Gallic Hair

**woad&fangs** · 05-03-2008, 04:29

Does anyone know what the Gauls used to spike/dye their hair? I've heard it described as quicklime, lime, limewater, etc... but since lime is a base and bases melt hair(and skin for that matter

) I'm assuming they mixed it with other stuff.

**Eduorius** · 05-03-2008, 04:59

They also used clay, but you are right with the dangers of lime. It can make your hair fall.

**blitzkrieg80** · 05-03-2008, 05:01

what? bases melt things? so what does acid do? just counteract base?

i am confused... methinks i need to retake chemisty

i've also been wondering how noble Germanic warriors with long hairstyles dealt with long hair- besides knots/braids. I am wondering if 'grease' would be used back then? It doesn't seem like that advanced of a concept...

**russia almighty** · 05-03-2008, 05:26

I'd of probably been the only Germanic noble to have cut that shit off and gone bald if possible.

My ass I'm getting lice. I'd rub my head with lye to make sure nothing survives.

**bovi** · 05-03-2008, 07:01

Originally Posted by blitzkrieg80

what? bases melt things? so what does acid do? just counteract base?

An acid is a molecule that when mixed with water will release a proton, creating a H3O+ molecule. These unfaithful protons can also react with a number of other materials.

Similarly, a base is a molecule that when mixed with water will absorb a proton, creating an OH- molecule. Bases also can react with a number of other materials. One of the most basic (in every sense of the word) bases is NaOH, which simply will dissolve into a Na+ ion and a OH- one, so while it won't react with the water molecules per se it will still produce a OH-.

An acid will "cancel" a base because the acid will release its proton and give it to the base, fulfilling its "desire" for the extra proton.

There are also buffer molecules, that are willing to absorb or release protons depending on the abundance of either OH- or H3O+ ions in their environment. A basic buffer is HCO3-, which is originally made up of carbonic acid (H2CO3, composed of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)) which has released one proton. It is liable to release another proton and become CO3-- in basic environments but will absorb an extra proton and become H2CO3 in acidic environments. H2CO3 is incidentally liable to dissolve, releasing CO2 gas, and is used in "soda" drinks like Coca Cola.

**Sir Edward** · 05-03-2008, 08:25

Originally Posted by bovi

An acid is a molecule that when mixed with water will release a proton, creating a H3O+ molecule. These unfaithful protons can also react with a number of other materials.

Similarly, a base is a molecule that when mixed with water will absorb a proton, creating an OH- molecule. Bases also can react with a number of other materials. One of the most basic (in every sense of the word) bases is NaOH, which simply will dissolve into a Na+ ion and a OH- one, so while it won't react with the water molecules per se it will still produce a OH-.

An acid will "cancel" a base because the acid will release its proton and give it to the base, fulfilling its "desire" for the extra proton.

There are also buffer molecules, that are willing to absorb or release protons depending on the abundance of either OH- or H3O+ ions in their environment. A basic buffer is HCO3-, which is originally made up of carbonic acid (H2CO3, composed of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)) which has released one proton. It is liable to release another proton and become CO3-- in basic environments but will absorb an extra proton and become H2CO3 in acidic environments. H2CO3 is incidentally liable to dissolve, releasing CO2 gas, and is used in "soda" drinks like Coca Cola.

Just a technical note, what Bovi described above while correct is only a subset of acids called Brønsted-Lowry acids. There are also acids that don't involve releasing a proton, but instead accept electrons. These acids are called Lewis acids. All Brønsted-Lowry acids can be described as Lewis acids, but not the other way around. Also of interest Lewis acid-base reactions can occur outside of an aqueous environment.

**blank** · 05-03-2008, 10:27

Originally Posted by Diodorus Siculus

The Gauls are tall of body with rippling muscles and white of skin and their hair is blond, and not only naturally so for they also make it their practice by artificial means to increase the distinguishing colour which nature has given it. For they are always washing their hair in limewater and they pull it back from the forehead to the nape of the neck, with the result that their appearance is like that of Satyrs and Pans since the treatment of their hair makes it so heavy and coarse that it differs in no respect from the mane of horses

Also, if the Celtic soap was close to it's modern derivate in properties, then it would have been quite easy to spike their hair with it