Question Related to Technical Stuff Below...

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Posted by Jane on April 17, 2004 at 21:51:20:

Does anyone know exactly what is going on chemically when henna and
chemical dyes mix that can cause the reported greens, stale blacks,
and other yicky colors? I have henna'ed over chemically treated hair
WITHOUT this effect, but I would like to understand why this did not
happen for me but has happened for others.

The chemical dyes used in my hair were semi-permanent, containing
hydrogen peroxide (and other yicky stuff), but not ammonia. I am
wondering if maybe the ammonia reacts with the Lawsone molecule that
is bound to the keratin, but hydrogen peroxide and Lawsone do not
react. If there is no chemical reaction between the deposited
chemical hair color and the Lawsone molecule bound to the keratin,
shouldn't the color of the hair be the combination of the pigment in
the hair, the red/orange Lawsone and the deposited chemical color?
Is there an ingredient in chemical dyes (such a ammonia) that is
known to react in ugly ways with Lawsone? Or, are the ugly colors
due to reactions between chemical dyes and other dyes that call
themselves henna but are not. Perhaps true henna and chemical dyes
are not such a bad mix...

Catherine, have you done any experiments on this? I am trying hard
to get my hair darker and would have loved to stick to plant dyes,
including henna, but they just weren't darkening my hair enough, so I
had to go back to semi-permanent hair dyes in order to get my hair to
be more uniform. But, I am still hoping once I get a more even color
with my roots I can go back to a mix of henna, senna, and black
walnut. I have always done strand tests and never seen the reported
greens and blacks, but of course, I am still terrified I'll end up
with hair resembling Medusa should I return to natural dyes. (Of
course, Medusa does destroy in order to create balance--maybe there
is some symbolism here. Still, I don't want green hair.) Any
information appreciated. Thanks.

Jane

Follow Ups

Re: Question Related to Technical Stuff Below... Catherine Cartwright-Jones 09:46:02 4/18/2004 (1)
- Thanks,Catherine... and some info for the rest of us re: metallic salts in hair dyes Jane 11:59:11 4/18/2004 (0)
Re: Question Related to Technical Stuff Below... Alison 22:30:19 4/17/2004 (0)

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: Does anyone know exactly what is going on chemically when henna and : chemical dyes mix that can cause the reported greens, stale blacks, : and other yicky colors? I have henna'ed over chemically treated hair : WITHOUT this effect, but I would like to understand why this did not : happen for me but has happened for others. : : The chemical dyes used in my hair were semi-permanent, containing : hydrogen peroxide (and other yicky stuff), but not ammonia. I am : wondering if maybe the ammonia reacts with the Lawsone molecule that : is bound to the keratin, but hydrogen peroxide and Lawsone do not : react. If there is no chemical reaction between the deposited : chemical hair color and the Lawsone molecule bound to the keratin, : shouldn't the color of the hair be the combination of the pigment in : the hair, the red/orange Lawsone and the deposited chemical color? : Is there an ingredient in chemical dyes (such a ammonia) that is : known to react in ugly ways with Lawsone? Or, are the ugly colors : due to reactions between chemical dyes and other dyes that call : themselves henna but are not. Perhaps true henna and chemical dyes : are not such a bad mix... : : Catherine, have you done any experiments on this? I am trying hard : to get my hair darker and would have loved to stick to plant dyes, : including henna, but they just weren't darkening my hair enough, so I : had to go back to semi-permanent hair dyes in order to get my hair to : be more uniform. But, I am still hoping once I get a more even color : with my roots I can go back to a mix of henna, senna, and black : walnut. I have always done strand tests and never seen the reported : greens and blacks, but of course, I am still terrified I'll end up : with hair resembling Medusa should I return to natural dyes. (Of : course, Medusa does destroy in order to create balance--maybe there : is some symbolism here. Still, I don't want green hair.) Any : information appreciated. Thanks. : : Jane
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