Re: how to determine if henna powder contains green dye?

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright-Jones on April 5, 2004 at 18:37:25:

In reply to: how to determine if henna powder contains green dye? posted by Holly on April 5, 2004 at 17:05:25:

To look for the green dye (this really is pretty easy!)
Get two panes of glass or microscope slides.
Wet the henna powder, thin it out a bit on a piece of glass.
Put the other piece down on it, so the henna moosh squishes out, and
you have a henna moosh sandwich. Push the two glasses firmly to each
other (mammogram-style) so you can really see the henna between them.

The green azo dye will disperse very quickly in water. In about 20
minutes you can see the green dots grow and the color is VERY
different from the henna! Sometimes you can see those dots with the
naked eye in an hour, they're so big! Other times you need a
magnifying glass. Another clue ... scoot the glass plates against
each other. If there's grit there ... you'll hear it scratch.

Incidentally .... don't let anyone tell you these are chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts have double cell walls and don't release a blast of green
dye in just a water solution. A speck of artificial dye DOES.

The dye is in nearly every henna from India, and very rarely in henna
from any other country. Its really easy to spot. Even if one
producer doesn't add the green dye, it may be left in the machinery
from the person who last used the coop's mill. So ... cross
contamination is a problem.

Many purchasers here have found that if they insist that the green
gorillas NOT be in their henna ..... the exporters clean up the henna.

Follow Ups

Didn't think it would be THIS easy! Holly 21:08:45 4/5/2004 (1)
- Bingo! Catherine Cartwright-Jones 21:35:13 4/5/2004 (0)
thank you!! another question re: coal tar dyes... Holly 19:02:01 4/5/2004 (2)
- Re: thank you!! another question re: coal tar dyes... woof 08:43:25 4/27/2004 (0)
- Re: thank you!! another question re: coal tar dyes... Catherine Cartwright-Jones 20:24:53 4/5/2004 (0)

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: To look for the green dye (this really is pretty easy!) : Get two panes of glass or microscope slides. : Wet the henna powder, thin it out a bit on a piece of glass. : Put the other piece down on it, so the henna moosh squishes out, and : you have a henna moosh sandwich. Push the two glasses firmly to each : other (mammogram-style) so you can really see the henna between them. : : The green azo dye will disperse very quickly in water. In about 20 : minutes you can see the green dots grow and the color is VERY : different from the henna! Sometimes you can see those dots with the : naked eye in an hour, they're so big! Other times you need a : magnifying glass. Another clue ... scoot the glass plates against : each other. If there's grit there ... you'll hear it scratch. : : Incidentally .... don't let anyone tell you these are chloroplasts. : Chloroplasts have double cell walls and don't release a blast of green : dye in just a water solution. A speck of artificial dye DOES. : : The dye is in nearly every henna from India, and very rarely in henna : from any other country. Its really easy to spot. Even if one : producer doesn't add the green dye, it may be left in the machinery : from the person who last used the coop's mill. So ... cross : contamination is a problem. : : Many purchasers here have found that if they insist that the green : gorillas NOT be in their henna ..... the exporters clean up the henna.
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