See also: henna tattoos
What is henna?
Henna represents one of the basic products of phytocosmetics, obtained from the dried and pulverized leaves of a shrub (Lawsonia inermis L. fam. Lythraceae) commonly called henna.
In this regard, it should be considered that henna proper is natural or red henna, obtained from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis.
The neutral henna, on the other hand, is obtained from another plant, the Italic Senna (also known as Cassia obovata); while black henna is obtained from the leaves of the plant Indigofera tinctoria (also known as Indigo and from which the well known vegetable dye is obtained 'indigo ") Therefore, these other two natural dyes are commonly referred to as henna, but improperly.
The absence of chemicals such as ammonia, together with the advent of a healthy ecological fashion, have made henna a rather common and sought-after ingredient in hair dyes. However, since it offers a very limited range of dyes, the drug is often added with other dyes.
Property
The color given by the henna depends on the presence in the leaves of Lawsonia inermis, of glycosides which by hydrolysis release a yellowish pigment, reddish in the air. We are talking about lawsone, a naphthoquinone with coloring and reflecting properties.
Once placed in aqueous solution, this characteristic pigment of henna provides a red color, which allows - for example - to give reddish reflections to the hair.
Still in the trichological field, henna has rebalancing actions on the scalp, useful for combating seborrhea and oily dandruff; this characteristic is linked to the presence of tannins and an essential oil with astringent and skin-purifying properties.
Dye your hair
How to color your hair with henna
When it comes to henna and hair dye, there is, of course, no shortage of DIY recipes. Below we report some extrapolated from phytotricocosmetics and dermatology texts, such as those mentioned in the book "Treatise on medical aesthetics", by Di Vittorio Blini.
- Dissolve 50-100 grams of henna leaves in boiling water, in order to obtain a thick paste to be applied directly to freshly washed and still damp hair. Once applied, the garment must be covered with a plastic cap; the whole thing must be left on for a variable time from one to three hours, bearing in mind that the color obtained will be the more intense the longer the residence time of the henna mixture on the hair. After this period of permanence, the coloring slurry should be removed with a generous wash with lukewarm water.
Variants
Below are some variations of the aforementioned "recipe", necessary to obtain different colors from the classic henna red.
- Titian red: add 20 grams of sodium perborate to the mixture described above.
- Light brown or dark brown color: prepare a mixture based on 30 grams of henna powder and 30 grams of Indigofera tinctoria. Always refer to the methods described above, therefore keeping in mind that the intensity of the brown is proportional to the time the dye stays on the hair.
- Fawn brown: prepare a mixture based on 30 grams of henna powder, 20 grams of leaves of Indigofera tinctoria and 15 g of walnut husk powder. Always refer to the methods described above.
By varying the percentages of dyeing herbs used, it is possible to obtain different types of colors. However, it should always be remembered that the final coloring obtained can vary according to the time the mixture remains on the hair and according to the base color on which the dyeing mixture is applied.
Henna online
Online there is a Red Henna in pack of 3, a natural hair dye based on Lawsonia Inermis that is applied to clean hair to facilitate color setting.
You need to use 1 envelope for short hair and 2 envelopes for long hair. To use it, simply mix the powder with water until you get a thick, lump-free cream. Before proceeding, comb your hair by removing all knots. Protect your hands with gloves and apply the mixture on the hair along its entire length, taking one strand at a time. To distribute the mixture, help yourself with a brush or simply spread it with your fingers. Carefully clean the excess compound near the hairline, collect it and wrap it with cling film. Leave on for 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on the intensity of color you want to achieve. Rinse thoroughly and finally proceed with the shampoo.
While not coloring the hair, it is an effective treatment to restore tone, volume and shine. It also sanitizes oily scalp or scalp with dandruff problems, coats and strengthens fine hair giving it vigor and is suitable for all hair types.
Regular application densifies the hair fiber and adds volume to the entire hair, protecting it and making it soft and easy to comb.
Use twice a month to restore volume, tone and shine. Use once a week as a regenerating and revitalizing shock treatment.
Results
The results that can be obtained with henna can vary greatly from one person to another.
In fact, the hair of each individual has its own ability to absorb henna which can be more or less high.
Furthermore, the effect of henna is influenced by the basic color of the hair on which it is applied: to bleached, blond or graying ones, for example, henna gives an orange color, similar to orange peel, while to black hair gives a very appreciable coppery nuance on an aesthetic level.
In addition to all this, the final color obtained with henna can also be influenced by the exposure time on the hair.
Generally, we recommend an exposure time that can vary from one "hour to a maximum of four hours. Longer exposure times, in fact, could cause sensitization and irritation of the scalp.
Furthermore, henna does not allow to lighten in any way dark hair, on which it is possible to obtain golden or reddish reflections, depending on the blends of dyeing herbs that are used.
Finally, it should be remembered that only henna proper - therefore, only natural or red henna - is able to completely cover white hair, giving it a typically orange or copper-red color.
Disadvantages
Among the main disadvantages deriving from the use of henna to color the hair we certainly find the poor duration of its effects.
In fact, coloring with henna is not permanent like a synthetic color, but it is only temporary. With each wash, the hair discharges a certain amount of color and this causes the progressive loss of the tone initially obtained.
Indicatively, the effects obtained with henna disappear after one or two months, after which it will be necessary to make new applications.
Furthermore, it should be remembered that the continuous discharge of color whenever the hair is wet can constitute a strong limit to the use of henna during the summer months, in order to avoid unpleasant episodes during and after swimming in the sea or in the pool.
Finally, another disadvantage of henna may be its smell. This natural dye, in fact, is characterized by a typically herbaceous odor that may be unpleasant to many people.
Contraindications
Although henna is a natural substance that is usually well tolerated, its use is contraindicated in some cases.
More specifically, the use of henna to color the hair is contraindicated as a precaution in people suffering from favism.
Among the various chemical components of henna, in fact, we find a particular chemical compound (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) which could potentially be able to induce hemolysis in patients suffering from favism, thus worsening the clinical picture. and putting their health at serious risk.
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