John Sprink, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, patented his hair restorative in 1863 (Patent #58,690). He called his invention a "Vegetable compound for preventing the hair from coming out, and also for the prevention of diseases of the hair and scalp." He also said it was a "mild, sure, and safe remedy for those suffering from the loss of hair, and a certain cure for diseases of the scalp and the causes which produce baldness." The following is the method he described of compounding and using the Restorative.
To each quart of the mixture, take two and one-half pounds of onions, one and three-fourths pound of turnips, two ounces of salt, and two pounds of burdock-root. Boil four hours and scent it with one-fourth ounce of oil of bergamot. Boil in one-half cologn spirits and one-half rain-water.
Application should be made once each day as follows: Brush the head well with a stiff hair-brush; then apply the restorative, after which the brush must be used again.