Henna hair color
Is herbal hair color really better for your hair?
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Henna hair color is considered a gentle alternative to chemical hair dyeing. Nevertheless, the plant color is repeatedly criticized and is even considered to be harmful to health. So is henna hair color good or bad?
What is henna?
You probably know the term henna primarily from vacations. Temporary henna tattoos are often offered there. But henna is not only suitable for body painting, but also for dyeing hair. It’s even one of them oldest dyes. The ancient Egyptians already used the powder of the henna bush (Lawsonia inermis) as hair color, care and body paint.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the botanist Lawson discovered the henna bush for Western science. Since then, this natural, reddish-yellow dye contained in henna has been called Lawson. He becomes from the Leaves of the henna bush obtained by drying them and crushing them into powder.
Nowadays the henna dye can too artificially produced – but this always causes concern.
Is henna hair color harmful?
There have often been rumors that henna is harmful to health and changes the genetic makeup. So isn’t the natural hair dye completely harmless? It’s worth taking a closer look here. According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)is artificially produced henna actually enjoy with caution. So it cannot be ruled out that the artificially reproduced henna dye has genotoxic properties, i.e. that Change the result. According to a scientific Expert committees for consumer safety of the EU Commissionbe henna if it purely vegetable will be prepared, but harmless. That’s why it’s extremely important to study the ingredients on the packaging carefully.
Henna as a hair color: What should you consider?
Examine the listed ingredients for the artificially produced dye para-phenylenediamine (PPD). This is often added to henna hair color to make the color appear more intense and speed up the dyeing process. However, the substance is not entirely harmless. He has what has already been mentioned genotoxic potential, can cause allergies and is prohibited in cosmetics. PPD is permitted in a certain concentration (two percent), but only if so-called couplers that bind the dye are added at the same time.
So if you want to be on the safe side, you should use pure henna. By the way, you can often see with the naked eye whether PPD has been mixed into conventional henna. In this case the color is much darker.
What else needs to be taken into account:
- Henna hair color is very stubborn and only partially washes out again. So if you want to get rid of the color completely, you should let the color grow out. Overdyeing with chemical dyes can lead to unwanted results.
- Henna can dry out the hair. Thorough hair care after coloring is essential.
- The exposure time Henna hair color lasts significantly longer than chemical hair color.
- If you want to lighten or darken your mane, unfortunately henna won’t help you. Here you have to resort to classic oxidation hair colors. The Color selection for henna hair colors is limited. Although there are products that promise blonde hair, your hair should already be blonde in advance. A reddish tint, on the other hand, can be achieved with henna on pretty much any natural hair color.
Who are herbal hair colors suitable for?
- If you only have one slight change If you want hair color, henna hair color could be right for you. It can slightly darken the natural hair color and – depending on the product – leave a gentle red cast.
- Whom natural hair coloring is close to your heart, you can also use henna hair color. As a rule, herbal hair colors only use herbal ingredients. By the way, falls here too less waste because no plastic bottles need to be used.
- React allergic on conventional hair dyes? Then the plant-based alternative could be an option for you. Nevertheless, it should be said here: Henna hair dyes can also trigger contact allergies from time to time. Test the color in advance on an inconspicuous area of skin (for example on the neck).
- If you are interested in this shimmering gray If your hair bothers you, this can be concealed with henna hair dye.
Buy henna hair color: Which henna colors best?
You can now buy henna hair color almost everywhere. Online shops like Amazon have the hair color in their range, but also drugstores like Rossmann or dm have recognized the trend towards herbal hair colors. Which henna hair color is best depends on your personal needs and hair structure. However, we can recommend the following products to you with a clear conscience.
1. Logona Naturkosmetik herbal hair color
The Logona natural cosmetics plant hair color was rated good (2.2) by Stiftung Warentest. It is available in a total of twelve different shades and is therefore not a pure henna hair color. But that doesn’t affect the quality. The first results should be visible after just 15 minutes.
2. khadi herbal hair color
The Herbal hair color from khadi is probably the best-known herbal dye. Stiftung Warentest also took a close look at the product and gave it a good rating (2.3). The color spectrum is wide-ranging, even blonde and light brown can be conjured up in your hair with the powder hair color.
3. Sante herbal hair color
Sante is a natural cosmetics brand that you probably know from the drugstore. But the brand not only offers skin care products, but also sustainable ones Powder hair color. The dye scored good (2.3) at Stiftung Warentest. Here you can choose between seven different shades.
How to change henna hair color?
The dye obtained from the henna bush is naturally reddish. The result ultimately depends on your natural hair color. If you want to do without the classic henna red, but don’t want to do without henna hair color, you have the choice: On the one hand, there is Henna mixed colors. This is not pure henna, but rather one that is mixed with other plant dyes. Otherwise, you can also help yourself – with home remedies. lemon juice intensifies the henna red, red wine and Black tea darken the color and Camomile tea provides a golden shimmer.
Instructions: Dye your hair with henna
Coloring hair with henna is not difficult. But there are a few things to keep in mind so that your hair shines more beautifully than ever after coloring and nothing gets stained. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and also take the following into account Step-by-step instructions.
- Mix the henna powder with boiling water until a creamy consistency arises. Allow the whole thing to cool down a little before applying to protect your scalp from the boiling hot mixture.
- Put on disposable gloves and carefully apply the paste to towel-dried hair. If you are dyeing with henna for the very first time, it is worth brushing the color all over your mane to achieve an even result. Coloring the roots is enough the next time. Applying henna hair color is no different than applying chemical hair color. Here you will find detailed instructions on how to tint your hair.
- Once the color has been applied, it’s time to get started Impact. Here too, the manufacturer’s information should be taken into account. Cover your mane well with cling film or a shower cap to prevent the henna from hardening. The resulting heat also intensifies the color. As a rule, the exposure time is one to two hours. The well-known rule applies here: the longer the exposure time, the more intense the result.
- After taking effect, this is what follows Wash out. Rinse your hair well with warm water and condition your mane with conditioner. Wash your hair with shampoo the next day at the earliest. Warning: Henna hair color is stubborn and intense. The hair can transfer color to the towel even after it has been washed out.
How long does henna hair color last in hair?
Hena hair color stays for up to six months in the hair, but gradually loses intensity and fades with each wash. Here you can find out how to remove a red cast.
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