If young girls in most cases do not even think about the quality of their hair, about the problems associated with their loss, and boldly go for various experiments with hairstyles and their colors, then with age, as a rule, you will think a million times before changing image. These fears are connected with the risk of parting with luxurious hair due to the harmful effects of chemical ingredients contained in dyes. But what do you do when you really want change?
On the shelves of stores flaunts the richest selection of hair colors of different price categories in beautiful boxes, with magical shades and promising names. But somewhere on the lower shelves, inconspicuous cheap packages of henna for hair found their home. Neither a palette of colors that excites the imagination, nor intricate bottles, just a powder.
Many, noticing them, contemptuously look away, not expecting any extravaganza of transformation. But in vain! Having comprehended a smallnumber of tricks in the art of henna hair coloring, you can create a huge number of unique natural shades without harming the he alth of your hair.
Useful properties of henna
Henna is prepared from the dried leaves of lavsonia non-thorny, collected during flowering. It is traditionally used in India, the Middle East and North Africa. Dye is also distinguished by origin:
- Iranian. The best. A variety of shades allows you to create new combinations.
- Indian.
Powder of plant origin is used not only as a body decoration. Henna has found wide application in traditional medicine:
- The aroma of the substance relieves intense headaches.
- Henna has excellent antiseptic properties.
- Accelerating wound healing.
- Improves potency.
When dyeing hair with henna, shine appears, their volume and density increase. Henna is extremely beneficial for the scalp. Improves blood circulation, which leads to intense nutrition of the hair roots, normalizes the secretion of fat, preventing excessive oiliness and seborrhea, and eliminates dandruff.
Natural dye is hypoallergenic, so it can be used by pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children. Even at the same time it will help get rid of some dermatological problems on the skin of the scalp.
To all the advantages, one more advantage can be added - this is an affordable price, which averages 25 rubles per bag. Two is more than enough for shoulder-length hair.
There are more expensive analogues fromfamous manufacturers of natural cosmetics. For example, Lush produces ready-made mixes for healing and coloring curls. For the same length of hair, one cube worth about 1000 rubles will take.
Owners of dry hair need not worry: there are all the additives that will protect already vulnerable curls from drying.
Negative effects of staining
All negative feedback after dyeing hair with henna can be combined into one: I didn’t like the resulting color. This happens if you violate the rules for staining, or you get a low-quality product.
Another nuisance that can happen is hair that is prone to dryness can become even drier and even start to split. This can be avoided by also following the rules for using nature's gift.
Staining rules
First of all, you need to understand that the result largely depends on the type, structure and natural color of the hair. So, the thinner and lighter the curls, the more pronounced will be the shade of the hair after henna. The darker the hair, the longer the mixture will have to withstand for a noticeable color change. If chemical dyes were previously used, then you should wait at least three weeks. In any case, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises, you must first conduct a test on a small strand, but otherwise henna hair coloring at home is quite simple. In order not to be upset because of irretrievably damaged things, before starting the procedure, you should put on something that is not a pity, since there is no splashavoid, and henna stains are almost impossible to remove. The same applies to towels and nearby surfaces. You will also need gloves, a wide brush and a porcelain container to prepare the mixture.
It is recommended to apply a fat cream on the face along the hairline, as with any coloring.
Before the procedure, it is necessary to wash and dry the hair for the best distribution and effect of henna.
Proper preparation of the mixture
Everyone has their own perfect recipe. On the one hand, this type of staining is completely unpredictable, and on the other hand, there are already proven recipes that have been tested by more than one person. For example, henna for hair can be diluted with boiling water or warm water and brought to a boil in a water bath. Most likely, in the second case, the effect of pigments will be more intense.
In order for the manipulation to bring even more benefits, various supplements are recommended. Oils such as olive, jojoba, avocado will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the hair, moisturizing the skin, nourishing the roots.
Providing an acidic environment, for example, by adding lemon or orange juice, kefir, you can achieve a lighter, brighter honey hue.
Gently stirring, you need to bring the mass to uniformity, kneading the lumps. Once the consistency of sour cream is reached and the mixture has cooled down, one yolk can be added for nutrition and viscosity, then proceed with application.
Application
Must wear gloves. Otherwise, it will be impossible to wash your hands. We'll have to hide them from others nexta few days. And in general, dyeing hair with henna has an unpleasant side effect - splashes and crumbs that leave bright spots.
Using a wide brush, divide the hair into partings and evenly apply the mixture first to the roots, and then distribute along the entire length.
At this stage, it is important to consider that if, at the end, do not cover the head with a film and let it dry, then the result will be a more brown shade, and wrapping the head in a film and warming with a towel, you will get a bright red color.
Exposure time also directly depends on the desired color. The richer the shade is needed, the more time it will take. The minimum is 30 minutes. Sometimes women leave the product on for the whole night.
How to flush?
There are several ways. If you wash off the dye with water without using shampoo, then for several days the coloring henna for hair continues to change the shade of the hair. You can enhance this effect in a solarium or under the sun's rays. In the case of using shampoo, you can not count on this.
