henna is red/brown but can be oxidized or percipitated to black

Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on March 24, 2000 at 08:46:58:

In Reply to: black henna die posted by atul mulay on March 24, 2000 at 02:05:07:

People here who have tried the Kali product report that they got
absolutely pathetic results. It might work on hair, but as far as
anyone's tried here, it sure doesn't work worth a damn on skin.

I've personally tried adding black iron oxide to henna paste. The
henna stain appears to be darker when you first take off the paste,
but that darkness very quickly vanishes .... theiron oxide absolutely
does not breach the skin cells, and therefore has virtually no effect
on the henna stain color past the first day. It might work on hair
which is more porous..... it's just not happening on skin.

I've tried indigo mixes on skin .... again..... works ok in hair, but
is pretty useless on skin. The black henna indigo hair products I've
tried (and tried, and tried, and tried) just didn't work on skin. A
sad grey smudge was the best I ever got. The only people I ever heard
from who got indigo to work were in extremely hot humid climates, and
that makes the staining behave differently.

I have a complete chemistry rant on henna, how it penetrates skin and
binds, including traditional techniques to get henna black ..... but
you'll need to email me and ask for it, and be cool about copyright.

Follow Ups:

• Catherine Cartwright Jones I wrote u letter about gif but u have not responded.I am intrested in chemistry behind henna.. atul mulay 07:03:12 3/25/00 (4)
  • didn't get the email Catherine Cartwright Jones 17:24:16 3/26/00 (3)
    • Thanks u Catherine Cartwright Jones I got ur long mail about henna chemistry. atul_mulay@hotmail.com(from India) 00:26:27 3/28/00 (2)
      • Re: Also interested in henna chemistry. Monique 09:45:51 4/16/00 (1)
        • Re: Also interested in henna chemistry. Catherine Cartwright Jones 14:48:02 4/16/00 (0)