Cassia leaves, are those it?

[miss_donya]

Hello friends,
I just came back home from a trip to the herb store, since I live in an Arab country I had to research the name in Arabic to be able to find it( special thanks to google). The guy at the store said they only had the leaves rather than powder so I got them for a very good price ( around $1.90/2)
but as I was reading up I saw someone write about senna which is a similar plant, can some of the experts help identify if what I have is actually cassia?
http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh529/Freeflowinghair/image.jpg1_zpsoajm3gju.jpg (http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Freeflowinghair/media/image.jpg1_zpsoajm3gju.jpg.html)

http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh529/Freeflowinghair/image.jpg1_zpszkzviwh1.jpg (http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Freeflowinghair/media/image.jpg1_zpszkzviwh1.jpg.html)

[lapushka]

I think those might be the laxative leaves (so "senna")... not sure.

What you need is cassia obovata (we call it senna but it's not actually "senna", IYKWIM).

[Gabriel]

Looks close to me, but probably wait for a few more opinions, just to be safe. Here's an image I took recently of my senna leaves:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8161/28520093145_acb1eacf91.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/KsdW4T)Senna/Cassia Leaves (https://flic.kr/p/KsdW4T) by Gabriel~77 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/yezica/), on Flickr

[lapushka]

Yeah, but that's not cassia, Gabriel. I'm not sure if the OP is after:

cassia obovata ("senna"), or
senna alexandrina (the laxative)

[miss_donya]

Oh... I thought cassia is a laxative if ingested :doh: I must have gotten lost in translation

[Anje]

No, you got it right. You want the laxative. Cassia obovata got renamed Senna italica. (The Senna genus is messy.) The laxative is typically a different species like S. alexandrina or S. angustifolia, but I've used it and it works just fine on hair. Nice light yellow stain from chrysophanic acid.

Getting it ground up into a powder that's fine enough to rinse easily might be a challenge, though.

[lapushka]

No, you got it right. You want the laxative. Cassia obovata got renamed Senna italica. (The Senna genus is messy.) The laxative is typically a different species like S. alexandrina or S. angustifolia, but I've used it and it works just fine on hair. Nice light yellow stain from chrysophanic acid.

Getting it ground up into a powder that's fine enough to rinse easily might be a challenge, though.

So it doesn't matter what it is you have? The stain is the same? And what about the lasting power of those stains? Are they the same? Maybe the laxative even has the best staining - who knows.

[Anje]

So it doesn't matter what it is you have? The stain is the same? And what about the lasting power of those stains? Are they the same? Maybe the laxative even has the best staining - who knows.
Right. Same staining chemical present. I haven't done the direct comparisons (and I'm sure it varies with crop like henna), but I'm pretty sure Nightshade did compare Cassia obovata with the S. alexandrina that Herbco sells, and the S. alexandrina stained a bit stronger. I have been using it to dilute down my henna for the last year or so. (This stuff. (http://www.herbco.com/c-185-senna.aspx))

[lapushka]

Right. Same staining chemical present. I haven't done the direct comparisons (and I'm sure it varies with crop like henna), but I'm pretty sure Nightshade did compare Cassia obovata with the S. alexandrina that Herbco sells, and the S. alexandrina stained a bit stronger. I have been using it to dilute down my henna for the last year or so. (This stuff. (http://www.herbco.com/c-185-senna.aspx))

Must have read over that part, or read it and just... forgot (yikes), but that's interesting!!! :)

[vampyyri]

I was going to basically point out what Anje said (in that I've heard that they work the same), minus the science-y bits xD

But if it doesn't work out for your hair... at least you have a whole lotta laxative :p

[Nightshade]

Right. Same staining chemical present. I haven't done the direct comparisons (and I'm sure it varies with crop like henna), but I'm pretty sure Nightshade did compare Cassia obovata with the S. alexandrina that Herbco sells, and the S. alexandrina stained a bit stronger. I have been using it to dilute down my henna for the last year or so. (This stuff. (http://www.herbco.com/c-185-senna.aspx))

I did! Here you go :)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axUg9KpML6I/VVnr2l1LH6I/AAAAAAAANRg/046QOTo_WlM/s800-Ic42/Cassia-vs-Senna.jpg

That's Senna italica (cassia obovata) on the left and Senna alexandrea on the right, tested on white mohair for 2 hours
I was a little skeptical when I investigated this, but I was happily surprised to find that not only did the Senna alexandrea produce great stain, but the mud also had a gel-like consistency, much like one finds with henna.

[lapushka]

Looks like true light blonds would have to be more careful with the "laxative". I know I keep saying laxative, but that's how I remember the difference. :p Sorry. I'm surprised though that the cassia didn't leave more of a stain as I've seen it color more yellow IRL (on gray and very light blonde).

[Anje]

My guess is that these things depend a lot in the crop.

[lapushka]

Yep, that's probably it! :)

[Priska]

This thread is a treasure, thanks! Can I still ask from Nightshade, if you used this laxative-strong-cassia in powder- or leave -form? :)
If it's very lemon-toned, I think it's good to mix with a bit of henna and maybe also with even smaller amount of indigo... And then I just don't let it sit too long on my hair, if I want my hair to be golden blonde.

Cassia obovata is doing nothing with my stubborn greys, Cassia auriculata even less I think.

[Priska]

Looks like true light blonds would have to be more careful with the "laxative". I know I keep saying laxative, but that's how I remember the difference. :p Sorry. I'm surprised though that the cassia didn't leave more of a stain as I've seen it color more yellow IRL (on gray and very light blonde).
I just decided to order me this laxative Cassia with this name "laxative" to make sure that I get the right one :p

[tuanyiji]

I’ve used the senna alexandrina (the laxative) in powder form in combination with fenugreek, honey, aloe powder and my diy infused henna oil with some water, the muddy texture is pretty pleasant. The smell, not so much. No evident stain in my naturally dark hair, I probably use it once a month as my pre-poo deep conditioning treatment.
As usual, I don’t find any spectacular changes in shine or texture, my hair always stays pretty much the same after any treatment, even after I changed from weekly shampoo to monthly shampoo, if anything, I actually shed less because less manipulation and more protection. At least now I take less effort in my hair care routine, I just need to use some of the oils and ayurvedic herbs regularly so I feel better about hoarding them (and my mom won’t threaten to throw them out).

[MusicalSpoons]

Hmm, any UK longhairs know where to get senna alexandrina in powder form?