henna it is a powder that has always been famous for its coloring properties beneficial. Already widely used in the times of the ancient Egyptians, the miraculous natural powder is obtained from a plant endemic to Morocco. Always considered a true elixir of health and beauty for the hair, the best product quality natural comes from the Draa Tafilalit region.
It's a fortifying herb that shines and colors the hair. According to the type of hair and the starting color, it gives a coloring. For example, for a blonde with a high percentage of white hair, the color risks becoming too hot if you keep it long and therefore the shutter speed is decisive.
Instead, for those with black or brown hair, henna can be kept for 3-4 hours because underneath there is a dark base and therefore colors are not visible.
Let's see in detail what it is, the benefits and how to use it.
What is henna
THEhenna is a dye that comes from the Lawsonia inermis plant. A thorny shrub about 2 meters high, but which can reach up to 7 meters, whose leaves, once dried and ground, give rise to a yellow-greenish powder used as a dye on hair, skin and fabrics.
La the molecule that makes this coloring plant is the lawsone (C10H6O3), an orange-red substance that is present in the leaves of the plant and also in the flowers.
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Origins of henna
Historically, thehenna has been used since ancient times for its dyeing properties, to dye skin, hair and nails, as well as fabrics. Traces of use are found in India, the Middle East and North Africa.
In the 1800s, henna was one very popular tint among women close to Pre-Raphaelite artists. One example is Elizabeth Siddal, poetess, wife and muse of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Lizzy had bright red hair, although in the British cultural tradition these were associated with little elegance.
In Europe, it seems that she was the opera singer Adelina patti popularized the use of henna in the late XNUMXth century. Just as it is said that she was the Parisian courtesan Cora Pearl, called La Lune Rousse, one of the pioneers in the use of this dyeing powder.
While more recently, in the 50s, Lucille Ball popularized the "henna rinse" in the popular show in those years, I Love Lucy.
The uses of henna
The powder is generally used for its highly dyeing properties.
The main uses are:
- leather dyeing, Known as temporary body art. Henna is used to create non-permanent tattoos on the face and body that can last a few days and are removed by exfoliation in a week or two.
- Hair care and dye. And this the more frequent use of henna. To dye the hair e cover white hair, but also to rebalance the scalp and increase the thickness of the hair.
- Dyeing of fabrics.
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What to know before coloring your hair with henna
When choosing to dye your hair with henna, you cannot determine exactly the final color you want to achieve precisely because henna it is not a chemical dye, but natural.
So, you have to be ready to experiment as you go along. As you gain some experience, it will be easier to understand both the amount to use and how to mix pure henna with other dyeing herbs.
The final color that is obtained from henna dyeing depends on the starting color of the hair and can vary from orange to coppery to dark red.
Another important thing to remember is that thehenna, although it is a natural dye, is still a permanent dye, as the dye molecule, lawsone, binds to keratin of the hair, dyeing it permanently.
With washing and the use of conditioners, masks and butters, the color tends to fade over time, but the pigment will remain bound to the hair.
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Which henna to choose for dyeing hair
However, different shades can be obtained thanks to the mixing of thepure henna with other dyeing herbs the curative eats itindigo, called “black henna”, which helps to obtain darker shades of red, but also mixes to obtain brown and black shades.
Then, there is a "natural" powder, the Cassia Obovata. It is colorless and mixed with other herbs such as chamomile and rhubarb gives light shades. In general, it is used for its properties:
- antiseptics
- dandruff
- rebalances the scalp.
Finally, another dry cleaner herb with a reflecting pigment well known is the walnut husk. Used alone it helps to give brown and warm reflections to the hair.
In addition to having important sebum-regulating properties of the scalp, on its own it does not cover gray hair because it does not contain dyeing pigments, but only reflecting ones.
Instead, used with pure henna, it helps dull the colder reflections of red and contributes to a warmer and more natural overall color.
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Choose a sodium picramate-free powder
When choosing henna is important to read the label and make sure that sodium picramate is not present. It is a synthetic dye which is mixed in the colors and henna, sold on the market to make the color more intense and brilliant, allowing to shorten the laying times, which are generally very long.
