“NO MORE FALSE HAIR."
The crusade against false hair has commenced in several Parisian journals, and “No More False Hair” is a very frequent heading. Fortunately no one re-echoes this cry. These writers not only demand a total disappearance of false hair, but they also advise ladies to have their hair cut “a la Titus.” The Paris coiffeurs energetically protest against this heresy, this outrage, as it were, against reason and good taste. But that alone is not sufficient; English hairdressers, as well as those of every civilised country, ought to coalese against the common enemy ; they should be on their guard in reference to this idle talk, which some ladies might take to be in earnest, and that- would seriously injure their trade by withdrawing for a time at least one of its most important branches. In order that hairdressers may know what fo do under these circumstances it is right that I should place the matter before them, so that they may provide an efficient remedy. The following extracts could have been read during last month in several journals;— r • “ A change has just been made in,the coiffuer of women. The style of wearing the hair ‘a la Titus,’ adopted by' several ladies of fashion, marks the beginning of a reaction which will be completed before long.” “Women of common sense incline toward the exclusive use of the natural hair, arid the following motives of indisputable value have led them to it. Science has victoriously demonstrated that the use of false hair was to bo deplored from a sanitary point of view. Whenever it is applied it creates a dangerous heat, intercepting the perspiration, so necessary to the growth of the hair ; it tires the head by its weight, and produces nervous headache. It is the cause of most illness from -which women suffer.” “ The more they have recourse to this auxiliary coiffuer, suggested by clever professionals, and welcomed with an awkward coquetry, the more women lose the chance they would have of reviving the fecundity of the scalp, where, from some cause or other, it has become barren. Science has taught women that the means to get beautiful hair consists in having it frequently cut, air and light being the two principal elements of life.” “ A decisive argument in favor of a complete repudiation of the grotesque chignon in whatever shape it may be used is that it is often the cause of more or less serious quarrels. False hair, considered at its best, is a subterfuge against which the man sooner or later revolts after having succumbed to a fascination which is solely one of surprise.” Now in response to this nonsense I will observe that the fashion of wearing the hair “ a la Titus” has been seen on less than teri fashionable ladies* heads in Paris. The reaction therefore cannot have set in. Women of common sense still wear those high and long coiffures which become them so well ; they con-
tinue to use false hair, which is taken olf every evening, and consequently rests on the head only for a few hours, cannot be injurious to health, and in no wise causes fatigue or oppression. As for the means proposed to get a fine head of hair, viz., to have it cut, I don’t believe a woman would ever consent to the sacrifice of her greatest ornament if she could by any means avoid it. As for the so-called quarrels which false hair is said to have produced, they are simply the inventions of writers hard up for news, who consequently have to invent some ; for everybody knows that men nowadays are fully aware of the nature of the chignon, and that not one has rebelled against this habit which, so to speak, has become an institution and will remain if hairdressers consult their own interests. Meanwhile Paris hairdressers have undertaken to produce ample coift'ucrs only, such as necessitate the use of false hair. For instance, one of the latest inventions is composed ; The front is slightly waved, all the natural hair being fastened on the top, serving also as a foundation for the additional hair, which is placed over it in the shape of soft puffs. A completely dressed chignon, composed of puffs and waves and terminating in long papillotes, on a straight-haired or a large waved catogan, is placed behind. Almost all coiffures, with the exception of some slight variations, are made in this style at present. During the lectures on hair-dressing, which are about to commence, the professors have decided to impose the high and long coiffures this winter. Therefore there are good days coming for the posticho, notwithstanding what its detractors say against it.— Paris correspondent of the London Hairdressers' Chronicle. .
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4987, 17 March 1877, Page 2 (Supplement)
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791“NO MORE FALSE HAIR." New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4987, 17 March 1877, Page 2 (Supplement)
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