1202. Method of Using the Hair Dye

1202.    Method of Using the Hair Dye. The hair (perfectly clean) is first thoroughly wetted to the roots with Solution No. 1, previously diluted with 4 or 5 times its bulk of pure water, or of the highest strength that can be used without irritating the skin, care being taken not to make the hair too wet, as that would interfere with the next operation. A small brush is commonly used for the purpose, and the action and absorption of the mordant is promoted by the free application of the former for a short time. After the lapse of 2 to 5 minutes, the hair is thoroughly but lightly moistened with the dye, or Solution No. 2, by means of a small-toothed comb, or what is more convenient, a half-worn tooth brush, care being taken to touch the skin as little as possible. Any stains left on the skin by accidental contact with the dye, are now removed by rubbing them with a piece of rag or sponge, or the corner of a napkin wetted with a little of the mordant previously diluted with water. After the lapse of a few minutes, the skin is sponged clean with a little warm water, and wiped dry, and the hair arranged with the comb, in the usual manner. It is better to avoid rubbing or washing the hair for a few hours. Sometimes the two operations are reversed, and the dye applied first. The color thus produced is more permanent, but stains on the skin are less easily removed. The whole process, if expertly managed, may be completed in from 10 to 15 minutes.

1203. Hydrosulphate or Hydro-sulphuret of Ammonia

1203.      Hydrosulphate or Hydro-sulphuret of Ammonia (also called sulphuret or sulphide of ammonia), used as a mordant in dyeing the hair with either silver or lead, may be prepared as follows: - Take of sulphur, 1 part; fresh dry hydrate of lime, 2 parts; boil in water sufficient to dissolve the sulphur; filter, and to the filtered liquid add for every 8 parts of sulphur used, 33 parts of sulphate of ammonia. After agitation and repose, the clear supernatant liquid must be decanted, and preserved in bottles. The product contains traces of lime, which do not, however, unfit it for use in the cosmetic art. When a salt of antimony is used to dye the hair, the neutral hydrosulphuret of ammonia should be employed, as, if the liquid contain more sulphur than is necessary to neutralize the ammonia, and it be used in excess, the color at first produced is dissolved out and washed away. But if this excess be avoided, the bisulphuret gives the brightest color. The neutral hydrosulphuret is prepared by saturating strong liquor of ammonia with sulphuretted hydrogen, and then adding a second portion of liquor of ammonia equal to that first used. (See No. 1201 (Beautiful Black Hair Dye).)

1204. Bed Hair Dye

1204. Bed Hair Dye. An acidulated solution of a salt of antimony (a solution of potassio-tartrate of antimony or tartar-emetic 1 to 16, acidulated with a little tartaric, citric, or acetic acid, may be used), followed by a weak mordant of neutral hydrosulphuret of ammonia (see No. 1203 (Hydrosulphate or Hydro-sulphuret of Ammonia)), or the bisulphuret (carefully avoiding excess) gives a red turning on the orange, which tones well on light-brown hair. A solution of sulphantimoniate of po-tassa (Schlippe's salt) with a mordant of water slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid, gives a bright orange-red or golden-red color.