Henna for Hair – 23 Inspirations, How to Use & Main Benefits!

Henna for Hair – 23 Inspirations, How to Use & Main Benefits!

And for those who have heard of this natural ingredient that guarantees some hair care, but don't know how to use it or have questions related to henna, in today's post we are going to clarify all these doubts, show the benefits of the hair product and also teach how to use step by step.

 

About Henna for Hair

What is it?

Henna is an Arabic name given to a species of bush that has the scientific name of Lawsonia inermis.

This shrub, characteristic of dry and hot regions, is often found in Asia and South Africa, and its main use is the extraction of its leaves, which are transformed into a powder and from this an orange background pigment can be extracted, that comes out of the breakdown of the molecules of the leaves.

This pigment extracted from Lawsonia inermis is popularly known as henna and is widely used as a pigment for temporary tattoos and even to dye hair, hence the term henna for hair.

How it works?

This pigment known as hair henna is extracted from a process that transforms the leaves into a powder, and to make use of the pigmentation it is necessary to mix the henna with a quantity of warm water.

100% henna has an orange background, due to the breakdown of molecules in the leaves. However, it is not uncommon to see other colors of henna for hair, with options for blondes and even brown hair, and in this case, the natural henna gains the addition of another pigment that modifies the natural color of the henna.

For blonde strands, it is common for the mixture to gain the addition of cassia obovata, and in the case of creating a brown pigmentation, indigo is used, both natural plants that are capable of maintaining 100% natural pigmentation for those who want to color their strands. .

 

What are your Main Benefits?

And for those wondering why to use henna for hair, the answer is simple – this powder extracted from the leaves of a bush has many benefits! And to show the positive points of henna for hair, we list the benefits of henna.

• Natural Product: undoubtedly the main benefit of henna for hair is the fact that the product is a powder of 100% vegetable origin, that is, it is free of artificial pigments and chemicals, such as ammonia, often present in hair dyes.
• Naturalness in Color: the product of vegetable origin colors the threads through its natural pigment with the advantage of leaving the result more natural than the use of dyes.
• Gives Shine: in addition to being a great bet as a color, henna for hair use also has the advantage of taking care of the strands, preventing the dryness of the highlights and leaving the hair with more shine.
• Copper White Hair: for those who already suffer from stubborn gray hair, you can choose to use henna for hair as a proposal to dye and cover gray hair, and in this case the use can be more frequent, since the product is of origin Natural; that is, if white hairs appear frequently, henna can also be used frequently without risk of harming or drying out the hair.
• Does not irritate the scalp: it is not uncommon for people to suffer from irritation of the scalp after dyeing their hair, and the advantage of henna lies in the fact that it is a powder of natural origin and with minimal chances of irritating the scalp during the process. hair dyeing process.
• Hydrates the Hair: powdered henna can also be used as a natural product to hydrate and nourish the strands, and for those who do not want to add color to the strands, they can opt for neutral henna, which is free of the pigment that gives color to the strands. wires.
• Fades Little: unlike hair dyes that tend to fade a lot during washing and even change the color of the hair, henna has the advantage of gradually fading from the hair and in smaller quantities, which leaves the strands dyed for up to 3 months with little color variation between one wash and another.

 

How long does it last?

Henna for hair is a type of natural product that is loved or hated, and this happens because the product really pigments the hair and almost does not fade, making it very difficult to remove the color.

And despite having a little fading, the color lasts on the hair for up to 3 months with an almost intact color.

 

How much does it cost? #price

If you already want to organize your budget and buy henna for hair, the good news is that the 100% natural product can be found at very friendly prices, and for an average of R$ 20 on sites like Mercado Livre.

 

Are there Risks / Contraindications?

Changing hair color can always be risky, and even though it is a natural product, care must be taken before using henna for hair.

Among the risks that this natural dye can present are:

• Reaction with other chemical processes: for those who have already done some kind of chemical treatment on their hair, such as straightening or other types of dyeing, care must be taken so that the plant-derived product does not have any negative reaction with these other procedures. Thus, it is essential to test the strand to assess whether there will be negative reactions in the locks.
• Very damaged hair: although henna also acts as a moisturizer for the strands, in the case of extremely damaged hair, this plant-derived product may not have positive reactions on the hair and leave the strands brittle. And once again, here's the tip to always do the strand test.
• Possible allergic reactions: despite being a natural product, some people may have more sensitivity on the scalp and this can cause itching and irritation on the head during the procedure. In this case, the ideal is to rinse your hair and see a dermatologist.

 

Can You Lighten Hair Using Henna?

Henna for hair is a pigment with an orange background, but it can also receive other natural elements to dye hair in other colors, such as blonde.

However, if you have dark hair and want to lighten your locks, unfortunately this process is not possible with hair henna.

Henna only acts by adding pigment to the strands, but it does not have the ability to lighten the locks. Therefore, it is first necessary to lighten the hair with a chemical process, such as the use of hydrogen peroxide, and then use the natural dye in a light color to make the strands blonde.

 

Difference Henna and Henna

Despite having very similar names, henna and henna are completely different products.

Henna for hair is a 100% plant-based product and if pure gives an orange/copper tone to the hair. In addition, hair henna is compatible with other chemicals.

Henna, on the other hand, is a vegetable and chemical mixture (pyrogallic acid), which acts as a straightener for the hair and even gives the hair a black color, and is not compatible with other chemical processes.

How to Use the Product Correctly? Step by step

For those who are already thinking about using henna for hair to dye their locks, the ideal is to follow the manufacturer's recommendation; however, if you want to know, in general, how to use henna to dye hair step by step, here we go:

• Mix the henna powder for hair in warm water, adding water little by little until it becomes a paste;
• Mix this paste and let it rest for 20 minutes to extract the pigment;
• Moisturize the forehead and skin around the hair to prevent the skin from becoming pigmented after hair coloring;
• To apply henna to the hair, it can be dry or wet (remove excess water with a towel), and just divide the hair into locks and apply the henna as if it were a dye, from lock to lock;
• After applying the pigment to all the hair, place a plastic cap over the strands;
• Now just wait for the pigment action time on the wires. Leaving 1 hour in the case of covering gray hair and 3 hours to color all the hair;
• After the pigment acts on the strands, it's time to rinse your hair and wash it normally.

Tip: it is common for some people to use an acidic solution, such as lemon, to dilute the henna powder, however, the lemon can stain the skin, in addition to the acidity being able to damage the wires. Therefore, the best mix is ​​with water.

 

Photos and Inspirations of Henna for Hair

And for those who already liked the idea of ​​using a natural hair color, we brought you inspiring photos of hair dyed with henna.

 

If you've used this natural product on your locks, tell me in the comments what you thought of the result. Oh, and if you've never tried it, with the tips in the post, you can put it into practice.