Henna Hair Coloring
Henna is a flowering plant, commonly found in the semi-arid, tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The henna plant (Lawsonia inermis) is the only species of the genus Lawsonia and belongs to the family Lythraceae. The leaves of this plant possess a red dye molecule called lawsone, which has the ability to bond with protein. Hence, the dye from this plant has been used through the centuries to color the skin, hair and nails and also fabrics like silk and wool. The word 'henna' is used to denote the dried powder made from the leaves of the henna plant, or the plant itself. It has been observed that the leaves in the top shoots, which are younger, in comparison to those in the lower parts of the plant, have the strongest dye. These leaves are dried and powdered to form the highest grade henna.Henna has been used as a herb for centuries and has been an integral part of feminine beauty since time immemorial. Unfortunately, the modern-day utility of henna is restricted to using the herb for hair dyeing purposes. The reason being that henna when mixed with water based products secretes a reddish brown color. However, henna has several other beneficial properties which makes it an excellent herb for managing hair.
Another point of advantage is that henna is inexpensive, and if not readily available in stores, people can grow the henna plant at home as this plant requires very little care and maintenance. In case you do wish to use commercially available henna, make sure to check the label and find out if it has been approved by the FDA or not. This article will discuss the various benefits of henna for hair and how to use it properly.
Henna dye is an all natural and safe hair dye, which permanently colors the hair and doesn't contain any harsh chemicals. Hence, it is a better option over the commercial dye products which contains bleach or other chemicals.
Why is Henna Good for Hair?
• Henna seeps into the hair follicles, and thereby strengthens the roots.
• This herb repairs the hair cuticles or the hard outer layer of the hair strand which protects the internal hair cells from damage. This helps heal the entire shaft of the hair strand individually.
• It restores the pH balance of the hair as well as the scalp, which prevents the hair roots from weakening and thinning off due to excessive hair fall.
• It has its own antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties which is why it is excellent against dandruff and scalp dryness.
• Henna is a natural hair conditioner and it helps make the hair soft and well moisturized.
• It adds sheen and depth to darker hair color types. For instance, henna will make dark brown hair look darker while the hair strands glow in the sunlight with mild red highlights.
• It helps cover gray hair strands.
• People even use henna for hair growth.
• It prevents split ends from recurring.
• It helps repair damage caused from dehydration, pollution, blow drying, straightening and treatment as a result of chemical shampoos and hair products.
Benefits of Using Henna for Hair
Henna is a natural remedy against hair loss. It is also of great use in maintaining healthy hair. It repairs and seals the cuticle, thus helps in healing hair shaft. This prevents the hair breakage and also retains the shine of hair. Henna balances the pH of the scalp, thus, preventing premature hair fall. It cures most scalp problems such as dandruff, dryness, etc. It also reverses the effects of pollution on hair as well as dryness due to excessive blow drying. Additionally, henna also stops premature graying of hair.
Henna Hair Pack
Ingredients Needed
5 tablespoons of commercially available henna
3 tablespoons of yogurt
Juice from one big lemon
Hair oil
1 whole egg
1 cup of black tea
Using Henna for Hair Conditioning and Coloring
• Take a bowl and pour 5 tablespoons of dry henna powder into it. Now add 3 tablespoons of yogurt to the powder and beat the two thoroughly so as to make a thick paste.
• Now add the one cup of black tea to the paste and keep beating the concoction while you add the lemon juice to it, after which you should let the preparation remain intact and untouched for about 3 hours.
• Once you are ready to apply the paste onto your hair, add a whole egg into the paste and once gain beat the concoction until it's a bit wet and slippery.
• Add some more tea water if the concoction is too thick and is not falling off the spoon.
The next thing to remember is that you will be required to wear plastic workshop gloves so as to protect your hands from catching the color of the henna while applying it to your hair.
• You will also need a thin dye brush with which you will need to apply the henna paste uniformly all over your hair.
• Before you begin applying the pack, you must remember to oil your hair thoroughly. This is a must because oil protects the hair from absorbing too much of the color. It also helps condition your hair in advance and makes it faster for the hair follicles to absorb the nutrients from the henna. Leave your hair be for about ½ an hour after which you must start applying the henna paste.
• Now take one patch or chunk of hair at a time and apply ample amounts of henna to the hair. Remember to begin from the roots or the scalp until the tip of the hair. Ensure that all the hair cuticles are thoroughly coated with the henna hair pack.
• Once you are finished coating all the sections on the scalp, you will need to bring all the sections together so as to create a uniform hair bun.
