My grandmother used it on her hair. No wonder it was so straight!!! She kept her jet black hair until she died at 86. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Monday, February 21, 2000 3:16 PM Subject: Re: [TNWASHIN] Soap Making >According to the book "Housekeeping in Old Virginia" published in 1879, lye >was made from green wood ashes. >I can well remember when my mother used lye soap for laundry, baths and >shampoo and will testify to the fact that it was terrible stuff. >Grace Dotson > >