Checking for dye, and flake radar

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on August 6, 2001 at 18:58:16:

In reply to: Powder is supposed to be green, but THIS green? posted by Lauren on August 6, 2001 at 18:06:43:

I've had henna arrive here 8 days fresh from the field. Its a natural
colored green, not all that bright ... and NOT a peculiar dyed green!
Your nose should tell you about the freshness ... does it smell
richly fragrant?

Look at the powder under a microscope lens, say 50x. If you see green
dye flecks different from leaf scraps ..... it's dyed.

Add lemon juice to some of the powder and leave it out in the air ,...
if it stays green rather than turning brown at the air/henna contact
surface after 24 hours ... it's dyed.

Leave some powder out in the sunlight and air and see if it turns
khaki brown or stays green. If it doesn't fade to khaki, something's
been dyed.

Is the reddest, biggest, shiniest apple in the store the tastiest?
No. That's the one most likely to be coated with varnish and taste
like cardboard. The color green has to do with chlorophyll, not
hennotannin content.

My experiences with over 40 sources of henna have led me to believe
that the henna business is no different than other industries: some
people have good product and are honest and open with their clients;
others think their clients are fools and will extract from them the
most profit possible with the worst service and product they can get
away with. There's a middle ground of people who have good product,
but overcharge and are generally flaky, or who just have unacceptable
business practices. The forum and Sirius Henna Conferences have been
particularly enlightening in that we get together and compare
experiences with certain suppliers: the flaky, dubious suppliers
don't seem to realize we discuss them and compare stories! So ... when
they flake on a few people .... all the rest hear about it and chose
not to deal with them! The honest suppliers who take good care of
their customers get praised to the skies, and get all our business!

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definitely dyed, then Lauren 19:39:07 8/6/2001 (0)

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: I've had henna arrive here 8 days fresh from the field. Its a natural : colored green, not all that bright ... and NOT a peculiar dyed green! : Your nose should tell you about the freshness ... does it smell : richly fragrant? : : Look at the powder under a microscope lens, say 50x. If you see green : dye flecks different from leaf scraps ..... it's dyed. : : Add lemon juice to some of the powder and leave it out in the air ,... : if it stays green rather than turning brown at the air/henna contact : surface after 24 hours ... it's dyed. : : Leave some powder out in the sunlight and air and see if it turns : khaki brown or stays green. If it doesn't fade to khaki, something's : been dyed. : : Is the reddest, biggest, shiniest apple in the store the tastiest? : No. That's the one most likely to be coated with varnish and taste : like cardboard. The color green has to do with chlorophyll, not : hennotannin content. : : My experiences with over 40 sources of henna have led me to believe : that the henna business is no different than other industries: some : people have good product and are honest and open with their clients; : others think their clients are fools and will extract from them the : most profit possible with the worst service and product they can get : away with. There's a middle ground of people who have good product, : but overcharge and are generally flaky, or who just have unacceptable : business practices. The forum and Sirius Henna Conferences have been : particularly enlightening in that we get together and compare : experiences with certain suppliers: the flaky, dubious suppliers : don't seem to realize we discuss them and compare stories! So ... when : they flake on a few people .... all the rest hear about it and chose : not to deal with them! The honest suppliers who take good care of : their customers get praised to the skies, and get all our business!
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