Cheap? Very! But can you trust such a cheap dye, and is henna as beneficial for hair as its fans claim? Let's figure it out.
Natural paint is a plus
In addition to the attractive price, regular henna has another undeniable advantage - it is a natural dye. It is produced from the leaves of Lawsonia non-thorny. Therefore, if you are intimidated by the use of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, then henna may be the solution for you.
And here she is! Lawsonia non-thorny
Unpredictable hair shade is a minus
It is impossible to predict exactly what shade henna will give you. I like the result on my hair, but it may not at all coincide with the results of the same coloring on other girls. You need to be aware of this if you decide to try.
This is the shade I get
Just for clarity. Here is my natural color and dyed hair (the first part of the photo, although less bright, still gives an idea of the shade):
The result of dyeing will depend on your natural color, what kind of henna you use, what you add to it and how long you keep it on your hair when dyeing.
The intensity of the shade can be adjusted - this is a plus
Painting time plays a big role. Here are two photos of hair dyed with henna. The first option is the result of about 10 minutes of coloring, and the second is about an hour (and most likely, this is not the first coloring):
Shade in 10 minutes
Shade after 60 minutes
Long-lasting color is a plus and a minus
If you like the resulting color, this is a positive feature of henna, and if not, then it is a bad feature. Henna is very long lasting. It will be difficult to remove the resulting redhead; you won’t be able to simply wash it off, and becoming a blonde after that is almost impossible - the redhead will haunt you.
Therefore, if you like to change your hair color, then henna is not your option.
Henna can dye not only hair - this is a minus
When dyeing, remember that henna colors everything - arm yourself with gloves, and spread the thick cream on your forehead, ears, and temples. As with any hair dye, only dye hair that is dirty.
It is impossible to “overexpose” henna on your hair - this is a plus
The catch is that it is quite difficult to prepare the ideal consistency of the coloring mixture. Only experience will teach you to make the mixture not too thick (which cannot be applied evenly) and not too thin (which flows down the hair from under the cap while you wait).
Yes, it was not for nothing that I mentioned the hat: when the henna is applied, you need to put a plastic bag on your head, and a hat on top and... wait. The longer you wait, the richer the color will be. It’s difficult to hold on to henna, some even sleep with it on, but I think it’s terribly inconvenient.
Immediately after you wash off the henna, do not wash your hair with your usual shampoos; you will want to do this quite strongly, because henna particles are difficult to wash out, but at this stage you should be patient.
Does henna strengthen hair and speed up its growth? It's not proven
Personally, I have not noticed any benefit or harm from henna. I feel like my hair has become thicker, but at the same time drier. Fortunately, there are countless hair balms and masks in the world, so dryness can be avoided.
In particular, they help avoid dryness and maintain the beauty of hair little tricks when painting. For example, I diluted henna not just with boiling water, but with chamomile decoction. And added egg yolk, coconut or castor oil to the mixture.
Also, many claim that henna gets rid of dandruff. I can’t say this, since I’ve never had it, but even after regular use of henna, no such misfortune appeared.
Dyeing did not affect the length of the hair in any way.
3 years of using henna did not make my hair shorter or damage it
Let's summarize:
- Tell your friends:
When the soul asks for changes, we often start them with a change in hair color or a new haircut (and also often with both), that’s how we are made. New hairstyle - new life! But it’s no secret that most hair dyes can greatly damage the health of your hair. And then we begin to study, or how to lighten them at home. And today we will talk specifically about hair coloring with such a natural remedy as henna, we will talk about the pros and cons of this procedure and share recipes.
How to dye your hair with henna at home? Pros and cons of dyeing hair with henna.
Before you decide to radically change the natural shade of your hair, you need to be completely confident in your actions, so that later any little things do not become an unexpected surprise for you. The same rule applies to dyeing hair with henna. Despite the fact that this is a completely natural dye, it has a number of pros and cons that must be taken into account.
Pros:
- Henna does not contain any chemicals.
- This is a completely natural remedy.
- Henna gives any hair a beautiful shade. Light curls acquire a natural red color, while dark ones will acquire a beautiful reddish tint, which looks very impressive in the sun. No dye will give your hair such a natural color.
- Henna goes well with other natural dyes (such as basma or cocoa), the combination of which allows you to add an interesting color to your hairstyle.
Minuses:
Hair coloring with henna
So, if you have weighed all the pros and cons, and still decided to try this remedy, then all that remains is to figure out .
You will need:
- several bags of henna.
- hot water.
- bowl for paint.
- brush for applying paint.
- several clamps (optional).
- shower cap.
- towel.
- old T-shirt.
First, let's prepare the mixture, which we will subsequently apply to the strands. To do this, take the required number of henna bags (it all depends on the length of your curls. The longer the hair, the more you will need. On average, this is 1-2 bags for medium-length hair, 2-4 for long hair). Pour the contents into a bowl and fill with hot water. You need to get a mass that has a consistency similar to yogurt or sour cream. Let the paint cool slightly, and only then can you proceed to applying it.