• Now you should cover your hair with a shower cap as it's the easiest to wash and does not catch the reddish color of henna. Let the cap remain for 3-4 hours, after which you must wash it off with warm water.
• The henna will prove a bit resilient and will require that you massage it clean from the scalp and the hair strands. Use a mild shampoo after most of the henna has been washed off with water.
• Allow your hair to dry slightly, after washing it with shampoo, after which you should apply a very thin coat of oil all over your hair. This will prevent the hair from looking frizzy and will make the maintenance more manageable.
Allow your hair to dry in the sun or air dry. Do not blow dry it if you can avoid it. You will notice how soft and shiny your hair feels. You will need to repeat this treatment every 3 weeks in order to notice the beneficial changes taking place in your hair. You will notice that your hair fall has reduced and that the quality of your hair has improved substantially.
Pros and Cons of Using Henna for Hair
There are several pros and cons of using henna for hair. This natural dye can help to condition and strengthen hair, although the metallic salts in the henna can severely damage hair that was previously dyed with salon products. Henna can give any hair color a rich, vibrant red tone of which regular hair colors are typically not capable. Despite this, dying hair with henna can be time-consuming and messy.
One of the most positive aspects of this product is its ability to strengthen and soften the hair. Using henna for hair naturally fortifies and seals the cuticle, making strands more resilient and easier to manage. As henna penetrates the hair cuticle and does not strip any existing color like most traditional dyes, it can add thickness to each individual strand of hair, increasing volume.
While henna can improve the look of unprocessed hair, it can have the opposite effect on hair that has been dyed with commercial hair color. Impure henna contains metallic salts that react with the ammonia found in most drugstore and salon hair colors. The reaction between the salt and ammonia can severely damage hair, causing it to break off or fall out, and even turn it a very noticeable shade of green. While pure henna does not contain these salts, the labeling of henna for use on hair is not regulated in most parts of the world, making it difficult to know what the reaction will be between the two products until it happens. For this reason, it is generally best to only use henna on virgin hair.
This natural hair dye comes in several different varieties, and different types of henna or additional natural ingredients can change the tone of the color the dye creates. Despite this, hair that is dyed with henna will always have a red color. The various shades of red that henna for hair can produce are typically richer and more multifaceted than other types of red hair dye. In general, the unique shades of red that henna creates is the primary reason people choose this hair dye over others.
Dying hair with henna is a messy and often time-consuming process, especially when compared to other types of hair coloring products. With most types of henna for hair, the application process requires mixing the product with ingredients such as vinegar and oil, and then adding them to boiling water. As henna for hair does not contain any chemicals or added ingredients to make the product stay in one place as many other hair colors do, this natural hair dye tends to get all over the place, and can permanently stain clothing or household items. While most hair dyes take less than an hour to process, henna for hair can take anywhere from one to five hours depending on the product and desired shade of red.
Tips for Henna Hair Coloring
• Always remember that application of pure henna can change the hair color to natural red only. The black and brown versions available in the market may either contain some other natural dyes or chemicals. It is better to use pure henna powder. Repeated usage is found to be beneficial for gray hair too.
• Take a sufficient quantity of powdered henna in a plastic bowl. Add some warm water and lemon juice and mix it to make a paste with the consistency of yogurt. Cover the bowl and keep it overnight to allow the release of the dye.
• Mixing the right ingredients is very important, as far as the end results are concerned. If you are having dry and brittle hair, add some drops of mustard oil into the paste. If you have dandruff, two teaspoons of yogurt can be added. In case of oily hair, lemon juice is good. If you want a darker tint, you can add some dried gooseberry powder to the mixture.
• Wash and dry your hair before applying the henna paste. Wear some old clothes and cover the floor with some newspaper to protect from spillage of the paste. If you are applying henna for the first time, then you have to do a strand test to check whether you are allergic to henna hair coloring. This can be done by applying it on a few strands of hair, starting from the roots to the tips. If you develop any reactions, then don't proceed with the application.
• If you are not allergic, then you can proceed with the application of henna. Wear hand gloves to prevent staining of your hands. First, part your hair in the middle. Apply the henna paste through the parting, making sure that you are covering both the sides and the entire length of the hair on both sides. Next, roll these strands in the shape of a bun. Repeat the process of parting and application. Other such strands should also be rolled over the first one in a clockwise direction. Continue the procedure till the whole scalp and entire hair is covered with the paste.
• Leave the hair like that for one or two hours. Once the paste becomes somewhat dry, wash it off with running water. If the paste is completely removed, then shampoo the hair and let it dry naturally.
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