Women can be categorised into two types – those who love kajal and those who don’t. So how can you tell if a woman is a kajal lover or not. Obviously the first evidence is her eyes. If she always has heavily kohled eyes then you can bet that she cannot live without kajal. Other evidence include: a dozen or so different brands of kajal in her beauty kit as she buys any and every kajal available in the market, a tendency to steer any conversation towards which kajal is the best and why, and constant attempts to convert non-kajal wearers to kajal lovers.
If you are one of those women who cannot start her day without lining her eyes with kajal, then you should definitely try making your own kajal at home. After all, you’ve tried every other brand so why not try your own now?
1. Charcoal Kajal
You will need:
- Activated charcoal capsules (Available at certain pharmacies)
- Coconut oil
Method:
Empty the contents of three charcoal capsules into a clean empty pot (empty eyeshadow pot that has been sterilised works best). Add two to three drops of coconut oil and mix it up with a Q tip. There is no specific amount of oil to be added. Just add a drop or two at a time till you get the desired consistency. It shouldn’t be too runny or too dry and thick. If you accidentally add too much oil, then add in the contents of another capsule to make the kajal less oily. Once its blended completely, you can use a Q tip or eyeliner brush to apply it (avoid using your fingers as that might introduce germs into the pot).
[Also Read: Benefits and Uses of Charcoal for Skin]
2. Almond Kajal
You will need:
- An almond
- A metal Skewer
- A metal spoon
- A Candle
Method:
Pierce the almond with the skewer so that it gets stuck in it. Now light the candle and hold the almond in the flame. Hold the spoon in an inverted position above the almond so that it will collect the soot. Burn the almond for a couple of minutes. When you turn the spoon, you will notice that all the soot has been collected on it. Add a drop or two of coconut oil to it and use. This is so easy to make; you can make just enough to be used once or you can repeat the process over and over again with more almonds and collect all the soot in a small glass pot and use it.
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3. Revamped Kajal
You will need:
- A kohl/eyeliner pencil
- A candle
Method:
If you have a kohl/eyeliner in your makeup kit that is just not dark or intense enough, then this super easy method can help you out. Simply light the candle and hold your eyeliner pencil under the flame for a second or two. Let it cool down for ten seconds and use it on your eyes for an intense black colour. Make sure you let it cool for ten seconds to avoid burning your delicate eye area.
4. Eyeshadow to Kajal
You will need:
- A powder eye shadow in a dark colour (black if you want the traditional kajal look)
- Coconut oil
- Eye primer (colourless version)
Method:
Add your powder eye shadow to a clean pot (if it is a pressed eye shadow, crush it well to a fine powder consistency). Add a little of the eye primer; there is no specific amount to be added, just add a little at a time till you get the desired consistency. Mix it well with a Q tip and add a drop of coconut oil and mix well again to form your kajal. If you are tired of black kajal or if you want something a little less intense, you can even use eyeshadows in grey or brown shades to create lighter-coloured kajals.
5. Traditional Kajal
You will need:
- A brass or copper plate
- Two big bowls of the same height
- A diya
- Ghee
- A cotton wick (make sure it’s pure cotton)
Method:
Fill the diya with ghee and place the wick in it. Place the bowls on either side of the diya and light it up. Place the plate (inverted) over the flame, using the bowls as a stand. Make sure there is enough space between the flame and the plate (we don’t want the flame to be put off). Allow the diya to burn and use up all the ghee. Once this is done, remove the plate carefully using a towel as it will be super hot. Scrape out the soot collected on the plate. Store it in a clean pot and add a few drops of ghee to it and mix well. Your homemade kajal is ready.
Give these a try and if anyone asks what brand it is, you can tell them it’s your own brand!