The Indigo Plant
The botanical name is Indigofera Tinctoria. Other synonyms are true indigo, pigmentum indicum, neel and neelii.
The plant is actually a leafy shrub that grows 3-6 feet tall with magenta-colored flowers.
The indigo plant has been used since ancient times as a natural hair dye. It was used by men and women to dye textiles and hair. Indigo dye is made from processing the plant’s leaves by soaking them in water and allowing them to ferment. This converts the natural glycoside indicant into the dye, indigotin. It can then be pressed into cakes, dried and powdered.
As a natural hair dye, the green leaves of the indigo plant are dried, crushed and powdered. When used properly with pure henna, indigo dye will create shades ranging from brown to jet black color. It also makes hair soft and silky to the touch.
Pure henna powder and the crushed leaves of the indigo plant have been used for centuries to make a jet black henna hair dye. Both are currently available for anyone desiring a natural hair dye made in the traditional manner.
What Pure Indigo is NOT:
It is not the so-call misnomer, “Black Henna” hair dye.
"Black Henna" is not pure indigo dye or "black" indigo. If henna and indigo are mixed with chemicals dyes, or any henna hair dye that has been compromised by chemicals, including PPD, then: it is not pure henna, pure indigo or pure anything. Stay far away from mislabeled, “Black Henna” hair dye. It is not 100% all natural indigo dye. It is not 100% all natural hair dye.
Lustrous Henna® Hair Coloring in Soft Black Shade -is NOT the mysterious “Black Henna”.
The soft black hair coloring shade is derived from mixing pure henna (from the henna plant) with the extracts of pure indigo plant leaves and other botanicals found in nature. Lustrous Henna® is completely para-phenylenediamine-free (PPD-free hair dye); also, ammonia-free, peroxide-free. Lustrous Henna® remains in its natural herbal form (a natural hair dye powder).
To avoid confusion, always make sure of the company’s reputation that you are dealing with, since there are no regulations in many countries, including India, for ingredients labels. For this reason, “Black Henna” hair dye usually contains even higher concentrations of PPD than many commercial hair dyes sold in the USA. Sadly many individuals think that when they purchase this product, it is pure indigo (or pure indigo only mixed with pure henna) and the results have led to sad consequences and also some dermatologic horror stories.
When you want pure indigo dye for hair coloring,
Make sure what you buy is: pure indigo.
Read other real customer testimonials.
Author: L.J. O'Neal, writer and researcher. (L.J. is also a Lustrous Henna® user.)
©2011. L.J. O’Neal. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Do not copy or reprint this article without the consent of the author or Saba Botanical of USA.
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*Even though our herbal ingredients have been used in natural medicine for centuries, we must add the following disclaimer: The herbs, formulas, and recipes contained within this web site are not to be considered substitutes for proper medical and health care. As with any other medicine, if you are sick, you should consult a physician to find out if the herbal preparations listed here are right for you. Saba Botanical does not make any medical claims nor warranties regarding the use of the products listed on this site. No matter how natural a product is, it may have a potential of causing side effects and allergic reaction on certain individuals. You should consult your physician before taking any medication.
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