Kohl / Kajal has been considered a beauty product for the longest time now. Kohli is a widely used product in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, West Africa, and parts of Africa. Kohl is used to contour and/or darken the eyelids and as mascara for the eyelashes. It is also used on the waterline to give your eye a bold appearance.
Not only used by women but this product is commonly used by men and children also!
Why Do We Apply Kohl To Newborns?
Kohl is said to "strengthen the child's eyes", while some people believe it could prevent the child from being cursed by the evil eye.
You will see a circular spot on the forehead of a child or a stroke on their waterline. Some people, rather than going for a simple spot, create small drawings like the sun or the moon on the forehead of their newborns. Kohl surely makes your newborn look attractive while people believe the product to keep their children away from ‘buri nazar’.
Is Kohl Safe For Kids?
A report from the Food and Drug Administration points out that lead in the form of lead sulfide comprises over 50 percent of typical kajal products. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports two cases of infant death due to kajal use.
Lead is toxic and damages the kidneys, brain, bone marrow, and other organs. High levels of lead in the blood can lead to coma, convulsions, and even death.
Since infants have higher gut absorption and their nervous systems still developing, they’re at a high risk of lead poisoning.
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Other Alternatives For Kohl For Children
With many kajal or kohl products being available in the market, it is easy for you to find your ideal product. Many people seem to have been shifting to Ayurveda as their rescue. Ayurveda is basically a combination of two herbs, that convert into a substance with medicinal properties. It is important for you to thoroughly go through the product you’re purchasing before you buy it as infants are sensitive to many items.
If you don’t wish to go for a market product, you can also make a kohl based product at home, adding in all the raw goodness of various ingredients like coconut oil or almonds.
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DIY Kohl
While kohl is readily available in the market, you can opt for a homemade mixture for your infant. The process is easy and gives you the right amount of blackness!
Things You’ll Need-
- An oil lamp with a wick and castor oil fuel
- Two glasses
- A metal plate
- A fork or tweezers
- 3 or 4 almonds
How To Make-
- Wash your hands and sterilize all utensils before using them.
- Balance a plate on top of the glasses and place your oil lamp underneath.
- Light the lamp and hold an almond with the lighting flame.
- As the almond burns, soot will collect on the underside of the plate. This is your homemade kajal.
- One by one, burn each almond.
- Using a spoon or knife, scrape off the kajal and store it in a small jar.
- Add a few drops of almond oil, ghee, or clarified butter to make a paste.
- Combine the same and leave it to cool before using.
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