Thanks, Al

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Posted by Katherine on November 5, 2004 at 17:37:23:

In reply to: Re: Re:Thanks, Pierre: Question to others about baking soda posted by Al Gisnered on November 5, 2004 at 11:39:19:

: 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

I know it is not the henna, by past and present experience, so
there's relief on that score. It's definitely the lemon juice. I get
such lovely results, however, with the acid-released dye from body
art henna that you can see why I am worried that the same rich stain
may not be possible if I omit the acid. However, I shall soldier on
and try ACV with my next go, and baking soda after that if all else
fails. I am very grateful for all the help!

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

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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 : : I know it is not the henna, by past and present experience, so : there's relief on that score. It's definitely the lemon juice. I get : such lovely results, however, with the acid-released dye from body : art henna that you can see why I am worried that the same rich stain : may not be possible if I omit the acid. However, I shall soldier on : and try ACV with my next go, and baking soda after that if all else : fails. I am very grateful for all the help! : : : : : : : : : : In my : : : case, even minimal lemon juice (1/4c. per 100 g of henna) has : caused : : : persistent contact dermatitis,
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