Henna for hair and tattoo is very popularly used by people all over the world since many centuries.
With increasing awareness of the adverse effects of synthetic and ammonia-based hair dyes, most users of hair dyes are switching over to organic and natural hair coloring products; and henna is the most popular choice for many.
What Is Henna?
Henna (Lawsonia inermis) also known as hina, hena, the henna tree, the mignonette tree or the Egyptian privet, is a flowering plant and the sole species of the Lawsonia genus.
The name ‘henna’ generally refers to the dye that is prepared from the semi-dried and pounded leaves of the Lawsonia plant by Henna Manufacturer in India.
Henna is the Lawsonia plant leaves in powdered form or compressed blocks used for hair dye or body art.
Another variation of the henna is Mehndi, a henna paste which is usually packed into cone-shaped tubes for the convenient use of drawing tattoo like designs on the skin. Mehndi is used by most women in India, Pakistan and Arab Countries on auspicious occasions such as weddings, religious events, and traditional ceremonies.
Henna is used extensively to dye the skin, hair, and nails as well as on fabrics and leather.
Types Of Henna
The natural henna is modified into several variations by adding different natural ingredients into it to produce henna in different colors and shades.
There are also different varieties of henna hair care products available.
The ‘natural henna’ (Lawsonia inermis) when used as hair dye it gives a reddish-brown color to the hair. Of course, the color will vary a lot according to the original color of the hair.
The other henna products popularly sold in the beauty shops are like the “black henna” and “neutral henna” may not contain the original henna at all. These varieties are instead made from other plants or other substances altogether.
The ‘neutral henna’, the powder obtained from Cassia obovata leaf which is used as a hair conditioner to make hair glossy and thick with a healthy scalp. It is also useful for fighting dandruff and head lice.
The ‘black henna’ is the powder obtained from the leaves of the indigo plant. Usually, the manufacturers might also add into it other unlisted dyes and chemicals like p-phenylenediamine (PPD) to increase the depth and brightness of the black color. It is commonly sold as a natural hair dye, but it is not approved by the FDA as it can cause skin irritations and other side effects in some of the users. In reality, there is nothing called ‘black henna,’ because it is a different form of the natural dye obtained from the indigo plant leaf.
Is Henna For Hair Good Or Bad?
Henna is one of the best alternative options to the chemical-rich hair dye. It can give you a ‘shiny and bouncy’ hair without the chemicals normally found in the synthetic dye.
It is known for its ability to block the harmful UV rays of the sunlight that can otherwise cause damage to the hair.
The natural ingredients in henna do not cause hair fall, and it actually promotes better hair growth. It is an excellent hair conditioner that works like other synthetic conditioners, but without the harmful chemicals.
However, henna may not suit all people. It can be dangerous to people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency) which mostly happens to men and children.
Some of the reported cases of side effects associated with henna are mostly found with the henna paste used for body-art or tattooing. It can cause occasional allergic reactions, darkened stains on skin, or alter the skin color.
Benefits of Henna Hair Dye
Obviously, using the henna hair dye has several advantages over the synthetic or chemical hair dyes. Let us see some of the major advantages of this hair care solution.
Free Of Chemicals
Constant use of chemical-rich shampoos and hair dyes will certainly damage our hair sooner than we ever thought of. Pure henna is 100% natural and does not have any serious side effects associated with it.
Of course, don’t take all the henna hair coloring solutions for granted as some of them come with added chemical ingredients or a mixture of other organic ingredients that may not be safe for the hair and skin. As we had mentioned earlier, the ‘black henna’ and ‘neutral henna’ is very different from genuine henna.
Henna Is a Natural Hair Conditioner
Just like the synthetic hair conditioners, henna can also be used as a hair conditioner that will add shine and silkiness to the hair. It will also make the hair strong and remove the dryness from the hair.
The organic and safe substance in henna stains the hair to form a protective layer around the hair. The hair is well protected from the external pollutants in the air and water and also shields the hair from the harmful UV rays in the sunlight.
It is also found that when henna is mixed with other natural hair care solutions like olive oil, coconut oil or yogurt, it becomes an excellent natural hair conditioner.
Fights Dandruff
Dandruff is one of the major causes of hair fall that affects a large number of people. Henna contains natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that will gradually work on the scalp to remove dandruff and other fungal infections.
Most of the natural remedies for dandruff problems usually have henna as a major ingredient in them. As a DIY method, if you have the dandruff problem, you could add two teaspoons lemon juice or apple cider vinegar into a sufficient amount of henna powder and apply this paste onto your scalp. Repeat this procedure twice a week and you will notice that dandruff is gradually vanishing from your scalp.
Healthy For the Scalp
Some persons experience increasing hair fall because of the imbalanced levels of acid-alkaline balance on the scalp. Usage of henna is healthy for the scalp as it does not alter the natural acid-alkaline balance on your scalp, unlike the chemical-rich hair dyes and shampoos.
Promotes Hair Growth
Another big advantage of henna is its effect on promoting the healthy growth of hair. It strengthens the hair and avoids premature thinning and breakage of the hair. When the hair strands are strengthened, they will naturally grow longer and thicker. Most of the people who regularly use henna are experiencing less amount of hair fall compared to others who use chemical hair dyes and shampoos.
The word ‘henna’ is understood by people around the world in many different ways.
A majority of individuals probably associate it with the dark-red/brown dye for hair and skin that’s traditionally utilized in many cultures, but the name also applies to the flowering plant from which the dye is derived.Since ancient times, henna(mehndi) is widely used in India on auspicious occasions like weddings, festivals and other ceremonies.
Mehndi is considered a divine blessing, therefore both the bride and groom are being tattooed with mehndi on the wedding occasions.
The benefits of henna aren’t restricted to only tattooing.
Different parts of this plant are beneficial in treating ailments ranging from a headache to leprosy and other skin problems.Triple filtered henna powder aids in making hair bouncy, glossy and healthy when used regularly.
It helps each strand of hair build a protective layer around it to help in locking the essential nutrients that are needed.