Although this dye is not toxic in the quantities sold on the market, if you choose to proceed with a natural dye it is good that the henna is 100% pureotherwise a lot it is worth moving towards a chemical tint.
The list of ingredients you should find if you choose pre-packaged henna is simply the wording: Lawsonia unarmed. If you buy it in bulk at a herbalist's shop, ask to be able to read the ingredients, unfortunately it is very common that even those that have very little pure are passed off as pure henna.
Benefits for the hair
Henna, in addition to dyeing the hair, offers important benefits to the hair and skin.
- Revitalizes the root and tips, protecting and rebalancing the scalp, it is often used in cases of dermatitis, dandruff, oily skin and in cases of abnormal hair loss.
In fact, the pure one ha important antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
In the long run it improves it general condition of hair and skin. This is the substantial difference of henna compared to chemical dyes which, on the other hand, tend to ruin and in some cases irritate the scalp.
Hair treated with henna, after a pack, is shiny and invigorated, the skin is nourished and hydrated.
How to make henna compress at home
Put about 100 grams of pure henna powder (the amount depends a lot on the length of the hair and the thickness) in one plastic or wooden container, add a little water slowly while stirring, to prevent lumps from forming.
Use a wooden or plastic spoon, metal is not recommended in contact with henna, as it will oxidize too quickly. The mixture obtained must be creamy and pasty, but never liquid.
Now add a few drops of lemon or apple cider vinegar, to fix the pigment, and cover with film and let it rest.
What to add
On the web there are many recipes that include the addition of many other ingredients to the basic henna pack.
Our advice is to proceed step by step. If this is your first application, limit yourself to adding ingredients proven for this use, such as honey and yogurt, which add natural sugars capable of making the compress more gelatinous and comfortable to hold on your head for many hours.
Furthermore, sweet almond oil can also be added or other essential oils, without exaggerating. A few drops are enough to mitigate the initially annoying effect of henna.
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How to apply henna?
First, use old clothes and towels, as the henna will dye those too. The hair must be freshly washed and damp, and proceed as for the chemical dye.
THEapplication must be accurate, otherwise you could risk finding undyed areas as the compress has a different consistency from the chemical dye.
Divide the hair into sections and apply the mixture generously to all hair, from root to tip. Once the application is finished, massage the mixture on the scalp and lengths and then wrap your hair in cling film or in a disposable shower cap to create a warm environment.
I shutter speeds are long, and is perhaps the only downside to henna coloring.
After the shutter speed has elapsed, we proceed to a very thorough rinsing, the water must be clear at the end of the wash. Given the muddy consistency of the henna wrap, it will take some time at this stage, it is It is important not to be in a hurry and that the skin above all is well cleaned.
Il color obtained will change within a week. In fact, henna tends to oxidize and binds to keratin of the hair, making the shaft thicker and the hair more full-bodied.
Henna to cover white hair
It's a good alternative to chemical dye to cover gray hairHowever, it takes a bit of experience to understand the right dosage of powders and the installation times that are necessary for optimal coverage.
To be on the safe side, ask your herbalist for advice who will be able to show you the right precautions to use this powder, always remembering that henna is not a chemical dye and therefore it is difficult to obtain coverage without altering the color of the hair.
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Tips for obtaining a perfumed pack
one of the negative or in any case little appreciated aspects of those who use henna is the very intense herbaceous odor that persists, even a few days after its application.
make the natural color scented, the trick is to add the essential oil of rosa damascena, a very ancient variety of the flower (each boasts 36 petals). Its smell is very delicate but unmistakable, as it is composed of more than 400 different aromatic substances, rich in extraordinary properties.
Other additions we recommend to make henna scented are:
- cinnamon
- XNUMX teaspoon vanilla extract
- cloves powder.
How to dye your eyebrows with henna
Henna is also being used more and more often to dye eyebrows, it is an easy way to cover white hair or to give a more defined shape.
In case, you want to change the shape of the eyebrows, then it is better to contact a professional to perform a bio tattoo with results very similar to those that can be obtained with microblading.
In fact, it is a permanent color, so applied badly or without a too firm hand in an area such as the eyebrows, constantly in the foreground, can lead to disastrous results.
