There are many benefits of using henna as a hair dye. It helps condition your hair by locking in its natural oils and tightening cuticles. You will be left with rich, healthy hair that will have great shine! While traditional forms of hair dye are being scrutinized as potentially cancerous, henna is a natural product without harmful ingredients and chemicals, and has been used for centuries. That makes for one less side effect for you to worry about as a consumer, and one more way to help your hair bounce with health!
Henna comes from leaves of different plants. The three main leaves are:
- Lawsonia – red colour
- Indigoferae – dark colours
- Cassia – condition hair and keeps the hair colour neutral.
The three colours can be combined together to create a medley of colours. If you are mixing your own leaves, use precaution. The leaves need to be combined properly to obtain the colour that you are looking for. For a faster and more reliable approach, a box of henna hair dye can be picked up at any major drug store chain. Usually henna produces hues of red, and dark brown, but nowadays manufacturers of the herbal dye are able to make a variety of colors with the plant and other agents to neutralize the redness.
The steps are easy when making your henna paste to dye your hair:
- Place the powder into a bowl and add 3 parts hot water and 1 part powder. Mix this together until it forms a paste-like consistency.
- Apply the paste evenly throughout your hair. Use a comb to get the paste into the roots of your hair.
- Leave the henna paste in your hair for approximately 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes has elapsed, wash your hair until the water in your shower running from your head loses all its color.
Note: when using Henna as a dye, keep in mind that it is a semi-permanent hair dye. Additionally, henna can stain your nails and clothing!
What happens if you change your mind and want to remove the henna colour from your hair?
Well there are a few options that you can try, but keep in mind that you will need to remove the henna hair dye within 24 hours of dying your hair.
- If you have light hair, one suggestion is to mix a tub of Crystal Light Lemonade with half-cup of conditioner. Apply this to your hair and then cover it with a shower cap or plastic cap. Wait approximately 45 minutes and rinse out.
- If you have dark hair, mix together baking powder and molasses (same amount for each) and then apply it equally to your hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic cap and once the mixture hardens simply wash it out with shampoo.
- For gradual removal, apply shampoo followed by a heavy conditioner consistently until the color fades on its own.