Wear an old T-shirt that you don't mind getting dirty. Take some rich cream or oil and rub it on your forehead, temples, ears, and the back of your neck. If a few drops of dye get on these areas during painting, after the procedure you can easily remove them without staining them with paint.
Combing strand by strand, apply the paint with a brush. It is very convenient to pin the treated areas with clamps so that they do not interfere. It is very important that the strands are covered evenly, from roots to ends. Then wrap your hair up and put on a shower cap (you can also put on a plastic bag). Wrap your head in a towel.
Leave the dye on your hair for 40 minutes to 2 hours. Then rinse your hair with shampoo and conditioner. The process of washing off this mixture from the hair may take some time, because it is necessary to wash out all the grains of henna.
Now your hair will need special care. You need to take care of moisturizing them and also use products for colored hair.
Henna, apparently, was one of the very first dyes that women began to use back in the Ancient East. This miraculous powder was obtained by grinding the bark and leaves of the lawsonia bush (henna). The colors that can be obtained with henna vary in the red range: from bright orange to golden chestnut. It all depends on what hair color is the original one. The lighter the natural tone of the hair, the brighter the shade of red will be, but on very dark hair, henna will be almost invisible and will only give off golden sparkles of shine.
Henna for hair - a healthy natural product
The undeniable advantage of this natural dye compared to chemicals is the fact that henna does not destroy the hair structure. Rather, on the contrary, it heals and strengthens hair. Hair dyed with henna looks strong and strong and shines in the sun.
Henna does not penetrate the hair shaft itself, but simply envelops the scales and smoothes them. It is due to this that the effect of thicker and heavier hair appears. And the ends don’t look as split as before.
In addition, the positive effect of henna extends not only to the hair itself, but also to the scalp. The functioning of the sebaceous glands is normalized, respectively, the skin becomes cleaner, there is no dandruff and excess fat, which makes the hair greasy and dirty.
Henna is an absolutely safe type of dye because it does not contain any chemical substances. You can dye your hair with it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Allergic reactions are practically absent. The only exception may be individual intolerance to this substance.
Colorless henna is used to improve hair health, because... the coloring pigment has been removed from it.
Hair coloring with henna at home
To get a predictable result and the desired color, you should consider several rules for dyeing hair with henna at home:
The prepared warm dye mixture should be applied only to cleanly washed hair. But don't use conditioner or conditioner. They make the hair structure smoother, which will not allow henna to get under the hair scales and the color will not be uniform.
Henna can only be diluted in a plastic or ceramic container, because any metal container can provoke a chemical reaction and then the resulting color will be an unpleasant surprise for you.
The henna solution (diluted with hot water) should be applied while still warm. Accordingly, it is advisable to do this fairly quickly. The order of application is the same as when using chemical dyes: first the roots, then distribute along the entire length of the hair. It is advisable to wrap your hair in plastic and a towel.
- The time you need to dye with henna depends on how rich and intense the color you want to get. The longer you leave the dye on your hair, the more vibrant the color will be. For light hair, forty minutes is enough; for dark hair, it will take up to one and a half hours.
It is strictly forbidden to wash off henna with shampoo, otherwise the entire effect of its effects will be lost. It is enough to rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water until the henna stops coloring the water and until all particles are combed out of the strands. After washing, you can apply balm or conditioner.
You will see the final shade and brightness of the color after a couple of days, because henna takes time to “play” on your hair. For better coloring, experts recommend repeating the procedure 2-3 more times to achieve a deeper, richer color.
Little tricks for dyeing with henna
The fresher the henna, the better and faster it colors the hair. Turkish, Israeli and Egyptian henna acts faster than Russian one.
There is no need to wash your hair for three days after dyeing it with henna, then the color will be more saturated. also try not to do it in the next 5 days, especially oil-based ones.
You can speed up the dyeing process by drying your hair with the mixture applied with a hairdryer.
- If the color obtained after dyeing is too bright for you, rub vegetable oil into your hair. It will absorb excess henna. After half an hour, wash your hair with shampoo. If necessary, all steps are repeated.
Hairdressers who professionally color hair with natural dyes told the site about the main disadvantages and undeniable advantages of the main natural dyes - henna and basma.
1. "Plus" : henna and basma are really harmless to the health of hair and scalp. Trichologists (hair disease specialists even strongly recommend that their clients switch to natural dyes during hair loss treatment). Henna and basma significantly improve the quality of hair: with oily scalp and oily scalp (dandruff), they get rid of it, stop hair loss and promote its health.
2. "Plus" : everyone who dyes their hair with henna and basma is very satisfied with both the quality of their hair and the color (with practice, you can learn to get your ideal color).
3. "Plus" : henna and basma perfectly cover gray hair.
4. "Plus": you are completely independent of the work schedule of your beauty salon and the time of day in general. When it is convenient for you (and - as it is convenient for you) - then apply makeup. Painting with henna and basma is very convenient to combine with general washing and beauty in general :)
5. "Plus": You can tint overgrown roots without fear of damaging your hair at least once a week (however, this is usually not required more than once every 2-3 weeks).
