Squid Ink for hair dyeing ?

[christelia11]

Hi :)

I've heard that you can use squid ink to dye your hair jet black...I was just wondering if it's "healthy" by LHC standards (PURE squid ink of course, no "squid ink hair dyes" full of chemicals :rolleyes:) ?

I read that squid ink is quite like melanin, so I thought it wouldn't be so bad...? Anyway, I just wanted to know your opinion on the matter :)

[kwaniesiam]

Squid ink would be only a semi-permanent stain similar to using Manic Panic and Special Effects. It will not be able to permanently alter the color of your hair.

Edit: Check the PH of squid ink first, if it is a very alkaline substance it can damage the cuticle of your hair or particularly acidic and it can be drying.

[ktani]

Squid ink, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalopod_ink

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WBK-494S4XC-5&_user=10&_coverDate=08%2F22%2F2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1608062396&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=042f6e9b21e0434008dbbb08802e0a8c&searchtype=a
"Toxicity of melanin-free ink of Sepia officinalis to transformed cell lines: identification of the active factor as tyrosinase"
Overall, these results disclose a hitherto unrecognized property of tyrosinase that may lead to a reappraisal of its biological significance beyond that of a mere pigment producing enzyme."

I do not think it is the best choice for a hair dye. I think its use is best left in small quantities in food. I also do not think it is that toxic.

I just think there are better uses for it.

[virgo75]

Where would you even get squid ink? :confused:

There's a market for squid ink hair dye? :confused: :confused:

[littlenvy]

These creatures all have different types of ink.
Octopus has a very good ink that may be used "The main coloring agent of the ink is melanin, which is the same chemical that gives humans their hair and skin color." I haven't heard of it being toxic. The question is ... can you get any good colour out of it? Can you use it with the same results as henna?

[ktani]

These creatures all have different types of ink.
Octopus has a very good ink that may be used "The main coloring agent of the ink is melanin, which is the same chemical that gives humans their hair and skin color." I haven't heard of it being toxic. The question is ... can you get any good colour out of it? Can you use it with the same results as henna?

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WBK-494S4XC-5&_user=10&_coverDate=08%2F22%2F2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1608062396&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=042f6e9b21e0434008dbbb08802e0a8c&searchtype=a
"Toxicity of melanin-free ink of Sepia officinalis to transformed cell lines: identification of the active factor as tyrosinase"
Overall, these results disclose a hitherto unrecognized property of tyrosinase that may lead to a reappraisal of its biological significance beyond that of a mere pigment producing enzyme."

It is being used for hair dye,
http://www.sumobrain.com/patents/wipo/Hair-dye-composition-containing-cephalopod/WO2008020730.html

http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/104773927/Squid_Ink_Color_Treatment_product.html

I would need to see more research to have an opinion its safety.

[christelia11]

Kwaniesiam I didn't think of that...Yeah you're right I should check its pH ;)
Well I went to an Asian supermarket and a man working there told me he catches cuttlefish every summer (which are similar to squids I assume ?) and their ink doesn't even stain his fingernails ... :( he said I should look into henna.
My hair is already quite dark but i wanted to get it jet black (like this http://www.indianrapunzels.com/q%208.jpg
and henndigo seems quite complicated to me especially since I've heard that henna is permanent, unlike indigo, which could result in an .. unwanted color once the indigo washes out :confused:
I can't get indigo where I live either :(

[rosek]

Ink straight out of the squid is also quite sandy. And gross. (I worked in a marine biology lab one summer - my job was dissecting cuttlefish. Yuck.)

[kwaniesiam]

http://www.mehandi.com/

You can get indigo from there, and full instructions for a two-step henna and indigo process are here http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/index.html

RavennaNight has gorgeous black hair using the two-step method.

[lokiveil]

Okay, so living in Okinawa there is squid ink stuff just about everywhere.

1. Squid ink doesn't even dye food black, it is actually a gray-ish dark purple. If you put enough of it in the food it would appear black, but the dye itself is not black.

2. People here eat it all the time (not me, I have a protein allergy to shellfish and mollusks, squid and octopus included so I am a bit scared to try the ink, ER trips are no fun), and even the people who cook the food do not have dyed hands. If it doesn't dye the skin, I don't see how it could dye the hair.

3. I think it was said before, but the actual texture of squid ink.... Well, it's like sandy inky goop, not something that would feel remotely good on your hair, and unless you added some kind of thickening agent, I don't think it would even stay on your hair.

Those are just the things I observed while living here though. I can't say the same for octopus, or cuttlefish, because the Okinawans have a serious love for the squid.:)