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Using Henna For Hair Coloring

Updated on June 28, 2015

Chemical Haircoloring Can Be Damaging In More Ways Than One

Have you ever considered using henna instead of hair coloring? If so, you'll be happy to learn that henna is a safe and healthy alternative to commercial hair coloring. Commercial hair coloring has the potential to cause damage to your hair, scalp and health over time with consistent use. In the past when I used commercial chemical hair coloring, I would just about always get a rash on my scalp that would itch for days on end, even after several shampoos. My hair became very dry, brittle and began to break and I had scabs on my scalp from scratching it so much. My hair slowly began to lose the healthy look it once had and began to get thinner.

One day I remembered how my mother used henna to color her hair many years ago. Her hair was always thick and beautiful. So, I did some research online and found a company that sells pure henna without any traces of chemicals or metallics. I ordered some and now I'm happy to say that henna has made my hair so healthy, shiny, bouncy and thick. It looks just as good as it did when I was a teenager!

Use henna instead of haircoloring

Henna is derived from the plant larsonia inermis and was used centuries ago by ancient civilizations. Henna has many benefits for the hair, it deep conditions your hair, adds body, bounce, shine and makes it much stronger. Gray hair can be colored beautifully with henna, especially if you add indigo or buxus to it. They are naturally herbs which makes gray hair darker when added to henna.

Henna used by itself will color your hair a vibrant red, but if it is mixed with other natural plants such as indigo, alma or buxus, the color of your hair will become a beautiful shade of brunette, warm brunette, black or tones or a rich auburn tone.The resulting color depends on the amounts of indigo, alma or buxus you add to henna.

Indigo

IIndigo is plant that has a natural blue dye in it. Depending on the amounts mixed into henna, your hair can transform from shades of deep auburn to jet black.

Indigo is added to the henna pack just before it is put into the hair. If you want your hair jet black, you would use henna first, rinse it out, then use indigo by itself, resulting in rich black.

When I did my last henna treatment, I mixed 75% henna to 25% indigo with beautiful deep auburn results.

Buxus

Buxus Dioica is a plant that grows in Yemen that gives your hair a rich brown tone. I've tried Buxus with henna which turned my hair a beautiful warm brown color.

Cassia

Cassia is derived from the plant cassia obovata. This can also be mixed with henna to make hair tones ranging from dark blonde to light brown. Used alone will deep condition your hair adding bounce body and shine. I love using this alone in between henna packs for its amazing conditioning properties.

Alma

Alma is from the plant emblica officinalis. When its mixed with henna and indigo, your hair will have a cool brunette color. Alma can also be used alone to make your hair thick, soft and fluffy. It also add a little curl to your hair.

Believe it or not alma can also be used as an excellent facial scrub.

How to Mix Henna

Henna is mixed with warm water and a light acid liquid such as apple cider vinegar, apple juice or lemon juice, depending on your preference to the consistency of mashed potatoes.  Then it has to be covered and set out for about 12 hours for the natural dye activation to occur. Alma, buxus or cassia can be added for various shade in with the henna.  Indigo is added after the henna has set for 12 hours.

Henna is then applied to clean, dry hair.  It is put on very thick to saturate hair and scalp for the best treatment.  Henna is good for your scalp and makes it feel so good.  After henna is applied, wrap some saran wrap around your head and a towel.  It should stay in your hair for a minimum of 3 hours, then rinse out with conditioner.

When henna is first rinsed out it will be a beautiful warm shade which will darken over the next 3 days.  By day 3 the shade in your hair will be the true henna color.

Have you ever tried dying your hair with henna?

See results

Where I Buy My Henna

I buy my henna from a company called Mehandi.com The henna they sell is pure and does not have any traces of chemicals. This is a wonderful site for anyone interested in henna. Everything you need to know about henna and the other natural plants mentioned are sold and explained in detail at this site. There are also detailed instructions as to how to use henna in your hair also. One can become a real henna guru when following this site.

I can never say enough good things about henna, it has transformed my hair beautifully.  I hope all of you who decide to give it a try will have good results too!

Best to all!

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