this iron pot thing...

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Posted by iris on December 14, 2004 at 00:00:44:

I've been thinking about this thing about brewing your henna in an
iron pot. I would really love to try this... but I'm also worried.

On the one hand we complain about hair hennas being sold that contain
metallic salts, and on the other hand we think about soaking our
henna in iron pots. Doesn't that amount to doing the same thing
(adding metals to henna). What exactly is the bad thing about adding
metallic salts to henna? Is the metal part bad, is the salt part bad,
is it not bad at all unless you want to use synthetic dyes afterwards
(which I don't)?

Who knows more about this? I've been googling for dye techniques that
involve iron as a mordant, hoping to find something about health
risks, but haven't found anything specific.

I found some marvelling about the fact that it's a traditional way of
dying, but this doesn't convince me so much that it's safe to put on
your head - I mean lead white was used for ages in make-up, and that
didn't turn out to be such a good idea after all ;-).

I've also found references to the health problems associated with
traditional dye techniques involving heavy metals (iron is a heavy
metal, right?). Nothing specific, and I also haven't found anything
that explains what the chemical processes are that are involved, i.e.
how mordants work chemically. Not that that would help me much...

Anyway, I guess that trying it once won't kill me, but any thoughts
about this? I somehow see this as a slippery slope, - I can just see
myself ending up recreating the entire history of dye technique
development in my kitchen while getting my ideas from the internet ;-
), mistakes included.

Iris

Follow Ups

Re: this iron pot thing... Meg 09:47:22 12/14/2004 (1)
- Re: this iron pot thing... iris 14:04:58 12/14/2004 (0)
Re: this iron pot thing... Catherine Cartwright-Jones 09:42:12 12/14/2004 (2)
- Re: this iron pot thing... iris 14:01:53 12/14/2004 (0)
- Re: this iron pot thing... Meg 09:56:02 12/14/2004 (0)

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: I've been thinking about this thing about brewing your henna in an : iron pot. I would really love to try this... but I'm also worried. : : On the one hand we complain about hair hennas being sold that contain : metallic salts, and on the other hand we think about soaking our : henna in iron pots. Doesn't that amount to doing the same thing : (adding metals to henna). What exactly is the bad thing about adding : metallic salts to henna? Is the metal part bad, is the salt part bad, : is it not bad at all unless you want to use synthetic dyes afterwards : (which I don't)? : : Who knows more about this? I've been googling for dye techniques that : involve iron as a mordant, hoping to find something about health : risks, but haven't found anything specific. : : I found some marvelling about the fact that it's a traditional way of : dying, but this doesn't convince me so much that it's safe to put on : your head - I mean lead white was used for ages in make-up, and that : didn't turn out to be such a good idea after all ;-). : : I've also found references to the health problems associated with : traditional dye techniques involving heavy metals (iron is a heavy : metal, right?). Nothing specific, and I also haven't found anything : that explains what the chemical processes are that are involved, i.e. : how mordants work chemically. Not that that would help me much... : : Anyway, I guess that trying it once won't kill me, but any thoughts : about this? I somehow see this as a slippery slope, - I can just see : myself ending up recreating the entire history of dye technique : development in my kitchen while getting my ideas from the internet ;- : ), mistakes included. : : Iris
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