"Saffron" for hair dye

[Noreth]

The parentheses are due to the fact that I don't really know what it is!:rolleyes: It says "Yellow Saffron (Saudi)" and it's this (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bondiband.com/product_images/h/554/NEON_ORANGE__63557_zoom.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.bondiband.com/solid-bright-neon-orange-wicking-kids-size/&usg=__CV61O71a3NUE7YZhP6JzZyX63Z4=&h=300&w=300&sz=7&hl=en&start=1&sig2=aw2dT8NC80iRGg89b7IGpQ&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Tsa4ZZo4Bv9rZM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dneon%2Byellow%2Borange%26um%3D1%26hl% 3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D775%26tbm%3Disch&ei=zcR_Tt_NEYX-4QTvoJS6Dg) color, but redder and brighter. And tastes like salt.:p And it's really inexpensive, I've seen little strands of saffron in the store and they cost more than 5x as much as this 100 gram bag.
I mixed a bit with some water and it left a yellow-orange stain after 3 minutes.:cheese:
So, two questions.
1. What is it??? :D
2. Based on that short experiment, what do you think it'll do, in terms of coloring my (dark brown) hair?

[Gulbahar]

Could you post a picture of the box or whatever it's packed in?

[manoche]

Maybe safflower (or possibly turmeric)? Safflower is often sold as "saffron" - I've seen it labeled as "American Saffron" a few times. It looks different than saffron and of course is much, much cheaper (real saffron is the stigma of the saffron crocus and has to be cultivated by hand due to its delicacy, which is why it's so incredibly expensive), and it will dye things yellow/orange/reddish.

[gazelle]

It is dying material in textile industry, also it is included in some medicines. But I found interesting that it is cheap. It is an endemic species I've read. Do you think it is the same saffron or is it real? The one I know can give yellow dye in large amounts. The production of it is very rare and it is expensive I know:confused:

[Gulbahar]

It is dying material in textile industry, also it is included in some medicines. But I found interesting that it is cheap. It is an endemic species I've read. Do you think it is the same saffron or is it real? The one I know can give yellow dye in large amounts. The production of it is very rare and it is expensive I know:confused:
If it's cheap it isn't saffron - simple as that. Could be safflower indeed or curcuma, but I really would like to see the label or something.

[Noreth]

For some reason I thought I couldn't give pictures because of the album problem :shrug:. I'll pre-apologize for the bad pics, they're taken on a camera phone!:)
Here's the color: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/718/26092011002.jpg (but it's brighter)
Label: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/26092011004.jpg/ Yeesh, you can see it better in the first pic.:o It says "SAFFRON YELLOW" and underneath it, "(SAUDI)". Same in Arabic.
And the label on the back: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/26092011005.jpg/ *headache from the bad quality:headache:* The only important thing is "Net Weight: 100 gm."


Maybe safflower (or possibly turmeric)? Safflower is often sold as "saffron" - I've seen it labeled as "American Saffron" a few times. It looks different than saffron and of course is much, much cheaper (real saffron is the stigma of the saffron crocus and has to be cultivated by hand due to its delicacy, which is why it's so incredibly expensive), and it will dye things yellow/orange/reddish.

Yeah, I've been searching a little and I think that's what it is. I hope it's not turmeric (heard it's used in India as a hair removershudder:)!

[littlestarface]

Why is it powder I thought saffron only came in string type things,well the one I have does.

[pixiedust]

I put very small amounts (like two sprigs) into my henna along with hibiscus flowers, I think it helps my colour turn out more red but who knows (:

[Gulbahar]

Hm, it doesn't say that it's saffron. It only says "saffron yellow" as in "the colour of saffron". Same in Arabic. Which doesn't tell you anything about the nature of this dye, only about its colour.
I'd be wary to put this anywhere on my skin or hair, to be honest. You simply don't know what it really is.

[ktani]

A couple of questions to help sort this out.

When you bought it did you ask the vendor any questions and can you now?

What is it being sold for - cosmetic or food use or food colouring?

