The silky witch cap is a type of headwear that is often associated with witches and magical beings. It is typically made from a soft and silky fabric, such as satin or velvet, and is designed to fit snugly on the head. The cap is usually cone-shaped, with a pointed top that adds to its mystical appearance. One of the most iconic features of the silky witch cap is the wide brim that extends outward from the base of the cone. This brim not only adds visual interest but also provides shade and protection for the wearer's face. It can be adorned with various embellishments, such as lace trim, ribbons, or decorative stitching, to enhance its overall aesthetic.
16 pp 2 years + 18 x 19,7 cm EUR 11.99 May 2022 Wire-O 978-3-473-60018-2 • With flaps and half-punchings.
Children are subjected to physical and psychological violence, including public humiliation and forced confessions, torture, violent beatings, traditional cleansing medicines, expulsion from home and community, and in extreme cases murder. The manual focuses on safe ways to handle and hold a baby, safety measures to be taken against germs and infection, and safe products to use for baby hygiene.
It can be adorned with various embellishments, such as lace trim, ribbons, or decorative stitching, to enhance its overall aesthetic. The silky witch cap has a long history and is often associated with folklore and superstitions. In many cultures, witches are portrayed wearing this type of headwear to symbolize their magical powers and connection to the supernatural realm.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products in the Medicine and Science Collections Baby Products
This section includes products such as baby powders and shampoos. The text below provides some historical context and shows how we can use these products to explore aspects of American history, for example, product safety concerns and monitoring. To skip the text and go directly to the objects, CLICK HERE
For the past century, baby hygiene products have been commonly stocked by American druggists. Baby powder was marketed by Johnson & Johnson in 1894 and by Mennen in 1898, and baby products expanded to include baby shampoos, oils, lotions, and creams. These products are marketed to address the particular daily hygiene needs of infants: mainly the need to clean tender skin without irritating it, to prevent skin irritations caused by moisture, and to treat diaper rash.
| Johnson's Baby Powder advertisement, Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution |
Baby hygiene products reflect American concerns about personal care product safety, as well as the ways medical expertise has been invoked to endorse hygiene and infant care practices and products. Marketing for baby products consistently addresses parents’ safety concerns by focusing on a product’s gentleness, purity, and general safety. The baby hygiene product industry arose during a time in American history when proper baby care practices were changing. Traditionally, mothers and grandmothers had been the source of authority for proper baby care practices; they developed and passed down baby care techniques and recipes for homemade products. During the mid-nineteenth century, doctors began to replace mothers as the source of authority. Doctors created manuals to educate mothers about what they believed were the most current, scientifically-supported baby care practices and products. Mothers were encouraged to participate in “scientific motherhood”—to seek scientific and medical counsel on how to care for their children.
| Ivory Soap advertisement, 1941: "Doctors say 'Ivory'" and "99 44/100% Pure." Ivory Soap Advertising Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution |
Ivory Soap, introduced by Proctor and Gamble in 1879, is perhaps the most famous product to address these parental concerns. The brand’s long-running advertising campaigns have claimed that the soap is “99 44/100% Pure” and that more doctors advise the use of Ivory than any other soap.
The Ivory company reinforced their product’s medical credentials through promotional “how-to” manuals for new mothers, such as the 1941 “Bathing Your Baby the Right Way.”
The manual focuses on safe ways to handle and hold a baby, safety measures to be taken against germs and infection, and safe products to use for baby hygiene. The manual states that the instructions “given in this booklet are the same methods preferred by doctors and nurses everywhere.” These general instructions are paired with the claim that the Ivory brand is the safest soap for tender baby skin, and suggestions for other ways mothers should use Ivory to care for their babies. The manual exemplifies how the baby product industry increasingly linked product consumption with modern medical opinion and scientific research.
| 1941 -“Bathing Your Baby the Right Way” |
Many adults choose baby products for their own use, assuming that the products are also extremely gentle, and perhaps safer, on adult bodies. Products such as Mennen Borated Talc or Johnson & Johnson’s Toilet and Baby Powder have included adult uses on packaging—as a shaving powder, a foot powder, a toilet powder, for sunburn, prickly heat, and to remove all odor of perspiration.
However, assumptions and scientific evidence about cosmetic ingredients and product safety have changed over time, and the safety of some traditional cosmetic ingredients used in baby products has come into question.
For example, in the 1960s and 1970s, some talcum powders, from which baby powder has traditionally been made, were found to be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. The FDA says that all talc sold in the United States must be safe for consumer use, and therefore free of asbestos. However, there is no agency responsible for monitoring or ensuring that this is actually the case—cosmetic companies are solely responsible for their claims that their products are safe and asbestos-free. Some researchers contend that cosmetic products containing talc still test positive for asbestos.
