Ingredients of Henna For Hair Conditioning
Henna / Mehdi has a very reputed place in Indian culture. It is used on hands during auspicious occasions like festivals and marriages. And it is also used as natural hair dye by those who have gray hair. The use of henna is probably as old as the civilization because our ancestors have been using henna to color their hair, palms and sole of feet because of it cools, soothes, conditions and dyes instantly.
I started suffering from gray hair when I was just 13 years old, this is the time henna was introduced to me by my mother for hair dye and healthy hair. Since then henna has been an integral part of my hair routine. I use henna fortnightly or monthly, during lazy seasons like winter I use it every couple of months.
Almost all hair dressers have asked me not to use henna in hair because it dries hair, make them brittle and weak which is utter nonsense. Have you heard someone saying "excess of everything is bad, and if done in limits everything has benefits". I believe in it. Even snake poison has some medicinal benefits. Said that, henna has benefits too.
Benefits of Henna -
- Henna has protective and restorative qualities. - It promotes hair growth as it balances the acidic and alkaline balance of scalp. - It has cooling and soothing properties. Red bumps, rashes and wounds can be cured by using henna paste on it. - Henna has conditioning properties and it brings shine in hair. Even if applied on hands, henna gives shine.These are some benefits that I know for sure.
I do believe that Henna can be drying for but if only you let henna dry for hours and hours or if you use it alone with water. Different people mix different ingredients in henna for hair to get different results which is either dying hair or conditioning hair.
I dye my hair because of gray hair as well as I condition my hair. And I found a perfect blend of different ingredients that give me both results. I have waist length hair, not too thick and not too thin with silky, straight and wavy on ends.
For my hair I mix -
1- 3 table spoon henna. I use henna available in market.2- Extract of dried tea leaves. I mix it in water and bring to boil. I let it cool down for 10-15 minutes. This is what gives burgundy shine to hair.
3- 1 tea spoon mustard oil. This keeps hair moisturized as henna dries up.
4- 1 egg. For shine, protein and silkiness.
5- 1 lemon juice. I believe that lemon juice helps extracts and deepens henna color. It also helps in balancing the pH level of our scalp, reduces dandruff.
6 - 1 tea spoon coffee. To add more shine to hair.
These ingredients are mixed in an iron bowl. It is believed that iron bowl reduces the redness in henna color and adds more blackish/burgundy color to it. You will find huge difference in the color of your hair if you use a regular bowl henna and iron bowl henna.
I keep the mixture of 3-4 hours so iron bowl can make the paste more blackish by leaving its iron in the paste. Afterwards I apply henna with the help of glove, plastic bags or brush. I find gloves or plastic bags more helpful. I let it sit for 2-3 hours and wash it with cold or warm water depending on season. I wash my hair with shampoo after a day.
This is how my hair is and you won't find dryness in my hair:
It has never become dry or brittle due to henna. I totally believe that henna protects my hair from harsh chemicals that I use in form of shampoo or conditioner.
You may find that your scalp is itchy, hair falls while washing hair or afterwards but it is only for a day. If you oil your hair really well, itch would go away. And losing hair after henna application is the same which is for oiling or washing hair with shampoo or conditioner.
Do NOT use henna if-
- You have colored your hair. Henna will modify the color and it may not turn out flattering.- You are planning to get some chemical treatments for your hair like - curling, straightening or hair spa. It won't work as effectively as it would do without henna. Reason? henna creates a protective layer around your hair strands that do not let chemicals penetrate it. (I personally like this fact).
My personal suggestion for dry hair friends-
Always oil your hair after washing henna so your dry hair doesn't get dryer afterwards.
Other ingredients that can be mixed with henna for conditioning and dying-
- Dry Amla (Emblica Officinalis)- Shikakai (Acacia Concinna)
- Reetha (Sapindus Trifolatus)
- Curd / Yoghurt
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
I will update this post in future in case of any modifications and I will re-post it so you are up-to-date with my experience with henna. Henna has done good for my hair in last 15-20 years and I am sure it will continue doing so.In case you have disconnects, queries or information; please mail me at - [email protected]
Rate SSU post:
