Natural ingredients for colouring and styling,”

Abstract This paper examines some of the existing methods for colouring the hair and skin using natural material (such as henna) and proposes a parallel technology that exists in the dyeing of wool and fabrics to extend the colour range. Many of the listed plants and their derivatives are not found in Annex IV of the Cosmetic Directive and may not be used as colours, however, they do have other properties which may justify their inclusion into a product for example as astringent or anti-inflammatory agents. The references and appendices have been excluded from this abstract. Introduction The dyeing of hair has been practiced since the time of earliest Man. When it was impractical to dye the hair, then the wearing of wigs was customary, even as early as the period of the ancient Egyptians. The use of natural dyes on the hair has not made very great progress, and this is due to a number of factors that should not be the reason for despair. 1. Natural dyes are not very stable in solution, are prone to oxidation, browning, discolouration, pH colour shift, fading and attack by UV light. However, none of these adverse effects are applicable to the dry powdered natural dye. 2. A single natural dye is not the right colour, and only henna or walnut seem to be suitable to colour the hair, perhaps with chamomile to tint blond hair. The answer appears to be quite simple and one should blend different natural dyes in order to create a new colour that would be suitable as a hair colourant