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CHAPTER TWELVE

COMMON SCALP DISEASES

Heretofore, almost every part of the human body has received more consideration from the medical professional than the scalp. This is probably due to the fact that diseases of the scalp seldom prove fatal and have been considered to an extent, unavoidable and consequently were borne with patience and resignation

Madam C.J. Walker operators are especially trained to care for this neglected part of the body with a view to keeping the hair in the best possible condition and radiating the heath and beauty so much desired.

 The importance of properly caring for the hair cannot be stressed too much, hence we repeat the utter necessity of a clean, healthy scalp for good hair. If there are no signs of disease prevalent in the scalp, it is just as important to encourage the hair in its struggle to grow by "fertilizing the soil" in which it is growing and supplying the cleanliness, air and sunlight which it requires.

People who are not fortunate enough to possess long, thick, glowing tresses are the most ardent for the betterment of their hair and scalp. People with good hair almost invariably abuse it and only begin to realize the importance of properly caring for it when it begins to fall out, split, become discolored or some other evidence of neglect becomes obvious.

THE SCALP

The scalp is the outer covering of the skull. It is fastened to the skull by firm fibrous tissue drawn tight like a cap, which acts as a tendon to fasten the scalp muscles to the bone. This connection is so close that only a small space is left for the blood vessels. Because of this small space the flow of blood through the tiny capillaries that divide and redivide throughout the tissues of the scalp is more easily disturbed and lessened than in other parts of the body which afford more space and are nearer to the center of blood circulation. At the crown of the head and in the space sloping to the temples, the contact between the scalp and skull is closest and outside pressure, as is caused by wearing a tight fitting hat, retards the circulation of blood and will cause the hair to fall earliest at these places. Hence the tendency of men to become bald first above the temples.

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TEXT BOOK OF BEAUTY CULTURE

Since the scalp contains the hair roots, and blood vessels which supply them and the health of the hair is dependent upon these organs, it is important that the scalp be kept loose and pliable, free of disease, well nourished, and functioning with the greatest efficiency.

The scalp should be treated in the same manner as the rest of the body: cleansed, exercised, and ventilated.

In the preceding chapters the anatomy of the head was discussed. The structure of the scalp and the hair has been pointed out already, so that now we shall study the scalp with a view to learning some of the conditions that Madam C. J. Walker Beauty operators are likely to meet in their work as expert beauty culturists. A thorough knowledge of the scalp and the hair is imperative to a successful career preserving and creating hair beauty, and it is our intention that Madam C. J. Walker operators shall be in the front rank of the ever increasing army of beauty experts who understand this work. The contents of this book should be studied carefully and referred to often in order to maintain the knowledge herein at your tongue's end, for it will be necessary to enable you to treat intelligently, the various types of hair and the more simple conditions accompanying it in the scalp which will confront you in your career as an expert beauty culturist representing The Madam C. J. Walker Company. 

As has been previously explained, no undue alarm should be shown at the slow falling out of the hair, providing of course, it does not fall in large amounts and does not grow thin. This is natural, for when a hair, like a plant, has lived its life, it dies, breaks off, falls out and is replaced by a new hair. The scalp is to the hair what soil is to the plant. In loose, rich soil, plants thrive. So with the hair. In a clean, healthy, pliable scalp, hair will grow normally. To be able to recognize at sight, the trouble, if there is any, with a patron's scalp and to be able to recommend and give the required treatment is one of the tests of an efficient operator.

Several patented products have been placed on the market in recent years to make the hair lay down. We have yet to see one of these so called beautifiers of the hair that possesses any merit in correcting a scalp disorder, no matter how simple. They are surface applications for the hair and should in no event be used in the belief that they will aid the health of the scalp or hair. To the contrary, they contain certain sticky substances which clog

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