To keep the Hair clean, and
to preserve it.

You will need:
- Two handfuls of rosemary
- Quart of spring-water (approximately 1 litre)
- Sponge

Take two handfuls of Rosemary, and boil it softly in a quart of Spring-water till it comes to a pint [around 568mL, so approximately reduced by half], and let it be covered all the while, then strain it out and keep it; every Morning when you Comb your head, dip a sponge in this water and rub up your Hair, and it will keep it clean and preserve it, for it is very good for the brain, and will dry up Rheum.

Hannah Woolley, A supplement to The queen-like closet, or, A little of everything presented to all ingenious ladies, and gentlewomen, 1674, p8-9.

To make a white beard black, and similarly for the hair.

You will need:
- Fig leaves
- Chamomile oil

Take the leaves of a fig tree and dry them, and reduce them to a powder, and then take chamomile oil, and mix it with this powder, and anoint the beard, if it white it will become black.

Opera Nova Intitolata Dificio de Ricette, 1532, 8v. The same recipe is also found in Opera Nova Excellentissima…intitulata Corona de le Donne, 1526, but is phrased differently.

How to make the Haire curle

You will need:
- Gum arabic (often found at art supply stores) OR
- Egg white OR
- Beer/ale

Others dissolve gum arabick or mouth glew in water, moistening the haire, with it, afterward they let it dry. Some instead thereof use the white of an egge or else beare or ale.

Thomas Jeamson, Artificiall Embellishments, Or Arts Best Directions how to Preserve Beauty, 1665, p110.

To have long hair

You will need:
- Beets (ideally the cicla subspecies - the leafy spinach beet)
- Water
- Mustard seeds
- Comb
- Olive oil

To have long hair you must wash it with a decoction of beets (called in medicine cicla) boiled with mustard seeds. After the hair is washed and before it is completely dry, comb your hair with a comb soaked in a little olive oil.

André le Fournier, La Decoration d’humaine nature et aornement des dames, 1530, pIVr.

To make hair the colour of gold

You will need:
- Boxwood (the middle bark)
- Broom flowers
- Saffron
- Water

Also to make hair the colour of gold, take the middle bark of boxwood, broom flowers, and saffron, and cook it well in water and take that which floats on top and anoint [the hair].

Caterina Sforza, ‘Gli Experimenti’ in Pasolini, Caterina Sforza, 692.