Acacia Catechu or gambir (Malay)

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Henna Page Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Jewel on September 26, 2001 at 15:47:11:

In reply to: Acacia Catechu posted by maui girl on September 26, 2001 at 08:40:09:

Catechu or gambir has been used extensively with henna for as long as
I know. My mom use it in all her henna mix (normally to henna
skin, not hair), so did her mother and my grandma's mother and so on.
It seems like whenever I talk to another dear elderly lady, she would
mention "gambir" and ask if I add that to my mixture. She would then
insist that I add that as it would make the stain "darker and redder".
When my mom was little, my grandma would grind freshly plucked henna
leaves from her backyard together with pieces of catechu, then apply
rightaway on tamarind juice soaked skin. That's all the secret I know
on how to make the stain darker (then again, they had the luxury of
fresh henna leaves, lucky things!!).

I have to admit though that I don't see any significant change in
colour compared to my caj/ravensara/t3/pine EO mix, though older
ladies swear by it. The fact is, if the powder is fresh, even plain
old tap water is enough to produce a dark stain. I've done this before
with very fresh Meccan henna.

Oh, something OT about catechu, my grandma used to chew on betel
leaves and she would add very tiny pieces of catechu folded in the
leaves, "To make my lips red" she would say with a huge red grin on
her face ;). I can get catechu easily in little Indian shops selling
betel leaves, coconut oil (for hair), herbs and spices and such.

Love & peace,

~Jewel~

Follow Ups

Re: Acacia Catechu or gambir (Malay) maui girl 22:31:20 9/26/2001 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: Catechu or gambir has been used extensively with henna for as long as : I know. My mom use it in all her henna mix (normally to henna : skin, not hair), so did her mother and my grandma's mother and so on. : It seems like whenever I talk to another dear elderly lady, she would : mention "gambir" and ask if I add that to my mixture. She would then : insist that I add that as it would make the stain "darker and redder". : When my mom was little, my grandma would grind freshly plucked henna : leaves from her backyard together with pieces of catechu, then apply : rightaway on tamarind juice soaked skin. That's all the secret I know : on how to make the stain darker (then again, they had the luxury of : fresh henna leaves, lucky things!!). : : I have to admit though that I don't see any significant change in : colour compared to my caj/ravensara/t3/pine EO mix, though older : ladies swear by it. The fact is, if the powder is fresh, even plain : old tap water is enough to produce a dark stain. I've done this before : with very fresh Meccan henna. : : Oh, something OT about catechu, my grandma used to chew on betel : leaves and she would add very tiny pieces of catechu folded in the : leaves, "To make my lips red" she would say with a huge red grin on : her face ;). I can get catechu easily in little Indian shops selling : betel leaves, coconut oil (for hair), herbs and spices and such. : : Love & peace, : : ~Jewel~
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: