Re: Indigo results questions

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Posted by Al Gisnered on October 1, 2004 at 12:32:42:

In reply to: Indigo results questions posted by Drucillanda on October 1, 2004 at 03:18:27:

You have to think of henna and indigo in terms of transparent dye, not
opaque paint. Have you ever dyed an Easter egg? If you have, you
know that if you dye an egg first one dye and then another, the result
is not always predictable. Red and blue egg dyes won't always make a
true purple. This is because the dyes are not pure color tones. The
red generally has some orange in it, and the blue may have some green
in it.

Henna and Indigo are the same. If you poke around this site you will
see that henna, by itself, can produce anything from popsicle orange
to deep Irish setter red depending on the color of the underlying hair
and other things mixed in. There is always a little orange in henna
color. Indigo produces blue with a smidgen of green in it. New blue
jeans, which are dyed with indigo, are not a always a true blue - they
often show that smidgen of green.

The way our eyes see color, red cancels green and blue cancels orange.
In a perfect world, with perfect pigments, this would result in a
color the eye would see as very dark gray/black. However, since
neither henna nor indigo are perfect, it is the balance of the two
that creates the variety of color you see demonstrated. Too much
orange and you have brown tones. Too much blue and you have purple tones.

Also, when you look at the pictures in the mixes section you are
looking through a video screen that uses magenta (red-violet), cyan
(green-blue), and blue (blue) phosphors in tiny little dots to make
the picture. The technology is great, and you get a pretty good
approximation of the color in the original photograph (which is also
an appoximation of the real thing), but it isn't perfect.

You may have a shot at getting a "patent leather" looking color but if
you're going for someting that specific, you're going to have to
experiment with the balance of henna and indigo to find what works for
you. Remember that the dyes are transparent. Your original hair
color will show through, and the resulting color of any henna/indigo
mix will depend on both the underlying color as well as the balance of
the mix. Careful testing and re-testing is the only way to find out.
It may be more than you are willing to go through.

Al

: I am thinking about using indigo to dye my hair black, which I have
: been dong with regular dyes for years, not knowing that it can cause
: cancer.
:
: Anyway I have some questions. I looked at he mixes and saw some
: indigo colors, and it looks like it is a purple or blue/purple
: black. I don't like blue black or purple black on me as it tends to
: look quite harsh. Does it really come out purple or is it just the
: picture. Is there any way of controlling the shade of black? It
: would make sense that it be purple given the red from the henna and
: the blue from the indigo.
:
: By the way, my natural hair is a medium brown. What will happen if
: I just use Indigo without pretreating with Henna. Please help me
: create a nice shoe-polish black that is not blue, purple or red,
: just patent leather looking.

Follow Ups

Re: Henna results question Katherine 01:28:47 10/3/2004 (1)
- Re: Henna results question Al Gisnered 11:30:45 10/4/2004 (0)

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: You have to think of henna and indigo in terms of transparent dye, not : opaque paint. Have you ever dyed an Easter egg? If you have, you : know that if you dye an egg first one dye and then another, the result : is not always predictable. Red and blue egg dyes won't always make a : true purple. This is because the dyes are not pure color tones. The : red generally has some orange in it, and the blue may have some green : in it. : : Henna and Indigo are the same. If you poke around this site you will : see that henna, by itself, can produce anything from popsicle orange : to deep Irish setter red depending on the color of the underlying hair : and other things mixed in. There is always a little orange in henna : color. Indigo produces blue with a smidgen of green in it. New blue : jeans, which are dyed with indigo, are not a always a true blue - they : often show that smidgen of green. : : The way our eyes see color, red cancels green and blue cancels orange. : In a perfect world, with perfect pigments, this would result in a : color the eye would see as very dark gray/black. However, since : neither henna nor indigo are perfect, it is the balance of the two : that creates the variety of color you see demonstrated. Too much : orange and you have brown tones. Too much blue and you have purple tones. : : Also, when you look at the pictures in the mixes section you are : looking through a video screen that uses magenta (red-violet), cyan : (green-blue), and blue (blue) phosphors in tiny little dots to make : the picture. The technology is great, and you get a pretty good : approximation of the color in the original photograph (which is also : an appoximation of the real thing), but it isn't perfect. : : You may have a shot at getting a "patent leather" looking color but if : you're going for someting that specific, you're going to have to : experiment with the balance of henna and indigo to find what works for : you. Remember that the dyes are transparent. Your original hair : color will show through, and the resulting color of any henna/indigo : mix will depend on both the underlying color as well as the balance of : the mix. Careful testing and re-testing is the only way to find out. : It may be more than you are willing to go through. : : Al : : : I am thinking about using indigo to dye my hair black, which I have : : been dong with regular dyes for years, not knowing that it can cause : : cancer. : : : : Anyway I have some questions. I looked at he mixes and saw some : : indigo colors, and it looks like it is a purple or blue/purple : : black. I don't like blue black or purple black on me as it tends to : : look quite harsh. Does it really come out purple or is it just the : : picture. Is there any way of controlling the shade of black? It : : would make sense that it be purple given the red from the henna and : : the blue from the indigo. : : : : By the way, my natural hair is a medium brown. What will happen if : : I just use Indigo without pretreating with Henna. Please help me : : create a nice shoe-polish black that is not blue, purple or red, : : just patent leather looking.
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