Henna is a herb with all the natural goodness that can help you to get beautiful hairs when used in the right way. Nowadays, henna powder is mostly used for temporary hair color, because it is not harmful for the hairs or the skin like other chemical based hair dyes.
Henna has its natural ability to add a copper red color to your hairs, and if you continue using it routinely the color can actually become long term on your hairs.
This color will not budge your eyes or skin, but in order to keep your hairs in the best condition when using henna regularly, it is important to follow the right measures.
Henna popularly known as mehandi. Henna is used as hair coloring for hundreds of years. In ancient times, powerful herbs are used by queens to color their hair. Henna is a flowering plant.
Henna has burgundy coloring agent that is concentrated in its leaves. Henna is used by people who are allergic to chemical creams. Henna protects our hair from sun and dust.
The greatest benefit of henna is that it is an excellent hair conditioner. Henna is natural colorant and strengthener and has all sorts of other benefits.
Henna is natural dye that also helps to prevent premature graying of hair. Henna balances the pH levels on scalp and prevents hair fall.
Henna helps to rid of common health problems like itchy scalp and dandruff. Henna helps in curing the dryness of hair by restoring the lost moisture.
Benefits of henna
Henna improves hair growth
Henna is used to make an essential oil to get rid of hair fall.
Ingredients
- Henna powder 5 cups
- Gingili oil 1/4 kg
Procedure
- Boil gingili oil until it gets heat. Add henna powder to oil, boil for 5-6 min.
- Let the mixture gets cool down completely. Store in bottle for treatment.
- Apply on hair for 2-3 times in a week for 2 months.
Henna for conditioning and coloring
This hair pack is used both for coloring and also conditioning purpose.
Ingredients
- Henna powder
- Lemon juice
- Curd
- Tea decoction
Procedure
- Take one glass of tea decoction in normal temperature. Mix henna powder in that tea decoction.
- Mix it well until it comes into a thick paste and add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice in mixture.
- Leave aside for 30 min. later add 2 tablespoons of curd to henna mixture thoroughly.
- Apply on hair evenly .leave it for 1 hour. rinse off with mild shampoo.
- This pack is applied for every two weeks to add shine and increase hair growth.
Henna reduces hair fall
Henna reduces hair fall when it is used with mustard oil.
Ingredients
- Henna
- Mustard oil
Procedure
- Take 250 ml of mustard oil and boil it. Add hand full of henna leaves in oil and boil them.
- Massage your scalp with the oil for 2-3 times a week to overcome hair fall problem.
- This oil can be stored for a month.
- For better results ,use lemon juice and fresh curd with oil to overcome the problem of hair fall.
Henna prevents dandruff
Henna is rescue for most of the hair problems such as dandruff, itchy and dry hair. Regular usage of henna cures dandruff and prevents coming back.
Ingredients
1. Henna
2. Mustard oil
3. Methi Seeds
Procedure
- Soak Methi seeds in water overnight grind into paste next morning. Mix paste with henna mustard oil.
- Apply mixture on scalp and hair for 30 min
- Rinse off your hair as usual with shampoo. Apply conditioner.
- Use this mixture regularly for healthier scalp and healthier hair.
The primary problem with henna is that it is very drying in nature, so if you keep it on your hairs for long it will dry out the hair shafts and cause hair fall. Keeping henna on your scalp for long can work in the same way.
It can dry out your scalp totally from moisture which can weaken your hair roots or cause dandruff. The best way to get all the good effects of henna while saving your hairs from its drying effect is to follow a fewtips while using the product.
Read on to know how you can use this product in the most effective way,
- If you are using henna on your hairs for the purpose of conditioning, always mix an egg and honey with it before applying.
- The egg and honey will nourish and moisturize your hairs and will counteract the drying effects of the henna powder, giving you gorgeous hairs. Also never keep the henna on your hairs for more than one hour if your purpose is only to condition the hairs.
- When using henna powder for the purpose of coloring your hairs soaking the powder in an iron container with tea liquor will give brighter color.
- For coloring your hairs with henna you need to repeat the process with minimum interval. Use the soaked henna on your hairs on every alternate day for a week; and then repeat the process once or twice in a month.
- For best coloring, keeping the pack on your hairs at least for 5-6 hours is necessary and while you let it soak always cover your hairs with a shower cap to ensure that the henna does not get dry.
- For the purpose of coloring or conditioning your hairs never use the henna onto your scalp. Henna can dry out the scalp and cause scalp irritation and itching.
- In order to fight the problem of drying caused by using henna at regular intervals you can oil your hairs properly before and after using henna. This will ensure that your hairs are provided with adequate amount of moisture and are not dried out by the henna.
- If you are using henna on your oiled hairs, you need not to use a shampoo to wash off the henna. After the specified time, wash off the henna from your hairs with plenty of water but do not apply shampoo.
- The henna will remove the excess oil from the hairs. If even after cleaning off the henna with adequate water you find that your hairs are still on the drier side, you can use oil directly on it.
- This can be very effective to get long lasting color by using henna. You can repeat the process of oiling you hairs and then applying henna, for 3-4 times and then finally use a shampoo to wash off; and finish with a good moisturizing conditioner.
- This will give richer and more permanent color without the extreme drying effect that can cause damage.
- While applying henna to your hairs always use gloves and keep your skin that comes in close contact with your hairs covered, so that they do not get stained.
- In case of any staining on your skin, wipe off the pack from the skin, apply a moisturizer and let it soak in before rubbing off with a piece of lemon. This will lighten the henna stains.
- You can also apply henna pack to your wet hairs in order to make the process of application less messy. Use plastic clips to hold your hair in place while applying. You can also mix some sugar with the henna pack to make it more smooth.
A word of caution
The natural henna prepared from the leaves of the plant Lawsonia inermis is known for having medicinal properties and they are completely safe for use on the skin or on the hairs.
Henna can even be effective to fight a number of scalp conditions when used in the right way. The original henna will always give your hairs or your skin a red color.
However, currently, there are many other types of henna or mehendi available in the market, which hardly have any part of the original henna plant.
These henna are available under different brand names and they might be effective to give your hairs a color that is deeper and more vibrant than the natural henna hair color, but are not free of chemicals and have their own side effects.
The commonly available product, kali mehendi or black henna is not made from the leaves of the henna plant and they use dyes to give the desired color to the hairs just like the normal hair dyes.
So, if you are taking a henna treatment to improve your hair condition and to give it a natural looking reddish tinge it is important that you pick your henna powder carefully.
You can always mix some kitchen ingredients like, coffee, tea liquor and others with the natural hair powder to get a deeper color.
Using the leaves of the henna plant as a paste along with a few other kitchen ingredients is best for hairs. However, in cities, collecting the fresh henna leaves is not a feasible option.
So, buying the henna powder from reputed herbal brands is the best way to go. You should also check for the ingredients added in the product before you buy and use it. Always ensure that you are not fooled to use some form of hair dye in the name of henna.
