All About Henna Pt. 2

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I told myself I want to try Henna before the end of the summer, which for me means by the end of this month. So I've been researching more & more about Henna until I came across this great article on Henna. This answered all my questions I had concerning Henna, so I know it will answer a lot of questions out there. It is lengthy, but I did my best to highlight certain things that get right to the point for a quick read. I will be ordering these products soon & will definitely be doing a video tutorial on my whole Henna experience. Should be interesting.

By: Maureen Jones of EveryDay Mehndi and Body Art Central

If you want healthy hair that is strong with beautiful color and have been looking for a safe and natural way to accomplish this, it is time to become acquainted with henna.

Henna powder comes from the processed leaves of the henna bush. Typically, "henna" refers to the leaves or powder from the leaves of the henna bush. Henna is a natural plant. The botanical name for henna is Lawsonia Inermis. Henna, Lawsonia Inermis, is one of many natural dyes. The pigment found in the leaves of the henna bush releases as a dye when added to a liquid such as water or an acidic liquid such as lemon juice. What separates henna from many other natural dyes is its ability to stain the skin and hair more effectively and for longer periods of time than most natural dyes are capable of doing.

The henna powder purchased in the US is imported from other parts of the world. Henna is processed by manufacturers who purchase huge quantities of henna grown on henna farms. The leaves are harvested from the henna bushes and allowed to dry. These leaves are then taken to factories where machines grind them into powder. Most often, henna powder is created by blending a number of types of henna leaves from different areas of a country or from different countries and from different types of henna plants in order to produce the henna powder the manufacturer desires. After grinding, the henna is then sifted. The sift of henna that can be obtained can range from poorly sifted to ultra finely sifted. Poorly sifted henna will contain visible pieces of leaf and veins. Ultra finely sifted henna powder is talc like and contains no leaf and vein pieces. The sift is often more important to people who use henna for body art. However, more and more, people using henna for hair are enjoying the benefit of using finely sifted henna powder for their hair. The finely sifted henna powder used for hair creates a much smoother paste and leaves no leaf and stem parts in the hair that become a problem to remove.

When the henna powder has been sifted, it is then packaged for the market. It is then imported into countries like the US and made available for purchase.

Henna is spelled and pronounced in many different ways depending upon the specific region of the world. Henna has many uses that are also closely connected to the different parts of the world and the people of that location who are using it. In the Pakistan, Iran, Yemen, Morocco, India…the Middle East, South East Asia and Northern Africa, there is a long history and tradition of henna use. Henna is applied to the hands, feet and hair in order to keep cool in very hot climates. Henna may be given as part of a dowry. The night before the wedding the bride and sometimes the bride and groom are designed with henna. For religious observance and celebration, henna is often brought out. Textiles are dyed with henna. And hair is dyed and conditioned with henna.

What makes henna beneficial to hair?

Henna provides two types of benefit to the hair simultaneously. Henna will condition and color the hair. As a conditioner, henna strengthens the hair, is an anti-fungal and reduces the occurrence of dandruff, conditions the scalp, slightly loosens the curl pattern, helps to detangle and make hair more manageable and provides a natural and healthy sheen and shine to hair. As a natural source of color, henna colors the hair red - not a bright cherry red, but rather a beautiful and natural red for hair.

Henna does not color hair like synthetic dyes. Henna coats the hair shaft with a transparent red coloring. As applications of henna are repeated, the color deepens. Henna does not and cannot lighten hair. However, it provides red and reddish highlights on dark hair. Henna on black and dark brown hair will eventually become dark auburn to burgundy/black with red highlights in sunlight. Henna on blonde hair can shift the color to a natural red. Henna on red hair will make the hair a deeper richer red. Henna on brown hair can range from a natural red to auburn to dark auburn depending upon the shade of brown. Henna on white hair will make the hair, orange/red to natural red to deep red.

A benefit to using henna is that it will both condition and color your hair in a way that is both natural and safe.

DIY: Color Your Hair Naturally

While following some of you on Twitter, we've noticed a lot of you asking questions regarding other means of coloring your hair aside from using Henna. I happened to stumble across this great DIY article on Naturally Obsessed on ways to naturally color your hair yourself.

