ON THE COMMERCE AND USES OE THE HUMAN HAIR. 441 



The imports of human hair average about 1 5,000lb. weight in a 

 year. Although this small amount of raw material supplies the whole 

 consumption of England, it must not be inferred that it is an insignifi- 

 cant trade ; on the contrary, it gives employment to many thousands of 

 hands in its manufacture from the raw state into wigs, fronts, &c. 



The price varies from 4s. to 30s. per pound for the average qualities, 

 but as high as 80s. is frequently paid for parcels of choice goods even 

 in the raw state. 



Some curious information on "New Manufactures from Human 

 Hair :" will be found in a paper by Mr. W. Danson. Technologist, 

 vol. 2, p. 88. 



France exports a large quantity principally to England. Twenty 

 years ago the exports amounted to about 50,000lb. a year, of the value 

 of one million francs, exclusive of the value of wigs and curls which were 

 set down at another half a million francs. That which is esteemed the 

 best is obtained from the country-women, who wear their hair uncovered, 

 and never curled or much combed. The north of France furnishes the 

 best, but when the crop of Brittany and Normandy is insufficient, the 

 hair collectors invade the central departments, and return to Paris 

 twice a year to effect their sales. The hair of the females in the North 

 of France is finer and more supple, but that of the centre of the empire 

 best retains curl. 



Human hair is an article of commerce in many countries, young 

 women selling their tresses for trinkets and dresses. A head of hair 

 weighs from Jib. to fib. Its wholesale price is from 30s. to 60s. per 

 lb. The light coloured and most valuable hair comes from Germany 

 and the Scandinavian States. The darker shades are supplied by the 

 female peasants of France, from whom the spring harvest of hair is 

 stated to average 200,0001bs. 



The average weight of a French head of hair is five ounces, Italian 

 six ounces, German ten ounces ; but the German hairs seldom come to 

 market in their original condition, being mixed together to conceal the 

 bad colours and inferior qualities. Commercially a head of hair is 

 only the piece which forms the knot at the back of the head ; that 

 which grows on the front is seldom clipped, as it is always much shorter 

 than the back hair, and to cut it would be a disfigurement. 



The preparation of hair into a state suitable for the wig-maker is 

 intricate, and in the hands of a few manufacturers. Some idea of 

 the time and labour bestowed upon it may be gathered from the fact 

 that the price of the raw material is increased from 300 to 500 per cent, 

 even before it passes into the hands of the wig-maker. 



So distinct has Nature made the various nations of the earth that 

 the hair of the inhabitants of different countries can be easily dis- 

 tinguished by the manufacturer ; even where the heads of hair are 

 made to resemble each other externally, the workmen can, it is stated, 

 by the odour, distinguish the products of each country. 



VOL. III. Q Q 



