Hair Dyes. The numerous preparations vended, under different names, as hair dyes, have generally a basis of lead or silver, and possess a sameness of composition which scarcely occurs, to an equal extent, in any other class of cosmetics. A few, it is true, contain bismuth, crude pyro-gallic acid, and certain astringent vegetable juices, as their active ingredients; but these are only occasionally met with in the stores.

1199. Walnut Hair Dye

1199.    Walnut Hair Dye. The simplest form is the expressed juice of the bark or shell of green walnuts. This is the venerable hair dye of Paulus Egineta. To preserve this juice, a little rectified spirit is commonly added to it, with a few bruised cloves, and the whole digested together, with occasional agitation, for a week or fortnight, when the clear portion is decanted, and, if necessary, filtered. Sometimes a little common salt is added with the same intention. It should be kept in a cool place.

1200. Pyrogallic Hair Dye

1200.    Pyrogallic Hair Dye. Take of pyrogallic acid, 1/4 ounce; dissolve it in hot distilled water, l1/2 ounces; and, when the solution has cooled, gradually add of rectified spirit, 1/2 fluid ounce. It may be made a little stronger or weaker at will.

1201. Beautiful Black Hair Dye

1201.     Beautiful Black Hair Dye. This is composed of 2 different liquids. Take

6 drachms avoirdupois good recent sulphuret of potassium; distilled water, 2 Imperial fluid ounces; liquor of potassa, l1/2 drachm; agitate them together, after repose decant the clear solution into a stoppered phial, and label the bottle either Solution No. 1, or The Mordant. (See No. 93.) This solution does not stain the skin, and is an effective and easily prepared mordant. In some of the mordants sold in the shops, the liquor of potassa is omitted. To prepare the dye, next take 3 drachms avoirdupois crystals of nitrate of silver; distilled water, 2 Imperial fluid ounces ; dissolve in a stoppered phial, and mark it either Solution No. 2, or The Dye. This is the average strength of the best silver-dyes of the stores. The strongest, intended to dye the hair black, in a few cases are made with 2 drachms of the nitrate to 1 fluid ounce of distilled water; weaker ones, for brown, with only 1 drachm of the nitrate to the fluid ounce. This solution stains the skin as well as the hair. These solutions are usually put up in flat stoppered phials, and one of each, handsomely labeled, sold together in a case under various fanciful names, for which a most extravagant price is generally charged. They form the most convenient, effective, and expeditious hair dye known, and the one now chiefly sold and used by the large perfumers and hair-dressers. Other nearly similar mordants are recommended by different good authorities. A good formula is:- Take of liquor of potassa, 3 fluid drachms; hydrosulphuret of ammonia,

7  fluid drachms; distilled water, 1 ounce; mix. The method of using these liquids is given in the following receipt: