History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s2.t1.1

v1.c20.s2.t1.1

People in ancient India were highly fashion conscious and they used special dyes to blacken their grey hair. Varāhamihira gives a method of preparing hair dyes from kodrava taṇḍula (grains of harika, Paspalum scrobiculatum) and Loha cūrṇa.(Bṛh. S.77.1-3) In the Bower manuscript, there is a mention of sulphates of copper and iron boiled with the oil of beleric myrobalan as a remedy for turning grey hair into black in a formula for hair-dye (Bower Ms.,Ray, p.68). Even though the manuscript is said to be of the 14th century A.D., the contents should represent knowledge acquired in earlier centuries. P.K. Gode had made mention of a very ancient work Nāvanītaka of 2nd century A.D. in which recipes for hair dyes are given. It is advised that after washing the hair with chebulic and emblic myrobalans, the hair should be anointed with a paste of alambusa (Sphaerantus indicus) and indigo. A paste of indigo, rock salt, long pepper with water is a hair-dye which will turn the grey hair black as antimony. Several such recipes are given to prepare hair dyes (Nāvanītaka, Gode, Vol.I)