Henna for hair: what it is and which one to choose based on your color!
Henna is a herbal powder with a green color and an intense smell, similar to clay, obtained from Lawsonia inermis - a plant known since ancient times for its dyeing properties - used for centuries in India and the Middle East to color your hair and make it stronger and more resistant. Its astringent and antifungal power has made it ideal not only for hair care, but also for skin care, and in fact it has also been used in these cultures for the ritual practice of "mehndi" tattoos.
For some time, the most famous of the dyeing herbs has gone beyond the boundaries of Indian culture, becoming a coloring technique widespread all over the world and used not only to cover white hair or dye it, giving vibrant and luminous reflections, but also to provide an "adequate care of the hair, making it healthier and protecting it from smog and external agents. Before proceeding and discovering everything about this plant dye with an impeccable result, here are some small tips at the beginning to show off super healthy and resistant hair!
Henna, all the colors and which one to choose based on the hair color
First of all, before considering all the various shades of henna that we have available, we must make a necessary premise: natural herbal dyes do not have the power to lighten or bleach the hair, because they do not contain adequate substances for this purpose. , such as hydrogen peroxide. It is therefore not possible to obtain a highlights effect with a vegetable color, but to create a color similar to your own - enriched with vibrant and luminous reflections - or a darker tint. Now let's see which one to choose based on the starting color and what you want to get - two fundamental criteria to always keep in mind in order not to make mistakes and be fully satisfied with the final result.
The traditional recipe is light red henna, solely based on Lawsonia inermis, and gives its best on red or mahogany hair to intensify it more. This basic red version, if made on blonde or white hair, can instead veer towards orange, and it is therefore better to combine it with other plants - as we will see later - in case you want to obtain nuances that gravitate around blond, brown or black that are as far away as possible from pure copper.
However, if you have brown hair, more or less dark, and you want reddish reflections of a warm bright shade, the traditional red color recipe is fine.
As anticipated, Lawsonia powder, if mixed with other plants, can produce different shades, ideal especially for those who want colors such as blond, brown or black (herbalists already sell prepared products, specifically indicated for these shades).
The mix Lawsonia + Indigofera Tinctoria - more commonly known as Indigo and corresponding to "black henna - gives rise to" mahogany henna, and is mainly used for those with dark or black hair and who want dark red and purple shades, precisely mahogany.
Regarding the "blond henna, two distinctions must be made:
- if you simply want to enhance the light and golden reflections on blond or light brown hair, the best choice is to use neutral henna (based on Cassia Obovata, therefore not Lawsonia) and combine it with rhubarb or chamomile powders.
-If you want to warm up your color with Titian red, copper or purple reflections, just use a mixture composed of Lawsonia and other plants, including Katam or Buxus Dioica.
For the chestnut henna, as already mentioned, choose only the traditional recipe if your aim is to get a copper touch, add the Indigo, if you want a more mahogany effect, finally, if you prefer to stay in the tones of chocolate, opt for the Katam.
Lawsonia is also used to obtain a black henna, but the effect obtained is a very intense color with blue reflections.
As anticipated, henna covers white hair but to obtain a specific color it must be expertly mixed with other plants, otherwise it will turn towards orange tones and warm coppery colors.
Finally, there is the neutral henna - Cassia obovata, also known as Senna Italica - which is perfect where it is only necessary to intervene on the hair to strengthen and restructure it, thus acting as a mask that does not affect the color, if not giving a natural shine.This dye-free blend will be a simple natural remedy particularly suitable for those with brittle hair.
When to do and when it is best to avoid this vegetable coloring
In general, we can say that henna gives excellent results with thin hair precisely because it makes them stronger and more voluminous, it is not recommended for those with dry or frizzy hair, as it further increases the feeling of dryness.
It is always good to remember that on bleached or highly treated hair it is better to avoid proceeding with this method: in addition to obtaining a greenish color, decidedly unnatural and fascinating, you would ruin and further weaken the hair.
How long it lasts and the benefits of this type of natural hair dye
Generally the effect of a natural color like henna lasts about a couple of months, but in any case, unlike the highlights or chemical dyes, the regrowth is not so visible.
Another benefit concerns the shine and strength they give to the hair. Moreover, thanks to its sebum-regulating power, it can be indicated for those with dandruff problems or oily skin, balancing the action of the scalp and excess sebum.
A fundamental thing is to pay attention to the products you choose: go to a herbalist's shop and always make sure you buy natural dyeing herbs that guarantee a vegetable dye without chemical ingredients that is good for the hair and gives the desired result. A first essential thing is to check the inci of the products, to avoid using chemical dyes without your knowledge.
How to do? Here is a small guide to a safe purchase: in these cases, use the trick of the labels. If you have chosen pure henna, the label on the package should only show the name of the plant in Latin, if instead you have opted for a mix of dyeing herbs, you should find all the Latin names of the various plants present.
Preparation and application of henna at home
To obtain an impeccable result and avoid making mistakes in color and procedure, it is always better to rely on the hands of professional experts, but if you are familiar with DIY and feel safe, you can safely proceed alone and do everything at home: these are a few simple steps to be done with care and attention. You will need only safe, vegetable and non-chemical products, and a good dose of patience and precision. You can also get help from a friend, who will allow you to apply the mixture with greater accuracy. In case you proceed alone, make the application in front of a mirror to be able to see each step well and spread the mixture in the best way.
Before proceeding, a little foresight: try to avoid wearing elegant clothes or that you usually wear during the procedure because "henna, as a full-fledged color, can dirty them and ruin them forever. Better protect yourself by showing off a perfect home outfit" for the occasion". Now that you have everything under control, you can start preparing and applying the product, following our advice.
To prepare henna
Put the henna powder you have chosen in a container of hot water, for the amount of product to use, adjust the length of your hair. While doing this, continue to mix with a spoon to obtain a homogeneous and dense mixture, ideal for spreading effectively on the hair. If necessary, to make everything creamier, you can also pour a small amount of natural yogurt, which also has the purpose of moisturizing and softening the hair more.
At this point you are almost ready, but remember these four essential things:
- You have to apply henna on clean, damp hair, so after shampooing and not before. (It is preferable to use a shampoo with nourishing, moisturizing and emollient power considering that this coloring technique tends to dry the hair). It is important that the hair is not dirty, because sebum, dust and smog create a waterproof and insulating patina, preventing the color from being completely and correctly absorbed by the hair.
- Put a veil of cream on your forehead, temples and ears, just like the hairdresser does when she proceeds with a dye
- Get a roll of transparent film that you will use once you have spread all the product to protect your head
- Use gloves during application
To apply henna on the hair
Spread the mixture obtained over the entire hair, using only your fingers. Massage everything, starting from the roots up to the lengths. Remove the gloves, apply the film and remove the product residues with cotton.
The processing time varies from hair to hair: we can go from 20-30 minutes to 2 hours. The advice is to start with a rather short time and then eventually perfect the technique over time, once you have ascertained how your hair reacts.
After application, rinse thoroughly with warm water and proceed with drying. Instead, resort to washing with a delicate and emollient shampoo when you feel discomfort or itching during the exposure time or immediately after removing the dyeing herbs.
