Indigo Page

Experimental Indigo Body Art

Introduction

Application Technique

Step-by-Step Guide

Stain Characteristics and Demise

Gallery

Shade Chart

Recreating the Lost Art of Blue

Above. Celtic style design.

"Omnes vero se Britanni vitro inficiunt, quod caeruleum efficit colorem."

Numerous accounts, like the one above, from Europe to the Arab world hint at the historical use of blue to stain skin for war, religious and social rites. The quote above is from Julius Caesar's The Conquest of Gaul; it translates as "All the British colour themselves with glass, which produces a blue colour." This reference is widely believed to refer to a practice of body art among the Pictish peoples of Scotland. While one has to be cautious with such interpretations it hints at a widespread use of blue on skin.

Safety and handling: Pure indigo is approved for use in food and cosmetics. Ancient Blue Crystal Indigo and Vashma Indigo are plant derived indigo which has not been refined. Batches may vary. Dye powder should not be inhaled. Do not use Indigo on or near eyes, mouth, and genitalia or on children under the age of 16. Use only on healthy, unbroken skin. Indigo is a highly concentrated dye, which can permanently stain fingernails, hair, clothing, furnishings and work surfaces.

Experimental Art Work: The experimental techniques discussed on this web site are for the purpose of investigating the feasibility and historical use of indigo dye for body art. These techniques may be updated or altered at any time without prior notice.

Indigo on Skin

This is a close up image showing a non-superficial indigo stain on the palm on the hand. The dye has penetrated the top keratinised layers of skin, this type of stain will not wash off but wear off as skin is worn away. Indigo cannot penetrate skin as far as a smaller molecule like henna (lawsone) so this stain will last just a few days. The colour in this example is about F6 on the shade chart.

Shade Chart and Body Map

The Dyestuff

An indigo stain 'in' skin can be achieved using the experimental protocol laid out on the pages linked in the index. The protocol uses Ancient Blue Crystal Indigo, now available as a complete kit for the practice of indigo body art.

Attention: Ancient Blue Crystal Indigo contains a strong alkali. Always follow the instructions provided with the product and use a safe dilution. More information about alkaline indigo vat dye can be found in the chemistry pages.

Indigo for Body Art

Notes on Indigo Body Art

Only one other natural dyestuff is commonly used to stain skin and that is henna. Indigo dye behaves very differently to henna. For people interested in expanding their body art techniques from a base in henna application some of the key differences between the two dyes are discussed below.

Indigo dye changes very little after application there is no discernable stain development. This is because the blue form of indigo is a stable un-reactive molecule. Once it is blue it will not make any further chemical changes. An indigo molecule is larger than a molecule of lawsone the active dye in henna, and cannot penetrate the skin so deeply. This means that indigo requires a great depth of dead skin to reach maximum stain. Indigo works very well on the thick skin of the palms and the feet. It should not be used on other body parts.

When painting with reduced indigo (yellow/green) it will fully oxidise to blue in a few moments no further staining will occur once this has happened. There is no benefit to keeping the dye on the skin for any longer than the time this takes. Covering or wrapping will have no effect at all.

The indigo you mix up will have fully demised 1 - 3 hours after mixing. Mix a little and then make up more as needed, the mixed dye cannot be stored.

Above. 1 and 2 Indigo paste, 3. Paste resist stain

The images above (1 and 2) show indigo paste applied to the skin. Whilst the paste itself looks wonderful with an iridescent purple shimmer the stain it leaves behind is disappointing. An indigo stain 'in' skin (3) can be achieved using the two experimental protocols linked below.