Re: Re:Thanks, Pierre: Question to others about baking soda

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Posted by Al Gisnered on November 5, 2004 at 11:39:19:

In reply to: Re:Thanks, Pierre: Question to others about baking soda posted by Katherine on November 4, 2004 at 13:57:48:

Before I started mixing anything else with the henna I would try a few
tests to know for sure what is causing the problem. Apply some lemon
juice/water mix to the inside of your elbow or back of your ear, cover
it and let it remain as long as you generally do henna. See if it
produces the irritation. Try mixing henna with plain water and
applying it to a portion of your scalp, say under the hair at the
crown towards the nape of the neck, where it will be covered by a
layer of hair. See if it produces irritation. It is just possible that
your particular skin is sensative to something in henna.

If henna with plain water produces no irritation, that may be the key
for you. Others in this forum have reported using henna with plain
water. I gather that lack of acid may affect the extent of dye release
or possibly the length of the henna session.

If the lemon juice produces irritation, you my want to experiment with
other acids like white vinegar or white wine to see if they are also
irritating. Test. Finishing with a tiny bit of essential oil in your
favorite scent, not near your scalp, should take care of any residual
odor.

If all else fails, you can try achieving dye release with an acid mix
and then convert to a neutral solution. What you are aiming for is a
mix neither acid nor base. If you're sensative to acid, you may well
be sensative to alkali also and you don't want to go there. Again,
testing is the only sure way to know.

Any neutralizing agent would be added after dye release. Start with,
say, two spoonfuls of your standard henna/lemon mix, dye released. Add
very small amount - say 1/8 teaspoon or less of soda - with 1/4
teaspoon of water. Mix it with the henna and it will foam. Stir it
about and wait until it stops actively foaming. The mix will be
thickish, sort of like meringue before it gets to stiff peaks. Test as
above for irritation. At the same time, strand test, since the change
in ph may affect the way your hair accepts the dye or how the
resulting color oxidizes. You may need longer or shorter henna
sessions. You may get a change in color.

You will be dealing with high chemistry here ;>) Let us know your results.

Al

: In my
: case, even minimal lemon juice (1/4c. per 100 g of henna) has caused
: persistent contact dermatitis,

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Thanks, Al Katherine 17:37:23 11/5/2004 (0)

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: Before I started mixing anything else with the henna I would try a few : tests to know for sure what is causing the problem. Apply some lemon : juice/water mix to the inside of your elbow or back of your ear, cover : it and let it remain as long as you generally do henna. See if it : produces the irritation. Try mixing henna with plain water and : applying it to a portion of your scalp, say under the hair at the : crown towards the nape of the neck, where it will be covered by a : layer of hair. See if it produces irritation. It is just possible that : your particular skin is sensative to something in henna. : : If henna with plain water produces no irritation, that may be the key : for you. Others in this forum have reported using henna with plain : water. I gather that lack of acid may affect the extent of dye release : or possibly the length of the henna session. : : If the lemon juice produces irritation, you my want to experiment with : other acids like white vinegar or white wine to see if they are also : irritating. Test. Finishing with a tiny bit of essential oil in your : favorite scent, not near your scalp, should take care of any residual : odor. : : If all else fails, you can try achieving dye release with an acid mix : and then convert to a neutral solution. What you are aiming for is a : mix neither acid nor base. If you're sensative to acid, you may well : be sensative to alkali also and you don't want to go there. Again, : testing is the only sure way to know. : : Any neutralizing agent would be added after dye release. Start with, : say, two spoonfuls of your standard henna/lemon mix, dye released. Add : very small amount - say 1/8 teaspoon or less of soda - with 1/4 : teaspoon of water. Mix it with the henna and it will foam. Stir it : about and wait until it stops actively foaming. The mix will be : thickish, sort of like meringue before it gets to stiff peaks. Test as : above for irritation. At the same time, strand test, since the change : in ph may affect the way your hair accepts the dye or how the : resulting color oxidizes. You may need longer or shorter henna : sessions. You may get a change in color. : : You will be dealing with high chemistry here ;>) Let us know your results. : : Al : : : : : In my : : case, even minimal lemon juice (1/4c. per 100 g of henna) has caused : : persistent contact dermatitis,
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