Katam Powder

Katam Powder is made from the dried leaves of Buxus dioica, a shrub native to Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. In the Middle East, katam has been used for generations alongside henna as a natural hair colour. Mixed with henna, it helps create darker shades, from rich brown to deep brown-black, without synthetic dyes.

Arizone International supplies Katam Powder for natural hair colour brands, henna product makers, salons, wholesalers and exporters.

Henna and Katam: A Traditional Pair

Henna on its own gives hair an orange to red colour. In many Arab and Yemeni households, katam leaves were added to henna paste to deepen and cool down that colour. The combination is sometimes referred to in Islamic tradition, where the use of henna and katam to dye grey hair is mentioned, and it remains popular in the Gulf region, North Africa and among people who prefer natural hair colour worldwide.

How Katam Works

Katam contains natural dye compounds that give a darker, brownish-black tint when combined with henna. It works best when mixed with henna rather than on its own. Unlike indigo, which gives a blue-black shade, katam tends to give warmer, deep brown tones. Many natural hair colour recipes use a mix of henna, katam and sometimes indigo to achieve the desired shade.

Typical Uses

• Dark Brown ShadesHenna mixed with a portion of katam gives rich, dark brown colour.
• Grey CoverageTraditionally used to colour grey hair and beards naturally.
• Toning Down RedReduces the bright orange-red of henna alone.
• Beard ColourPopular in the Middle East for natural beard dyeing.

Applications

• Natural brown and dark brown hair colour powders
• Henna and katam blends
• Beard and moustache colour
• Herbal hair packs and conditioning treatments
• Private label natural hair colour ranges

How to Use

A common method is to mix henna and katam powders, often in ratios from 3:1 to 1:1 depending on the shade desired, with warm water or tea to form a smooth paste. The paste is applied to clean hair, left for one to three hours, and rinsed with water only. The colour usually deepens over the next 48 hours. Strand testing is recommended to check the final shade.

Quality Parameters

• Botanical identity (Buxus dioica)
• Colour strength (tested on hair or fibre samples)
• Fineness (fine sifted powder mixes smoothly)
• Moisture, sand and ash content
• Freedom from PPD, metallic salts and synthetic dyes
• Heavy metals and microbiology

Safety Notes

Katam is for external use only. A skin allergy test at least 48 hours before use is recommended. Do not use on hair that has been recently treated with chemical dyes without a strand test, as results can be unpredictable.

Packaging and Storage

Katam Powder is packed in moisture-proof bags and should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place to preserve its colouring strength.

Why Choose Arizone International?

We are an India-based supplier and exporter of natural hair colour ingredients. We supply Katam Powder with henna and indigo options, custom blends and full export documentation.

Share your quantity, packaging and destination to receive a quotation for Katam Powder.