90 COSMETICS. 



skin and hair alike. Treating of arsenical solutions applied 

 as hair-dyes, I allowed it to be inferred that they acted by 

 virtue of the naturally evolved sulphuretted hydrogen alone, 

 needing no second application. That is, indeed, the fact, if 

 people so like to employ them ; but artists using these terrible 

 things have usually the sagacity to employ hydrosulphate of 

 ammonia as a mordant, whereby the effect is sooner gained, 

 and the chances of absorption through prolonged application 

 to the skin diminished. 



Any paper on hair cosmetics would be imperfect that 

 should omit to specify certain body paints, not dyes at all, that 

 are frequently used to impart colour to facial hair beards, 

 moustachios, and whiskers. These things are crude and un- 

 philosophical ; they hardly merit our regard. Any possible 

 powder may be mingled with grease and applied to the hair 

 this way washing-blue, were the aspirant so minded, or 

 chimney-soot, or black-lead, or brickdust. There is actually 

 no limit to this sort of application. The individual's taste is 

 all in all. The repertory is large; he may please himself; 

 and he had better please himself, for that will comprise the 

 sum-total of all the pleasure his art is calculated to beget. 



And thus do we conclude the subject of hair-dyes. It is 

 a silly practice, and withal prejudicial. Even the most inno- 

 cent applications known to this end do some harm, and the 

 use of arsenical hair-dyes is too terrible to think about. Better 

 remain as we are than have recourse to these stupid disfigure- 

 ments. In respect to the modern whim of imparting golden 

 hues to the brown hair of brunettes, it is strongly to be ad- 

 vised that the brunette pay regard to the unities : let her get 

 into a chlorine bath, and bleach her skin to match, by all 

 meaps. If a negro can be bleached,* then a brunette a fortiori. 

 It would be painful; but what lady heeds pain inflicted at 

 the beck of fashion ? 



* A dead negro can easily be bleached by immersion in chlorine solu- 

 tion ; the process would kill a living one. 



