What is Henna? Henna, also known as Mehndi, is a natural dye and hair conditioner. It contains a molecule called a “lawsone” that acts as staining agent for the dye, and binds to the proteins in the skin or hair when the henna is applied. As a hair dye, a great benefit of henna is […]
The Medicinal Effects of Ithmid Kohl On the Eye
Ithmid kohl (a.k.a. kajal or surma) have been used for thousands of years as eyeliner for the eye. But it isn’t only for aesthetics. Ithmid kohl has been used in the past medicinally to treat eye related ailments, and the benefits are even shown in some scientific studies. Note that Ithmid kohl refers to the […]
Is the Lead in Kohl, Kajal, or Surma Dangerous?
Many people are already aware of the toxicity of lead compounds, so much so that anything associated with lead is considered deadly. But does the same hold true for traditional eyeliners made of the mineral Galena, also known as lead sulfide? So in this article I will investigating this issue, looking at the history of […]
Is Ithmid Kohl Made Out of Galena vs Stibnite?
There is a debate among the people online and between literature that talk about whether the original kohl ithmid (Ethmid) is made of Galena (lead sulfide, PbS) or Stibnite (Antimony sulfide, Sb2S3). The majority of the kohl you can find now a days do not contain even a small amount of antimony- if any at […]
What are Oriental Surma Kohl Eyeliners Made Out of?
Kohl can be made from a variety of different mineral ores and organic compounds, and the color of Kohl powder usually reflects its composition. Possible colors for Kohl range from black, grey, brown, light brown, brick red, orange, dark blue, and a black-brown-red color. By observing the color, texture of the powder; and if possible […]
