Are There Different Qualities of Colour Powders?

Whether you're planning a color run (or a colored activity) with friends or hundreds of participants, including childrens, it's most important to consider if there are different qualities of colour powder and if it there is a risk for health and the environment depending on that quality. Moreover, most people don't know how it's made, and therefore, don't know how to assess the quality of colored powder. Furthermore, when you browse and look at images of color powder online, they all look very similar.

So, here are some common questions about the quality of color powder that we'll answer in this blog post, along with some additional recommendations to help you become experts in the field.

Can the quality of color powder pose a health or environmental risk?
Does the quality of color powder have an impact on its use and the results it produces?
How to compare the quality of color powders?
How is color powder made?
Is it worth paying a little more for a higher quality (premium) color powder?

The Color Powder Manufacturing Process

To understand how to obtain better quality color powder, it is first important to understand the manufacturing process. Whether it is produced in India or China, the two main producers of colored powders in the world, or elsewhere in the world, the process remains the same. In fact, it is quite simple; here are the steps:

Mix cornstarch with water and colorant until you obtain a homogeneous and colored mixture;
Spread the mixture;
Dry the mixture at a very low temperature to obtain colored cornstarch blocks without burning them.
Grind the blocks to obtain a fine color powder;
Bag the color powder.

By taking this process and the ingredients used in the recipe into account, it is possible to obtain a premium-quality color powder. However, this requires longer manufacturing times, greater investments in specialized industrial equipment, and potentially more expensive ingredient sourcing. Therefore, some manufacturers will instead choose to produce a lower-quality color powder, preferring not to invest in the necessary equipment or not wanting to source healthier ingredients.

The Different Qualities of Color Powders

Thus, there are indeed different qualities from one color powder to another. Here are the positives impacts of a premium color powder compared to a regular product:

Safety and environmental impacts relative to the ingredients:

There are a wide range of colorants that can be used to color the color powder, some of which are more toxic. Therefore, it is possible to use food colorings that are not hazardous, but this often comes at an additional cost. By knowing the ingredients used in manufacturing and/or by consulting the manufacturer's MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), you can validate the quality of the colorant used and ensure that the color powder poses no health or environmental risks. After all, participants in a color run will breathe it and get it on their skin, hair, and clothing. Also, it will end up in nature.

Washability of the color powder:

The quality of the colorant and the drying time can also affect the possibility of it staining clothing, coloring hair, and leaving marks on the skin for several weeks. Indeed, some colorants adhere more easily to skin, hair, and clothing. Some are very difficult to remove. Furthermore, if the color powder moisture level is too high, it will tend to stick more and leave more marks. A premium-quality color powder will leave little or no stain on the skin, and it will easily wash out of hair and clothes after washing. This also means that a better color powder won't stain other clothes when washed together in the washing machine.

Better results depend on the manufacturing process:

The longer the color powder is dried and the finer it is ground during the final stages of manufacturing, the more volatile it will be and the longer it will form a beautiful cloud suspended in the air. Conversely, if the color powder is not ground finely enough and still with a too high level of moisture, it will fall to the ground very quickly without forming a beautiful cloud, and the experience will be more than ordinary.

More vibrant colors depend on the proportion of ingredients:

To obtain a premium-quality color powder, it is necessary to use more colorant. Powders from lower-quality colors are often duller and whitish, as less colorant is used to reduce manufacturing costs.

Recommendations for Identifying a Premium Quality Color Powder

Now that you have a good understanding of the issues surrounding a quality color powder, here are our recommendations for quickly identifying a supplier who provides a premium quality color powder:

Look for a supplier who clearly and transparently lists the product's ingredients and warnings. The supplier should also be able to provide you with the product's MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). This will allow you to understand the product's composition. You can also request samples to see and test whether the color powder is finely ground with a low level of moisture content.
Look for a supplier who places great importance on customer relations, as well as providing attentive and honest service, ensuring complete customer satisfaction and the health of participants. This supplier likely places great importance on its reputation and, therefore, on the quality of its products.
Stay away from suppliers who do not provide the service or information about their products listed above.

On the other hand, it's important to understand that premium-quality color powder greatly reduces health risks, but some risks still remain when using it. A qualified and accessible supplier will be able to advise you, provide instructions for use, and issue warnings to avoid unfortunate consequences, such as a sick child.

NOUWEE Premium Color Powder

If you're looking for Premium Color Powder, at NOUWEE, we only offer premium-quality products. Furthermore, we always take the time to guide, advise, and answer questions by phone or email. We clearly identify the ingredients, instructions for use, and warnings on our products. We also provide MSDS sheets and samples of our products upon request.

Feel free to contact us for more information.