6. "Minus" : chemical dyes cannot be applied to henna and basma and vice versa. That is, if your hair is dyed with a chemical dye, or you have “chemistry”, or your hair has generally been subjected to any chemical treatment, then you will hardly be able to dye your hair with henna and basma without unexpected results. And, if you have henna and basma on your hair, and you decide to lighten your hair to a blonde state or get a perm, etc. - it’s not a fact that you will be able to do this right away. Although, there are often cases when dyeing with henna and basma on top of any “chemistry” and vice versa gave very good results. Therefore, before applying henna and basma to ALL your hair, as well as chemical dye on top of henna and basma, first experiment on a separate strand (on the back of your head, for example).
7. "Minus" : True, the “minus” is relative, if someone helps you, i.e. if not YOU yourself, but SOMEONE dyes your hair (parting, applying, wrapping, etc.). Henna, basma and other additives (if you use them) must be taken in the right proportions, brewed correctly and applied. Not everyone is ready to bother like this THEMSELVES. But it's worth it, believe me.
8. "Minus" : The perfect color for you is a search. Henna and basma cannot bleach hair; in addition, the result of dyeing with natural dyes is always relatively predictable. In general, the result depends on the natural pigmentation, thickness and degree of damage of your hair. You can get the desired color only by experimenting on yourself: this is what everyone who dyes their hair with henna and basma says. However, in the end, no one ever complained about the final result: you just have to be prepared for the fact that your first color won't turn out exactly as you expected.
In ancient times, only men were allowed to dye their hair: Assyrian kings enthusiastically created various hairstyles for themselves and grew long beards. Only the most successful commanders were allowed to imitate them, which, of course, stimulated new victories for this warlike people. Assyrian clay tablets have survived to this day, listing a long list of plants used to dye hair, but modern botanists could only recognize cinnamon laurel and leek. African tribes had the same customs: a new hair color symbolized victory over the lion. They often dyed with ocher, but sometimes they used ash with the addition of fat, which caused the hair to turn white. The appearance of blonde blacks long confused the first European explorers of Africa.
Women were first allowed to change their appearance in Ancient Egypt - they dyed wigs, which were supposed to be worn on shaved heads. With the help of henna, different colors were achieved - from straw to dark copper, and beautiful patterns were drawn on the hands with it.
Having acquired a taste, the Egyptians tried basma, which was brought from India and China. It was very expensive and served as an unspoken indicator of wealth: both women and men used it, and also dyed the hair of children and the fur of pets.
Nature's Pantry
The leaves of the lawsonia bush, from which the popular dye is obtained, contain many essential oils and tannins, therefore they are very useful: strengthens and heals hair, treats hair roots damaged by chemical dyes or improper care, protects from the harmful effects of the sun, stops hair loss, Helps eliminate dandruff. Interestingly, when dyeing, henna does not penetrate into the hair structure, but colors it for a long time, almost like paint. It contains substances that tighten the outer scaly layer of the hair and give noticeable shine. You can only use fresh leaves; they are yellowish-green in color, and old henna takes on a reddish tint and becomes unusable.
Indigo
Basma has been produced from the leaves of the tropical indigofera plant for so long that historians have recognized it as the most ancient dye. By the way, it was basma that was used to dye the first jeans, and it was in her honor that the rich shade of blue - indigo - was named.
The remarkable cosmetological properties of basma were discovered in ancient times. It has been noticed that it stimulates hair growth and gives it a natural shine, improves hair structure and strengthens roots, and eliminates dandruff. If henna can be used without adding other ingredients, then henna must be added to basma, otherwise the hair will be dyed green, “frog” color.
Equal parts of henna and basma will give a chestnut color, 1 part of henna and 2 parts of basma will give a black color, 2 parts of henna and 1 part of basma will give a bronze tint.
Your own hairdresser
Most hairdressers do not recommend washing your hair before coloring. An exception to this rule is made only if the hair is very dirty or heavily covered in hairspray. In this case, you can wash your hair, trying to apply shampoo only to the hair, without touching the skin. Air conditioning cannot be used.
To prevent the skin near the scalp from becoming stained, lubricate it with Vaseline or fatty cream.
Mix henna with the selected ingredients, rub gently until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Add the desired liquid (water, hibiscus infusion, etc.), heated to 80 degrees. The result should be a mass as thick as store-bought sour cream. Leave it to cool to 40-50 degrees (this is about 3-4 minutes).
To avoid staining your hands, wear gloves and use a brush to apply the mixture onto your hair as evenly as possible, strand by strand, from roots to ends. You need to act quickly so that the solution does not cool down. If they are long, then place the bowl of paint in a large bowl and pour hot water into it. To color the ends of your hair, dilute the rest of the henna paste with hot water and soak them in this solution. Lift the treated hair and secure it with a hairpin at the crown. Wrap your head in plastic and a terry towel on top to keep warm.
Disadvantages of dyeing hair with henna and basma
Henna and basma behave unpredictably on those dyed with chemical dyes, so you will have to wait until the dyed hair grows out. The same applies to perm.
Coloring with henna and basma usually lasts for several months, but can gradually acquire a red or blue-violet tint, so to maintain the desired color, it is necessary to tint your hair in a timely manner.