See also: henna tattoos
What is henna?
Henna is one of the basic products of phytocosmetics, derived from the dried and powdered leaves of a shrub ( Lawsonia inermis L. fam. Lythraceae) commonly called henna.
Consider in this regard that henna itself is natural or red henna, obtained from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis .
Neutral henna, on the other hand, is obtained from another plant, the Senna italica (also known as Cassia obovata); while black henna is obtained from the leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria plant (also known as Indigo and from which the well-known " indigo" vegetable dye is obtained). Therefore, these two other natural dyes are commonly called henna, but improperly.
The absence of chemicals such as ammonia, together with the advent of healthy ecological fashion, have made henna a fairly common and sought after ingredient in hair dyes. However, since it offers a very limited range of colors, the drug is often supplemented with other dyes.
Property
The color given by henna depends on the presence, in the leaves of Lawsonia inermis, of glycosides which, by hydrolysis, release a yellowish, reddish pigment in the air. We are talking about the lawsone, a naphthoquinone with coloring and reflecting properties.
Once placed in aqueous solution, this characteristic henna pigment provides a red color, which allows - for example - to give reddish reflections to the hair.
Still in the trichological field, henna enjoys 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 dermo-purifying properties.
Color the hair
How to color your hair with henna
When it comes to henna and hair dyes there are, of course, do-it-yourself recipes. Below we report some extrapolated from phytotrichocosmetics and dermatology texts, such as those mentioned in the book "Treaty of medical aesthetics", by Vittorio Blini.
- Dissolve 50-100 grams of henna leaves in boiling water, so as 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; all of this will be left on for a period of time varying from one to three hours, bearing in mind that the color obtained will be more intense the longer the henna dough remains on the hair. After this period of stay, the coloring slurry must be removed with a generous wash with warm water.
variants
Below are some variations of the aforementioned "recipe", necessary to obtain different colors from the classic red henna.
- Titian red: add 20 grams of sodium perborate to the mixture described above.
- Brown or light brown color : prepare a mixture of 30 grams of henna powder and 30 grams of Indigofera tinctoria leaves. Always refer to the methods described above, therefore bearing in mind that the intensity of the brown is proportional to the dwell time on the hair.
- Fawn-colored chestnut : prepare a mixture of 30 grams of henna powder, 20 grams of Indigofera tinctoria leaves and 15 g of walnut husk powder. Always refer to the methods described above.
By varying the percentages of dyeing herbs used, different types of colors can be obtained. However, it must always be remembered that the final coloring obtained may vary depending on the time the dough remains on the hair and on the basis of the base color on which the dyeing mixture is applied.
Henna online
Online is available a Red Henna in pack of 3, a natural hair color based on Lawsonia Inermis that is applied to clean hair to facilitate color grabbing.
You need to use 1 bag for short hair and 2 bags for long hair. To use it, just mix the powder with water to obtain a thick, lump-free cream. Before proceeding, comb the hair eliminating all knots. Protect your hands with gloves and apply the mixture over the entire length of your hair, taking one strand at a time. To distribute the mixture, use a brush or simply spread it with your fingers. Carefully clean the excess compound near the hairline, collect them and wrap them with transparent film. Leave on for 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on the color intensity to be obtained. Rinse thoroughly and then proceed with the shampoo.
While not coloring the hair, it is an effective treatment to restore tone, volume and shine. It also sanitizes the greasy or dandruff scalp, covers and strengthens fine hair giving it strength and is suitable for all types of hair.
Regular application densifies the hair fiber and adds volume to the whole of the 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 a great deal from one person to another.
In fact, each individual's hair has its own capacity to absorb henna which can be more or less elevated.
Moreover, the effect of henna is influenced by the basic coloring of the hair on which it is applied: for those bleached, blond or graying, for example, henna gives an orange color, similar to orange peel, while to black hair it gives a very appreciable coppery nuance on the aesthetic level.
Besides all this, the final color obtained with henna can also be influenced by the laying time on the hair.
Generally, a shutter speed is recommended, which can vary from an hour up to a maximum of four hours. Longer laying times, in fact, could cause sensitization and irritation of the scalp.
Moreover, henna does not allow to lighten dark hair in any way, on which it is possible to obtain at most golden or reddish reflections, depending on the dyeing mixtures you use.
Finally, it is good to remember 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 for coloring hair we certainly find the poor duration of its effects.
In fact, coloring with henna is not as permanent as a synthetic color, but is only temporary. At each washing, the hair discharges a certain amount of color and this causes the progressive loss of the shade 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 must 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 can be its smell. This natural dye, in fact, is characterized by a typically herbaceous odor that could be unpleasant to many people.
Contraindications
Although henna is a natural substance usually well tolerated, its use is contraindicated in some cases.
More in detail, the use of henna for coloring hair is contraindicated for precautionary purposes in people with favism.
Among the various chemical components of henna, in fact, we find a particular chemical compound (2-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone) that could potentially be able to induce hemolysis in patients suffering from favism, thus worsening the clinical picture and putting their health at risk.
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