ETA: Ask the vendor if you can what plant if it is from a plant. They may not know the English word for it but you can get close enough to find out. Some friends of mine only knew a spice name by Hel in their language - it is cardamom.

[ktani]

From this picture http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/718/26092011002.jpg/

It is saffron powder.

Saffron is used in Arab countries for pain - so the headache text applies, http://www.saffron-spain.com/ingles/azafran.html.

And so do images of saffron powders, http://www.google.ca/search?q=saffron+powder&hl=en&rlz=1W1GZAZ_enCA326&biw=1280&bih=618&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Sl2CTozxLISWOsae2D4&sqi=2&ved=0CFQQsAQ

ETA: It may be adulterated with tumeric, http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/food/cooking/saffron.html but for medicinal use, I doubt it.

Prices vary considerably, http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/saffron-powder.html

[Noreth]

A couple of questions to help sort this out.

When you bought it did you ask the vendor any questions and can you now?

What is it being sold for - cosmetic or food use or food colouring?

ETA: Ask the vendor if you can what plant if it is from a plant. They may not know the English word for it but you can get close enough to find out. Some friends of mine only knew a spice name by Hel in their language - it is cardamom.

It was bought in a regular "Spices" aisle at the local supermarket. If I asked one of the workers there, they'd probably just say it's saffron. I could call the number on the back of the pack, but we're currently out of phone credit (the one time I need it :rolleyes:). It was being sold for food use as far as I know.


From this picture http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/718/26092011002.jpg/

It is saffron powder.

Saffron is used in arabic countries for pain - so the headache text applies, http://www.saffron-spain.com/ingles/azafran.html.

And so do images of saffrom powders, http://www.google.ca/search?q=saffron+powder&hl=en&rlz=1W1GZAZ_enCA326&biw=1280&bih=618&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Sl2CTozxLISWOsae2D4&sqi=2&ved=0CFQQsAQ

ETA: It may be adulterated with tumeric, http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/food/cooking/saffron.html but for medicinal use, I doubt it.
It's much too cheap to be real saffron, didn't cost much more than the other spices. I was thinking about it being turmeric (or some other spice) being passed off as saffron, but it doesn't taste like a spice. Just salt and a bit of bitterness.:o



Hm, it doesn't say that it's saffron. It only says "saffron yellow" as in "the colour of saffron". Same in Arabic. Which doesn't tell you anything about the nature of this dye, only about its colour.
I'd be wary to put this anywhere on my skin or hair, to be honest. You simply don't know what it really is.
I didn't notice that it said that in Arabic as well.:confused: I think I'll just be sticking with henna, cinnamon and honey.:D

[ktani]

If it was in the spices aisle, it could be something else. The supermarket management should be able to tell you more.

I always ask for details when I am unsure about a product and store management will contact suppliers for answers if they do not know the answers themselves, in my experience.

[Gulbahar]

It's much too cheap to be real saffron, didn't cost much more than the other spices. I was thinking about it being turmeric (or some other spice) being passed off as saffron, but it doesn't taste like a spice. Just salt and a bit of bitterness.:o
This. It just CAN'T be saffron. I buy my saffron in Iran and I pay about 15$ for 4.5g which is a tiny amount. In Germany I'd pay three times as much and wouldn't even get the same quality.


I didn't notice that it said that in Arabic as well.:confused: I think I'll just be sticking with henna, cinnamon and honey.:D
This is probably the safest way. :D (In Arabic it says "safar az-za'faran" on the package and this means exactly "saffron yellow".)

[Noreth]

If it was in the spices aisle, it could be something else. The supermarket management should be able to tell you more.

I always ask for details when I am unsure about a product and store management will contact suppliers for answers if they do not know the answers themselves, in my experience.
I'll have to ask them next time I'm there. Thanks for helping!:) You too, Gulhabar, and everyone else!

[ktani]

You are very welcome.

It may be a moot point in any case if it is saffron, since large internal doses are apparently toxic, and skin absorption is a consideration when using dyes, http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Saffron.html.