In conclusion, it will not be superfluous to rub a few drops of oil in the palms of your hands and gently apply it to the ends of your hair.
Lightening
It should be noted right away that lightening hair with henna is impossible. There is a brightening product on sale called "White Henna", but it has a completely chemical composition and has nothing to do with natural dye. And he got his name precisely because it is also a powder, and the algorithm of actionssimilar.
The effect of this substance on the hair and scalp is as detrimental as other chemical bleaching agents.
Henna for dark hair
All brunettes dream of bright tints and shine of their curls. How to dye your hair with henna and get dreams come true and he alth as a great bonus? The answer is obvious! You just need to know how to supplement this drug:
- Strongly brewed coffee or tea. Provides dark chestnut hues.
- Hot hibiscus or red wine. Will give burgundy shades.
- Crushed indigo root (basma). Gives a blue-black tint. In equal proportions with henna, you will get the “chocolate” beloved by many.
- Beet juice for a purple hue.
Henna for blondes
Blondes can also experiment with natural dyes:
- If you combine henna and chopped chamomile in equal proportions, add water and, slowly heating, bring to a boil, then cool and add the yolk of one egg, you get a mixture to create a golden hue.
- Ingredients in the form of turmeric, marigold, cinnamon can diversify golden and honey shades.
- According to the reviews, dyeing hair with henna using saffron will give the hair a shade of old gold.
Henna for men
Oriental men do not lag behind women and just as willingly monitor the he alth and appearance of their hairstyles. Beard care ismore important part of anti-aging programs. For these men, gray hair and signs of baldness are just as unacceptable and unpleasant as for the fair half.
Luxurious hair and beards to a ripe old age delight their owners, subject to all the rules and features of the use of natural dye.
It is important to remember that if you decide to take care of a beard, you will have to dye your hair the same color, otherwise there is a risk that the color of the beard will be very different, which looks comical. Too bright colors should be avoided. It is better to prefer natural ones - chestnut, light brown.
Beard hairs are different in structure from those on the crown, and the same dye will show up on them with different intensity.
Unlike chemical dyes, the use of red henna for hair in tandem with other additives of natural origin will not lead to burns and the consequences of allergies in the form of redness, irritation, and then peeling. The skin of the face is very sensitive, so do not neglect elementary reaction tests.
Fighting gray hair
It's no secret that chemicals are much more effective in painting over gray hair, unlike their natural counterpart. But dyeing gray hair with henna has a cumulative effect. On the other hand, against the main background, lighter red hairs flicker with bright highlights. This looks really nice! And the more gray hair, the more striking this effect.
Henna in healing masks for hair and skin
Healing masks use colorlesshenna. It is made from lavsonia stems, which do not have coloring properties. But the healing qualities are beyond praise:
- Vitamin B promotes conditioning and detangling.
- Restores water-fat balance.
- Penetrating into the hair, it forms a barrier against aggressive influences.
- Thickens, restores the structure of the hair shaft, makes it glossy and shiny through carotene.
- Helps awaken dormant bulbs.
- Nourishes the bulbs, moisturizes, cleanses the scalp.
- It has an anti-inflammatory, antifungal effect.
Classic mask
You will need one bag of colorless henna and as an addition, you can take one of the healing herbs, previously ground. For example, chamomile, rosemary, nettle or calendula will make a wonderful couple. Then the mixture is brewed with boiling water and thoroughly mixed. As an alternative, a decoction of these herbs is used, with which henna is bred. To enhance the nutritional qualities, it is advised to add vegetable oils, such as olive oil.
The exposure time ranges from 30 minutes or more, depending on the desire. The longer, the more pronounced the result will be.
Wash off with or without a mild shampoo. Drying with a hair dryer is contraindicated.
Mask for strengthening hair
The mask should include: colorless henna, two yolks, a tablespoon of liquid honey, a tablespoon of black cumin oil, a tablespoon of burdockoils. First, dilute the henna with boiling water, and then turn on the rest of the ingredients.
Apply evenly to the roots, and distribute the remaining mixture over the entire length of the hair. Leave on for about 1.5 hours and then wash off with a mild shampoo.
Mask for dry hair against dandruff
You will need colorless henna, a tablespoon of castor oil, a tablespoon of burdock oil and a couple of tablespoons of ripe avocado pulp. Prepare a henna gruel using hot water, and then add the rest of the ingredients. After mixing thoroughly, let it brew for about 15 minutes. Spread the mixture on your hair and cover with a warm towel or scarf over the film. Wait 30 minutes and wash off with a natural shampoo.
For many, the issue of hair loss and deterioration of their condition is very relevant. The appearance of gray hair, unfortunately, exacerbates an already deplorable situation. Therefore, the option of purchasing chemical hair dye disappears automatically.
For those who are desperate, there is only one thing left: dye your hair with henna, as the owners of now luxurious curls did. Let it be troublesome, let it take more time, but it's worth it, because every day the effect will be more pronounced.
In general, the beauty of the hair is the work of its owners!
