Ancient hair dye used nanotechnology

[Michaelangelica]

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/s...51084.htm?tech

[bremer3771]

smart

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by bremer3771

smart

Nothing new under the sun?

The hair turned progressively black and when the researchers took cross-sections of hair and studied it under the microscope they found nanocrystals of lead sulfide inside the hair shaft.

[eric l]

I remember being taught tha lead had something to do with the fall of the Roman Empire. (They actually blamed it on progressive lead poising caused by the lead used in water pipes). But lead in a hair dye !!!
Question : would the lead absorbed with water from leaden pipes influence the colour of the hair. (We know that in cases of arsenic poisonging, traces of arsenic can be found in hair and nails).

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by eric l

But lead in a hair dye !!!
Question : would the lead absorbed with water from leaden pipes influence the colour of the hair. .

Lead was also used as a cosmetic, by Egyptians, Romans and the English etc. Elizabeth !'s pale complextion? -lead

Traces of most things we eat can be found in our hair!

In 19C+ lead was used a lot in household paints.

Once in the late 20C lead was used petrol !!

I was told by an orthomolecular specialist that grey hair was a symptom of "liver-slow-down".(Your liver is starting slowly, to pack-it-in)

I noticed at Guinness Folk Concert that all Irish men over the age of c. 35 have grey hair. Because they are Irish?, suck lead?, or drink too much Guinness?

An old remedy for grey hair is to rub the nails on your right hand with the nails on your left hand -or vice versa -serious!

[eric l]

Until now I would have seen lead mainly in white pigments ("white lead" or lead carbonate/oxide 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2) in cosmetics as well as in paints, or as "red lead" (Pb3O4) in anti-corrosion primers. I was not familiar with black lead pigments (in any application). One lives to learn.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by eric l

I was not familiar with black lead pigments (in any application). One lives to learn.

Thanks for the chemistry Kohl used by Egyptians to outline the eyes was made from lead. (Maybe the first sunscreen?)
Did you get Kohl for Xmas?

Literally, kohl means, "to brighten the eyes". We can see depictions of kohl eye make-up in hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt. Kohl was liberally applied all around the eye, sometimes extending outwards at the corners.
This so-called cosmetic line (an exaggerated extension) that many people associate with ancient Egypt was primarily from the time of the Old Kingdom (2700 BC to 2200 BC) and was reserved for depictions of royalty or gods.
A delicately elongated inner corner extension was also in vogue during that time.
Later, the line was drawn from the outer corners of the eyes and eyebrows toward the front of the earlobes, where the lines met.

Actually, the Egyptians called this eyeliner "mesdemet", and it was much later called "kohl" from the Arabic
. . .
The main component of kohl was galena, a dark sulfur and lead compound extracted by the Egyptians from a mine near the Red Sea.
Sometimes they lightened the galena by mixing in cerussite, a white carbonate of lead obtained from the same place. While such prolonged use of lead may have had unhealthy side effects, the Egyptians believed in the benefits of kohl and wore it diligently.
. . .
Yet, decorating oneself cosmetically was not the original reason for wearing kohl. Kohl was used as protection against eye ailments.
It prevented eye disease, be repelling tiny flies which transmit disease and inflammation. It was an anti-poison component that protected against harmful radiation. It kept the delicate skin around the eyes from becoming dry and cracked. It protected against the intense heat of the sun, the bitter cold of the nights and the blinding glare of the water. For medical purposes, kohl was even worn by men and children.