July -August 2004

• Going by the market survey and pre-test evaluation, we arrived at the conclusion that black hair dye was more commonly used, than the other shades like brown or burgundy, which were more for fashionable use than necessity.

• We tested 14 brands of black hair dyes: 8 of permanent powder hair dyes, 5 of oxidation liquid hair dyes and 1 brand of emulsion-type permanent hair dye.

• Powder hair dyes included Indica, Bigen, Junglee Kali Mehendi, Black Rose Kali Mehendi, Everest Kali Mehendi, Godrej Kali Mehendi, Godrej Permanent Powder Hair Dye and Super Vasmol Aamla; the oxidation liquid type included New Godrej, Garnier Nutrisse, Godrej Colour Soft, L’Oreal Excellence and Revlon Colorsilk. The only brand tested under emulsion-type hair dye was Super Vasmol 33.

• All the brands of permanent powder hair dye conformed to the parameter of pH, tested as per IS: 10350: 1999.

• Bigen failed the test for ‘total active matter’ and ‘dye ready to use’ (PPD content) parameters. It showed only 1.16 per cent against the minimum 3 per cent required. All the other brands were within the specified require-ments.

• Garnier Nutrisse and L’Oreal Excellence also did not conform to the parameters of ‘total active matter’ (dye content) and ‘dye ready for use’, since they showed 1.72 per cent and 1.65 per cent respectively against the minimum 2.5 per cent requirement.

• 12 brands failed to conform to packing (marking requirements of the BIS.) In powder form Indica, Everest Kali Mehendi, Super Vasmol Aamla, Junglee Kali Mehendi, Bigen, Godrej Kali Mehendi, Godrej Permanent Powder Hair Dye were found non-conforming. In the oxidation liquid type, New Godrej, Revlon Colorsilk, Garnier Nutrisse and L’Oreal Excellence did not conform, and in the emulsion-type Super Vasmol 33 failed to conform.

• The PPD content is the most important information required by the consumer. The IS also requires the manufacturers to give information on the maximum PPD content. However, Everest Kali Mehendi, Super Vasmol Aamla, Junglee Kali Mehendi, Bigen, Garnier Nutrisse, Revlon Colorsilk and L’Oreal Excellence failed to disclose this information.

• The declaration of the minimum PPD content in powder dye is equally important and also required by the IS. Except Super Vasmol Aamla and Black Rose Kali Mehendi, all the other brands failed to give this vital information.

• Another critical information that the IS requires is the “Warning : Shall not be used to dye eyebrows and eyelashes”. Junglee Kali Mehendi failed to give this in their carton/box.

• All the brands tested for heavy metals (Eco Mark) content for lead and arsenic conform to the IS Specifi-cation.

• Our panellists tested the hair switches for dye performance and colour fastness. Among the powder hair dyes Junglee Kali Mehendi and Everest Mashoor Kali Mehendi scored 94 points each on a 100-point scale and Godrej Kali Mehendi scored 38. Among the liquid hair dyes New Godrej scored 92 points while L'Oreal Excellence scored 71 points.

• With a good score and reasonable price Black Rose Kali Mehendi was our best buy in the powder category. In the oxidation liquid hair dye category Godrej Colour Soft was the best buy.

  
  

 

Details of the test report can be read in INSIGHT

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