Black Beard Formula

Source: 500 Ancient Imperial Ladies’ Herbal Beauty Recipes Author: Zeng Xianbin | Yu Shengqing

[Formula] Galla Chinensis 30g (crush into soybean-sized pieces, sift out the fine particles using a bran sieve, place in an oil-free clean pan, stir continuously while frying until blackened; avoid yellowing or scorching; take a piece of green cloth, wet it with water, wrap the hot Galla Chinensis inside, cover with a board on the ground, and tread it into a cake; remove and set aside after cooling), Sal Ammoniac (2.4g in spring and winter, 1.5g in summer and autumn), Red Copper Powder (fry the copper powder in good vinegar in a pan until dry, repeat this process seven times, then add vinegar as appropriate based on the amount of powder), Alum, Myrobalans 3g each

[Usage] Grind the above ingredients into an extremely fine powder. First, wash the beard and hair with soap and dry them with a cloth. Place the powder into a white porcelain cup. Then, mix it with strong tea and a small amount of salt. Put the mixture into a pot and boil it three to four times until it reaches a consistency that is neither too thick nor too thin, then remove it. While it is still hot, use a brow brush to pick up the medicine and apply it to the white areas. Wrap it with oiled paper. After one to two hours, remove the oiled paper. Wait for it to dry, then wash it off. The beard and hair will turn black.

[Functions] Dyes gray hair black.

[Indications] Premature graying of beard and hair.

[Commentary] The principal herbs in this formula are Galla Chinensis (Chinese gall) and Quercus Infectoria Gall (myrobalan). Both Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) and Ben Cao Qiu Zhen document that these two herbs can be used externally to dye hair and beard, leveraging their astringent and stabilizing properties.

Q1: How to prepare black beard formula with galla chinensis?

A1: To prepare the black beard formula with galla chinensis, crush 30g of galla chinensis into soybean-sized pieces and sift out fine particles using a bran sieve. Fry the pieces in an oil-free clean pan with continuous stirring until blackened, avoiding yellowing or scorching. Then, wrap the hot galla chinensis in a wet green cloth, cover with a board, tread it into a cake, and set aside after cooling.

Q2: What is the galla chinensis frying process for beard dye?

A2: The galla chinensis frying process for beard dye involves placing cleaned, crushed galla chinensis (30g) into an oil-free pan and stirring continuously until the pieces turn black. It’s crucial to avoid yellowing or burning, as this affects the dye quality. After frying, the hot galla chinensis is wrapped in a damp cloth and pressed into a cake for use in the black beard formula.

Q3: What is the black beard formula galla chinensis 30g dosage?

A3: The black beard formula specifies a dosage of 30g of galla chinensis as the base ingredient. This amount is crushed into soybean-sized pieces and fried until blackened before combining with other components like sal ammoniac and red copper powder. The dosage remains consistent across seasons, though sal ammoniac quantities vary (2.4g in spring/winter, 1.5g in summer/autumn).

Q4: Is black beard formula a traditional Chinese medicine hair dye?

A4: Yes, the black beard formula is a traditional Chinese medicine hair dye that uses natural ingredients like galla chinensis, sal ammoniac, and red copper powder. It is applied topically to color beard hair black, following a specific preparation process of frying and pressing galla chinensis. This formula exemplifies ancient Chinese herbal practices for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

Q5: Can I use black beard formula traditional Chinese medicine hair dye for beard coloring?

A5: Yes, you can use the black beard formula traditional Chinese medicine hair dye for beard coloring. It involves preparing galla chinensis through a frying process and mixing it with sal ammoniac and red copper powder. Applied as directed, it provides a natural black dye without synthetic chemicals, leveraging traditional Chinese medicinal techniques.

Q6: Why is the galla chinensis frying process important for beard dye preparation?

A6: The galla chinensis frying process is critical because it transforms the raw herb into an effective black dye. Frying until blackened activates the color compounds while avoiding yellowing or scorching ensures the dye develops properly. This step determines the final hue and adherence of the dye when applied in the black beard formula.

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