Henna is a dyeing herb of red color derived from the pulverization of the dried leaves of Lawsonia Inermis, a plant that lives in India, the Middle East, and North Africa.
It is a completely natural vegetable dye used for centuries as a hair and skin dye.
Because henna lacks chemicals such as ammonia and peroxides (found in many traditional dyes), it cannot be used to lighten hair but only to darken it and give it shades ranging from red to brown and black.
The color shade obtained from henna varies depending on the hair type and the application time.
Various shades of brown to black are obtained by mixing red henna (the only type of henna capable of covering white hair) with other dyeing or reflective powders obtained from plants such as Indigofera Tinctoria and Cassia Obovata.
The so-called "blonde henna" is instead a mixture of red henna with other herbs that, when applied to light brown hair, gives brighter highlights, making the overall color lighter.
Because of its natural characteristics, henna is considered an excellent alternative to chemical dyes and is often used by women during pregnancy, when traditional hair dyes are not recommended.
In fact, the chemical compounds present in commercial dyes can be absorbed through the scalp and enter the bloodstream, potentially posing risks to the fetus.
Therefore, henna represents a safer solution for coloring hair during pregnancy, subject to medical consultation regarding one's specific situation.
It is important to read the labels of commercial products carefully before purchasing them because in some cases, despite being labeled as henna, they may still contain other harmful ingredients during pregnancy or cause allergies.
How to apply henna to hair at home
If you intend to start using henna to color your hair, it is always advisable to perform a patch test on a small area of the skin to verify that there is no allergic reaction or high skin sensitivity.
The first application is a fundamental moment to understand how the hair reacts to the absorption of color so that you can determine the most suitable application time for your needs.
However, it should be noted that the color given by natural dye powders intensifies over time, so to have a more accurate idea, it is better to consider the result after the first 2 or 3 applications.
As for the quantity of henna to be used, it depends a lot on the hair type (thick or thin), hair length, and the desired color intensity.
In general:
- for short and thin hair - 30 g of henna powder
- for long and thin hair - 350 g of henna powder
- for short and thick hair - 50 g of henna powder
- for long and thick hair - 550 g of henna powder
As with any hair dye operation, it is advisable to take some precautions to avoid stains in the house or on clothes, such as placing a plastic sheet (or newspapers or cardboard) on the floor and wearing old clothes during the henna application process.
Materials
- Henna powder
- Very hot water (about 60 g of hot water for every 50 g of henna powder)
- A non-metallic container (e.g., a bowl)
- A non-metallic ladle for stirring the mixture (e.g. a spatula or plastic spoon)
- A brush to apply the mixture
- A pair of latex gloves
- A shower cap or plastic wrap
- An old towel
Procedure
- Pour the henna powder into the container and gradually add hot water, stirring the mixture constantly with the spoon until it reaches the consistency of a lump-free cream (like Greek yogurt, for example).
- Cover the container with a lid or kitchen plastic wrap and let the mixture rest for about 4 or 5 hours. This resting phase allows the henna pigments to activate.
- For effective henna coloring, it must be applied to freshly washed hair with only one pass of shampoo (but without conditioner), slightly damp (but not wet), and without hair styling products.
This type of hair preparation serves not only to facilitate the penetration of color into the hair itself but also because you should then avoid using shampoo in the first 24 hours after application.
- When the mixture is ready, apply moisturizer or oil to the forehead, just below the hairline, and around the ears to prevent staining the skin.
- After putting on gloves, comb your hair and apply the henna with the brush, distributing it evenly from root to tip.
- Gather your hair with an old clip and wrap it in a shower cap or plastic wrap. The moisture thus created activates the coloring process.
- At this point, wait for a processing time that varies from 2 to 4 hours depending on the hair type and the desired color intensity.
The longer the processing time, the more intense the color will be, although the optimal solution would be to aim for a higher frequency of colorations with a minimum processing time of about 2 hours each time, so as to avoid the long-term possibility of sensitizing the skin.
- Then rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water and conditioner until the excess color is completely washed out and the water becomes clear.
- After rinsing, wrap your hair in an old towel and dry it as usual, then apply some hair oil to the ends to nourish them.
In the next 24-48 hours, you will see that the color becomes progressively more evident.
As for the frequency of applications, you can opt for coloring every 10 days for the first 2 or 3 times if you have never used this method, and then once a month when the hair is accustomed to this type of treatment.