hay in moorish grounds, but is 

 carefully extirpated wherever agricultural improve- 

 7nent takes place. This grass is, however, some- 

 times sown to form cover for game, particularly 

 hares ; and in marshy situations for snipes and 

 wild fowl. It is the windlestrae of the Scotch. 



Hair manufactures. In this article the 

 various kinds of hair ( except wool ) used in manu- 

 factures are noticed, together with the different 

 fabrics or articles made from them. Remarks 

 on a few of these will be found under ALPACA, 

 BRISTLES, BRUSHES, and FIBROUS SUBSTANCES. 

 For sheep's wool, which like fur is modified hair, 

 and the similar animal fibres mohair and alpaca, 

 see WOOLLEN CLOTH MANUFACTURE. Fur skins 

 used for articles of dress in their natural con- 

 dition, with just sufficient treatment to preserve 

 them, are described under FUR ; while the employ- 

 ment of wool, fur, and hair in the manufacture of 



felted goods is noticed under the headings FELT 

 and HAT. 



Human Hair. The trade in Britain in this is 

 considerable, supplies of it being chiefly obtained 

 from continental Europe, India, and China. The 

 hair shipped from Asiatic countries is coarse, that 

 from Germany and Scandinavia is light-coloured, 

 and that collected in Italy and southern France is 

 dark. In former years an occasional supply of good 

 quality was got from Ireland. Hair 8 inches long 

 is worth about Is. per ounce, while such as extends 

 to the length of 3 feet sometimes reaches as high 

 a price as 30s. per ounce. Certain colours, such as 

 pure golden, are of greater value than more common 

 kinds, and hair from the living subject is much 

 better than dead hair. Human hair is worked up 

 into watch-guards, brooches, bracelets, and other 

 personal ornaments, the patterns of which are often 

 very beautiful. In the article WlG this and other 

 imitations in hair of the natural covering of the 

 head are noticed. 



Horse-hair. The comparatively small quantity 

 of this hair obtained in England is got from the 

 combings of tails and manes, but it is of excellent 

 quality. Horse-hair is imported from Russia, Ger- 

 many, Belgium, South America, and Australia ; the 

 imports for the five years ending 1888 averaging 

 nearly 20,000 cwt. annually. The United States 

 import hair to the value of from 1\ to 1\ million 

 dollars annually ; exporting a value of from 350,000 

 to 420,000 dollars. Hair combed from the tails of 

 horses is the most valuable, that from the mane 

 being of inferior quality. The former is designated 

 'hard,' and the latter 'soft,' while the hair is 

 further distinguished by the terms ' live ' and 

 ' dead,' according as it has been taken from the 

 animal before or after death. ' Live ' hair com- 

 mands the highest price. White is the most valu- 

 able kind as regards colour, as it is suitable for 

 dyeing bright tints, and the best hair is obtained 

 from wild horses. 



Horse-hair undergoes three, sortings viz. into 

 sorts according to length, into different colours, and 

 into various qualities. After this the hair is washed 

 generally in warm soap baths and in water slightly 

 heated, to which lime or potash has been added. 

 The hair, except the white sort, which is to be 

 bleached, is, after cleaning passed through a dye 

 bath in which logwood is the chief ingredient. 

 Short hair being used for stuffing in upholstery 

 work, and long hair chiefly for the manufacture of 

 haircloth, the two kinds after the above treatment 

 undergo different processes. 



Short horse-hair, although best for the purpose 

 when used alone, is nevertheless mixed with cow 

 and pig hair for stuffing chairs, sofas, and the like. 

 Different blends of these are made, and the three 

 kinds thoroughly incorporated by suitable machines, 

 after which the mixture is beaten and screened to 

 clear it of dust. Then follows the ' curling ' pro- 

 cess, by which the hair is first spun into ropes, 

 which are next twisted into much shorter lengths, 

 and by a third operation further twisted till they 

 get into a convolute shape. The curl thus given 

 requires to be fixed by placing the hair in cold 

 water for several hours, and afterwards in an oven, 

 where it is kept for some time at a high tempera- 

 ture. This baking also destroys the eggs of obnox- 

 ious insects. The hair in this rope form requires to 

 be teased up for use. For inferior stuffing vege- 

 table fibres are now mixed with hair. 



Haircloth. Long horse-hair is combed on steel 

 combs, and separated into different lengths and 

 thicknesses, about 3 feet being the longest size. 

 The chief application of long hair is in the manu- 

 facture of haircloth, which is generally though not 

 always black. Even when naturally black the hair 

 is dyed to give it a uniform colour. White hair is 



