Re: Michelle, how do you test for dye?

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Posted by Zimra on May 28, 2001 at 05:45:26:

In reply to: Michelle, how do you test for dye? posted by jessica on May 27, 2001 at 22:04:28:

: If you're not willing to share with us those brands where you found
: dye in the powder would you at least share how one tests for dye? I
: have some reservations about some powder I have and would love to
test
: it accurately for dye but don't know how, I would love any tips you
: might have. I certainly don't want to be telling people my henna
: powder is safe, organic and non chemical if there is dye in the
: powder.

I've seen some dyed henna powder, first of all it looks like very
green, fresh henna... sometimes it will have more of a "hunter/forest
green" color than the usual bright color. To test, you can do two
things: you can take a pinch of it between moistened fingers (Kree
showed us this at Sirius, I think that's how she did it!) and rub the
fingers together (apparently the dye can come out this way) or you
can mix it and check it a day or two later... if it is still a very
bright/dark green, no color change, it is probably dyed. (Regular
henna of course turns a brownish color, as those of us who have left
a lot of henna sitting out know!) I suspect rubbing a bit of paste
onto moistened fabric might do the trick too... though I know I've
had greenish stains on clothes from henna *powder*, several different
sources, and I'm pretty darn sure it wasn't dyed.

I had a friend who was using some "black henna" from Egypt (that was
almost all they sold there (she lived in Alexandria), and it was very
obviously chemically treated!), it was very dark green color
(often "black henna" powder has this look) and when the paste was put
in a pastry cone (the re-usable heavy, white plastic kind)the
black/green dyes *leaked through the plastic of the cone*. Totally
gross.

Zimra

Follow Ups

No dye here! Matthew 16:05:23 5/28/2001 (1)
- Re: No dye here! MyST 01:46:44 5/31/2001 (0)

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: : If you're not willing to share with us those brands where you found : : dye in the powder would you at least share how one tests for dye? I : : have some reservations about some powder I have and would love to : test : : it accurately for dye but don't know how, I would love any tips you : : might have. I certainly don't want to be telling people my henna : : powder is safe, organic and non chemical if there is dye in the : : powder. : : I've seen some dyed henna powder, first of all it looks like very : green, fresh henna... sometimes it will have more of a "hunter/forest : green" color than the usual bright color. To test, you can do two : things: you can take a pinch of it between moistened fingers (Kree : showed us this at Sirius, I think that's how she did it!) and rub the : fingers together (apparently the dye can come out this way) or you : can mix it and check it a day or two later... if it is still a very : bright/dark green, no color change, it is probably dyed. (Regular : henna of course turns a brownish color, as those of us who have left : a lot of henna sitting out know!) I suspect rubbing a bit of paste : onto moistened fabric might do the trick too... though I know I've : had greenish stains on clothes from henna powder, several different : sources, and I'm pretty darn sure it wasn't dyed. : : I had a friend who was using some "black henna" from Egypt (that was : almost all they sold there (she lived in Alexandria), and it was very : obviously chemically treated!), it was very dark green color : (often "black henna" powder has this look) and when the paste was put : in a pastry cone (the re-usable heavy, white plastic kind)the : black/green dyes leaked through the plastic of the cone. Totally : gross. : : Zimra :
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