Henna is a flowering plant (“lawsonia inermis”) that has been used for centuries to dye hair, skin and fingernails. Henna leaves are dried and ground into a powder, then made into a paste. I was first introduced to henna when a very good friend from Punjab was getting married. My first encounter with henna was on my hands not my hair and it was beautiful! In this article we are going to stick to henna being used for hair dye as many customers have inquired about it.
Henna Is Much Healthier For Your Hair Than Traditional Hair Dye.
I’m just going to say it…. Traditional hair dye is not healthy for your body or your hair. It contains a list of ingredients that can cause allergic reactions and have adverse effects on your health and hair. We often make our choices based on the outcome we desire and I can say that I have used many traditional hair dye’s in my hair journey but these days I prefer henna. Henna hair dye results are not as dramatic as traditional hair dye but the amazing thing about henna is that it has many wonderful benefits from conditioning and smoothing, to helping you maintain hair length. If you want stronger, shinier hair then give it a try.
If you are trying to go lighter then henna is not for you as it doesn’t have the capability to lighten hair. It’s best for going darker and also for leaving a reddish tint to the hair. If you want to cover grays you will need to do a 2-step process which includes using Indigo. Check out one of my favorite henna brands to use and it’s easy to find on Amazon. It’s Organic and very strengthening. They have many different colors to choose from. I love how my hair feels after using it!
1- Light Mountain Natural Dark Brown Henna, (4 oz.) (pack of 3) $20.97
2- Light Mountain Natural Red Henna, (4 oz.) ( pack of 3) $17.99
A Word Of Caution!
Henna hair dye can cause an allergic reaction for some so I recommend doing a 24 hour skin patch test to make sure it’s safe. Also it’s very important to look out for henna dye that is not pure. What to look out for? If you see para-phenylenediamine (PPD) in the ingredient list, SKIP IT! It’s dangerous and can cause severe chemical burns. You will usually find this in a product called black henna. As I stated previously if you want to go really dark and/or cover grays you will do a 2-step process using Indigo which will get the job done.
Also keep in mind that henna is permanent. It usually lasts about four to six weeks and will gradually fade over time. It has a cumulative effect on your hair so it will darken with multiple applications. And did I mention that you may have to leave it on your hair for at least four hours? Well you do, so make it a full day of pampering. Just follow the directions of the henna you choose to buy because there are so many discrepancies out there; and you’ll be just fine.