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Weird Japanese products: "Black Magic" Q-tips

By Rain Noe - July 23, 2008

in Object Culture

Every year my friend goes to Japan and brings me back omiyage (a souvenir); every year I tell her she shouldn't have gone to the trouble. But this year's souvenir, which I just received, is too weird not to appreciate.

Photo above. You're probably asking yourself, as I did, why the heck would they make jet-black Q-tips? Think about it for a second, see if you can figure it out, then hit the link below for the answer.

Answer:

Ear wax is yellowish; the high contrast of a black Q-tip shows you exactly how much you're "getting." My friend assures me I will be amazed (horrified is more like it) after using these.

She also tells me they have black Biore strips in Japan.

o

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Al

15 years ago

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Use hydrogen peroxide. Using q-tips gets out some wax, but pushes most of it and compacts it against your eardrum actually making the problem worse. Mix equal parts Hydrogen Peroxide with temperature water and put a few drops in your ears. You will hear it fizz... This is the earwax breaking up. Then lean your head onto a piece of tissue... you will see a yellowish liquid. You may want to put a few drops of alcohol in your ear to dry up any left over water/hp in your ear.
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LER

15 years ago

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I'd assume that it only pushes wax into your ears if you wait long enough for it to build up into a nice, thick, plug like thing.

There is always ear candling, I guess.
But I'd rather not have fire near my head.
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jess

15 years ago

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so bzx, how do you clean your ears then? because i'd rather clean them than ...not.
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Aubeard

16 years ago

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Are you trying to tell me it is less gross to see the earwax on a WHITE cotton q-tip?
Do you work for Fox Noise?
I really can't figure out why else you would feel the need to lie.
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taz

16 years ago

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I have the black pore strips - they are wicked (ewwwww!!!!)
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bzx

16 years ago

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you shouldn't be using these in the first place.. they only stick your wax into your ears..
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adora

16 years ago

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There are a lot of black toiletries products in Japan, mostly made with charcoal. Charcoal ("live charcoal") is traditionally used to purify water and deodorize. It is believed to to suck out toxins. They are used in shampoo, facial cleaners and laundry detergent. It is baking soda's Japanese counterpart.

The black pore packs are made with charcoal as well. Before the convenient Biore pore packs, there were pore masks. They were all black back then, made with charcoal. It comes in tubes and harden in about 30 minutes. They suck out more white heads then the sheets, less irritation, but very messy. It is hard to find them these days.

The picture shown is too small, I can't tell if it is also charcoal base. You know, ear wax glows under UV light. You'd be more amazed if you see this "art" of yours under a blue lamp.
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