Ratanjot Powder – Natural Colour for Oils & Hair | 100g

Ratanjot — alkanet root — is the reason traditional Ayurvedic hair oils are deep red. It is the classical natural colourant, and it is also used in its own right for the scalp and for inflamed skin.

Its Main Use: Colouring Oil

Ratanjot is oil-soluble, not water-soluble, which is unusual among the herbal powders and is exactly why it ended up in oils. Steeped in a warm carrier it releases a deep red that is entirely natural — the colour you see in a good bhringraj or hibiscus oil.

How to infuse it

1. One tablespoon of ratanjot to 100ml of coconut or sesame oil.
2. Warm gently over very low heat for fifteen to twenty minutes. Do not let the oil smoke.
3. Leave to cool completely, then strain through muslin.
4. Store in a dark bottle.

Other Uses

• Scalp — traditionally used for irritation and flaking, as part of an infused oil rather than applied dry.
• Skin — used in Ayurveda for inflammation and blemishes.
• Lip and cheek colour — the same red that colours oil will colour a balm.

It Will Stain

Ratanjot stains cloth, counters and fingers, and it does not come out easily. Work over something you do not mind marking and wear gloves if you are mixing a batch.

It will not dye hair. The colour transfers to oil, not to keratin — for hair colour you want henna or indigo.

Product Information

Net weight: 100g · Pure ratanjot root, no fillers
For external use only. Patch test before first use. Stains fabric.
Storage: Airtight and dry.