Red

Henna

It’s just about safe to say that henna is the most popular method of naturally dyeing any type of hair. I researched and found that henna actually has the ability to only dye hair, or anything for that matter, red. So, do not be fooled. There are plenty of mixes out there that claim to be all natural henna and can dye hair blonde, brown, etc., BUT, they’re all lies. Pure, 100% henna can only dye hair red. Also, henna proves effective the more it is used; so, if you have dark hair, you probably won’t notice any drastic changes to your hair color until after a few uses. I was actually interested in henna, but I have black hair, so henna really wouldn’t be the best solution to my interest in changing my hair color. However, if you have hair of the lighter variety and are looking to spice up your color with some red, definitely try henna.

I mentioned in the original post on henna that using acidic liquids, such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar would cause the henna to release quicker. It’s true. Mixing acidic liquids with henna will cause the dye to release quicker, however, it could also dry your hair out. BEWARE. If you have naturally dry hair and decide to use henna with an acid, be sure to deep condition regularly to combat the dryness AND keep your hair healthy. Also, I saw that some people said that henna has the ability to change the texture of your hair. However, it completely depends on the person and their curls.

Recipe to bring out Reddish Tint:

• Mix 1/2 cup organic Beet juice and 1/2 cup carrot juice. Massage into hair and let sit for one hour.
• Boil 1 cup Rosehips in 2 cups of water. Strain and massage into hair. Can be left in until next shampoo.
• Boil 3 Hibiscus tea bags down in 2 cups of water until you have 1 to 1/2 cup of liquid. Massage into hair. This can also be left in until your next shampoo.
• Boil down 1/3 cup crushed marigold flowers in 2 cups water. Strain and add 1 cup of red wine. Massage into hair and leave in for 30 minuets.

Rosehips & Cloves
Make a strong tea of rosehips and cloves, (or use strong black coffee), and then apply to hair.

Beet & Carrot Juice
1/2 cup of beet juice + 1/2 cup of carrot juice
Mix ingredients together and apply to damp hair. Sit in the sun for about an hour or so and then rinse.

Blondes

Lemons

Well, lemons help with dandruff. Just thought I’d start with that. However, lemons are known to dry hair SO, once again, deep condition regularly to combat the dryness. Here’s a few recipes that can be used to lighten your hair color. This will work for anyone with dark brown, light brown, blonde, or red hair. Followers with black hair, you can try, but it will ideally take longer.

• Mix 1 cup organic lemon juice and 3 cups Chamomile tea. Message into your hair and spend some time in the sun. Far faster results repeat a few times a week.
• Mix up mashed organic Rhubarb with 4oz organic pineapple juice. Let the mixture soak into your hair and spend some time in the sun.
• Mix 3/4 cup honey with 1 1/2 cups organic plain yogurt to damp hair. Massage hair and wrap head in saran wrap. Let sit for up to eight hours and rinse.
• Mix 4 tablespoons Cinnamon with 8oz yogurt. Message into hair and let it soak in for 30 minutes.

Or

First you will need a simple lemon mixture. Mix one part warm water and 2 parts lemon juice together.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture generously to the areas you want to lighten.
Expose your hair to natural sunlight for around an hour or two. Wash hair our and let dry.

Tea, Yogurt and Oil

• 6 Chamomile tea bags
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• Lavender oil

Bring one cup of water to boil and steep tea bags for 15 minutes. Discard teabags. Combine yogurt and 7 drops of lavender oil with chamomile tea, mix thoroughly. Apply the mixture to dry hair, working through to ends. Cover head in plastic wrap and condition for thirty minutes. Rinse.

Brunette

Tea or Black Coffee

Place a large bowl in sink and rinse hair with cooled coffee/tea. Repeat several times, reusing the liquid. Leave final rinse in hair for at least 15 minutes. Rinse with clear water.

Black

Indigo

Indigo can be used to dye hair black or to dye already black hair a blue-black.
Well, if you aren’t a natural product junkie, you can always go to a trusted professional natural hair salon, or use a commercial dye. Just make sure to DEEP CONDITION to prevent dryness, and regularly get your ends trimmed to prevent breakage.

Do you color your hair? What do you use? 

All About Henna

Although I haven't tried it yet, I've been getting a lot of questions regarding coloring natural hair with Henna. So until I have one of my lovely guest bloggers write up a lovely review & tutorial of Henna, I figure we could still be enlightened on the subject matter.

