One thing above all stood out in my mind in my visit with
Lieutenant Colonel Nelson R. Moon some years ago at his
home in Riverside, California, in company with a lady
friend of mine. He told us that "if you want information
about good hair care, don't look to any hairdresser for
that; instead, look to Native American wisdom of the past
to find useful things for the present." From a cultural
perspective, I could see just how true that was. White men
who visited Native American tribes throughout the U.S. and
Canada in the last couple of centuries had always remarked
on just how fond these people, especially the men, were of
their hair. In fact, they usually considered their hair to
be the most important part of their bodies, and would
naturally lavish a lot of attention and care on it.
In 1970 T met an Indian couple named Adolph and Carol
Hungry Wolf. At that time they resided near Glacier
National Park in the top part of Montana. I never really
learned their particular tribal affiliation, but have
reason to believe it was either Blackfoot or Crow. They
provided me with some interesting information on personal
hair care that might prove helpful to some readers of this
book. It is passed along in that spirit.
"Combs were not known in the Old Days, but the hair was
often brushed," Adolph told me. "A primitive brush
consisted of a handful of flexible twigs, bound together
with buckskin. The most common brush among our people then
was made by inserting a stick of wood into a porcupine's
tail. Our ancestors also cut off a handful of horse hair
from the tail end, wound it tight and then doubled it over
to make a soft hair brush. We still like to brush our hair
with this."
His wife Carol, who had remained silent in the background
for awhile, then spoke up with these comments. "Both my
mother and grandmother would make hair tonics and washes
from the different grasses that grew in abundance on the
plains or in the meadows around us. Sweet grass and common
bear grass were the two most often used. They would be
boiled in water, cooled downs and then rubbed into the hair
every day. Such grasses leave the hair smelling sweet,
almost like clover. In fact, red or white clover tops may
also be used for this. They would sometimes mix in cedar
leaves for better aroma and medicinal effect. I've
discovered in using it in my family, that it has kept our
hair from falling out."
Along more disgusting lines, they talked about the use of
bear grease, buffalo dung, and deer urine for the hair,
that many braves in "the Old Times" were in the habit of
using in their hair. "But now we are educated and know
better," Adolph said. We know that such things are not
socially acceptable by the Whites. So we rely on plants
instead."
One thing which Mr. Hungry Wolf emphasized, that is worth
repeating here, is "to always brush or comb your hair every
day," because that seems to "keep the hair from getting old
and gray and falling out." I think what he meant to say was
that as long as your scalp get plenty of exercise every day
and blood circulation to it, your chances of going gray or
bald will be drastically reduced.
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