Even if it is free of asbestos, talc is still dangerous to breathe in repeatedly. Addressing public perceptions about product safety, some companies began offering baby powder made of corn starch, as an alternative to talc. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends against using baby powder on babies, especially talc-based powders and to a lesser degree cornstarch powders, because of the danger of respiratory irritation or injury. However, many baby products and myriad adult cosmetic products are still made with talc, and recent research has raised safety concerns about adult usage of talcum powders. At this time, studies are inconclusive and contradictory regarding possible links between the use of talc on the genitals and ovarian and uterine cancers.
Baby shampoos, lotions, and powders have also come under examination as potential sources of phthalates, triclosan, formaldehyde, and parabens. Some companies have responded to consumer concerns about these substances by removing or gradually phasing out their use in baby products. Some researchers contend that the focus on providing products that are “gentle” in the short term has distracted us from considering whether those products might contain substances that could be harmful in the longer term.
| Diaparene, corn starch and sodium bicarbonate | Borozin Toilet Powder, boric acid and zinc stearate | Johnson's Toilet and Baby Powder, borated talcum |
Bibliography ~ see the Bibliography Section for a full list of the references used in the making if this Object Group. However, the Baby Products section relied on the following references:
Apple, Rima D. Perfect Motherhood: Science and Childrearing in America. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press 2006.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Ingredients - Phthalates.” WebContent. Accessed May 6, 2016. https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm128250.htm.
Gordon, Ronald E, Sean Fitzgerald, and James Millette. “Asbestos in Commercial Cosmetic Talcum Powder as a Cause of Mesothelioma in Women.” International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health 20, no. 4 (October 2014): 318–32. doi:10.1179/2049396714Y.0000000081.
Lemus, Cheryl. “Save Your Baby, Save Ten Percent: National Baby Week, The Infants’ Department, and the Modern Pregnant Woman, 1905-1925.” Journal of Women’s History 25, no. 3 (2013): 165–87. doi:10.1353/jowh.2013.0031.
Rohl, Arthur N., and Arthur M. Langer. “Identification and Quantitation of Asbestos in Talc.” Environmental Health Perspectives 9 (December 1974): 95–109.
Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Catherine J. Karr, Paula Lozano, Elizabeth Brown, Antonia M. Calafat, Fan Liu, and Shanna H. Swan. “Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure.” Pediatrics 121, no. 2 (February 1, 2008): e260–e268. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-3766.
“Study: Cosmetic Talc Products Carry Asbestos Peril - Seattlepi.com.” Accessed May 9, 2016. https://www.seattlepi.com/national/article/Study-Cosmetic-talc-products-carry-asbestos-peril-5861858.php.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
- Cure-alls and Salves
- Bathing (Body Soaps and Cleansers)
- Skin Care
- Hair Care
- Make-up
- Fragrance
- Alleviating Body Odors
- Hair Removal
- Baby Products
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Oral Care
- Foot Care
- Bibliography
- Gallery and Further Exploration
Rohl, Arthur N., and Arthur M. Langer. “Identification and Quantitation of Asbestos in Talc.” Environmental Health Perspectives 9 (December 1974): 95–109.
The cone-shaped design is said to represent the ability to channel and focus energy, while the wide brim is believed to help witches conceal their faces and avoid detection. In modern times, the silky witch cap has become a popular accessory for Halloween costumes and themed events. It adds an element of mystery and whimsy to any outfit, instantly transforming the wearer into a bewitching character. Whether worn by adults or children, the silky witch cap allows individuals to tap into their imagination and embrace the enchanting world of magic and fantasy. Overall, the silky witch cap is a timeless and iconic piece of headwear that has captivated imaginations for centuries. Its silky fabric, cone-shaped design, and wide brim make it a visually striking and instantly recognizable accessory. Whether worn for practical reasons or as part of a costume, the silky witch cap adds a touch of enchantment to any ensemble..
Reviews for "Make a statement with a luxurious silky witch cap this Halloween"
1. Jessica - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the Silky witch cap. The material felt cheap and scratchy against my skin. The cap was also smaller than I expected, and it didn't fit properly over my head. The color looked different in person than it did in the pictures online, which was another letdown. Overall, I regretted purchasing this witch cap and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mike - 1 star
The Silky witch cap was a complete waste of money. It arrived with several loose threads and the stitching seemed poorly done. It didn't sit right on my head and kept sliding off, making it difficult to wear comfortably. On top of that, the material was thin and flimsy, making it prone to ripping easily. I would strongly advise against purchasing this cap and investing in a higher-quality alternative.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the Silky witch cap based on the positive reviews, but it fell short of my expectations. The material was indeed silky, but it wrinkled easily and looked more like a cheap costume prop than a trendy accessory. The cap didn't have any structure and flopped awkwardly on my head. It's a shame because the concept of a silky witch cap is unique, but the execution was far from satisfactory. I won't be wearing it again.
4. Alex - 2 stars
The Silky witch cap was not worth the price. The material was uncomfortable and didn't feel durable at all. The cap didn't have any stretch, so it was difficult to put on and take off. It also didn't stay in place when I moved around, and I constantly had to readjust it. The fit was also far too small, and it felt like it was squeezing my head. I could easily find a better-quality witch cap for a similar price.