By Nicole Hollis of Hair Liberty

Henna is a plant that grows in the hot, dry climates of the Eastern hemisphere. For decades, women from North Africa, India, and the Middle East have used henna to stain their hair, skin, and nails. The red henna dye is contained within the leaves of the plant. After the plant is harvested, the leaves are dried, ground and sifted into a flour-like powder. In the last few years, henna has become a popular treatment option for African American women seeking more natural remedies for their hair. Here are the most frequently asked questions.

Is henna safer than commercial hair dye?
Yes, but it's very important that you only use 100% pure henna. Low-quality henna mixtures may contain additives like PPD to make the dye stain stronger and darker. Dye additives may cause allergy problems or react with chemicals that have been previously applied to your hair. Unfortunately, the FDA has approved henna for use as a hair dye, but does not regulate its safety. So, the seller of the henna is the only person who really knows the purity of what you're purchasing. Mehandi.com and LUSH Cosmetics are two suppliers known for high quality.

Henna is gentler on your hair than permanent hair color because it only deposits dye onto the surface, not inside the cortex. The effects from henna are most similar to semi-permanent hair color. Both are safe enough for fragile African American hair.

Can I get the same color results using henna as with commercial hair dye?
Maybe. Pure henna leaf powder can only produce a red to orange-red color. Different crops (depending on location) produce different levels of red, ranging from auburn to cherry. If you see henna advertised as producing black or brown shades that means the henna has been mixed with some other herb or product. For example, henna is commonly mixed with cocoa powder to produce reddish brown.

Since henna is a depositing dye, it cannot lighten your hair...only bleach can do that. If your natural hair color is dark black, henna may not show up at all or it may produce a red shimmer.

If your natural hair color is dark brown or lighter (including grey), you are likely to see a color change after your first henna application. The color should be subtle, but it will increase in intensity after every treatment.

If your hair is bleached or relaxed, your hair is more porous. Porous hair absorbs chemicals more easily and the henna dye may absorb into the hair cortex instead of just coating the outer shaft. The color may still be subtle, but definitely noticeable in direct light.

Henna is a very inexact method of coloring your hair. If you really want a substantial change in hair color, you're better off visiting a professional cosmetologist.

Will Henna loosen natural African American coils?
Sometimes. A quick Internet search produces thousands of results on the subject. The only thing we know for sure is that everybody's experience is different. If you want to loosen your natural coils, you can definitely experiment with henna. Any effect will be gradual. Most women who report looser curls say that it took 3 or more treatments to see any difference. However, if you truly wish to transform Type 4 coils to looser curls, a chemical treatment (applied by a professional cosmetologist) will deliver more significant and uniform results.

How do I get the most out of my henna treatment?
First, purchase your henna from a reputable supplier (see above). To get the most value for your money, choose pure henna with high dye content. Typically, 100 grams of pure henna only contains 2 or 3 grams of dye. The rest is just ground up henna leaves. So, for the most effective treatments, you definitely want the highest dye content available. Ask your supplier which henna they recommend to cover greys because that usually means maximum dye content.

When working with pure henna, the liquid that you use to help the dye release can impact the treatment results. An acidic liquid will help the dye release faster. Aloe vera juice is a great choice because its pH is low enough to smooth your hair's cuticles without making your strands stiff or dry.

Henna hair treatments have been done by North African and Indian women for decades with little to no instruction. Unless you're really hoping to achieve curl loosening or a color change, feel free to experiment by adding Ayurvedic herbs to your mix (supplier websites usually offer plenty of recipes). When attempting to change your curl pattern or hair color, keep it simple and just add an acidic liquid. A batch of high dye content henna can quickly become low dye content if you add too many oils and herbs to the mix.

If this is all sounding like too much guess work, try one of the pre-mixed henna bars from LUSH. They combine henna, lemon juice, cocoa butter, and herbs into one firm block that you just have to melt in a bowl of water.

The biggest advantage with henna is that you can do it yourself. Your henna supplier will give you all the instructions you need for a successful treatment. Whether your hair is natural or relaxed, a properly applied henna can add shine and softness to your hair. You can't count on any other benefits, but feel free to try it a few times and see what you get!