Using Henna For Hair Coloring

Consider using henna to color your hair instead of commercial hair coloring made from chemicals. Commercial hair coloring agents can potentially cause damage to your hair, scalp and health over time. I used to use commercial chemical hair coloring and would almost always get a rash in my scalp that would itch for days on end, even after several shampoos. Then I would have scabs on my scalp from scratching it so much. My hair began to lose the healthy look it once had and began to look thinner.

Then one day it was as if a lightbulb went on in my brain when I remembered that my mother used to use henna to color her hair many years ago. So, I did some research online and found a company that sells pure henna without any traces of chemicals,I decided to order some and give it a try. This was about 3 years ago and I can honestly say that my hair looks healthier now, even more so than it did when I was a teenager!

Henna is a wonderful way to color your hair naturally. Henna is derived from the plant, the larsonia inermis, which has been used for centuries by many. Henna has many benefits for the hair, it deep conditions your hair, adds body, adds bounce, adds shine and makes it much stronger. Even gray hair can be colored beautifully with henna, especially if you add indigo or buxus to it.

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, you can color your hair with results ranging from beautiful dark black, beautiful shades of brunette, warm brunette tone or rich auburn tones.

If you decide to try henna and don't want to be a redhead you might choose to add natural indigo to your henna paste. Indigo 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 Dioica is a plant that grows in Yemen which when added to henna gives your hair a rich brown tone. I've tried Buxus with henna resulting with a beautiful warm brown tone to my hair .

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 the conditioning effects.

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

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

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.

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!