What is henna?
There are two kinds of henna : the natural henna, which colors because it contains lawsone, a red-orange pigment and neutral henna, which does not color the hair. The latter is used more like a hair care: it regulates sebum from the oily scalps, it strengthens the fiber hair and gives it shine.
It is therefore necessary to use natural henna to get a coloring action on the hair. This one goes coat the hair of pigments without penetrating into the fiber, so it is a lot softer than conventional hair colors and does not affect your natural color. This means that when the henna will fade, you will return to your original color.
Where does natural henna come from? He comes from a shrub that we find in the Maghreb countries, in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa or in India. The leaves are harvested, then crushed and powdered. To respect your hair, take a good look at the composition of this powder before buying it: it must be 100% natural and not contain substances such as metal salts or even sodium picramate (very allergenic).
Who is henna for?
Anyone Can Achieve henna dyes because this natural powder does not generally cause no allergies. If you go for a 100% natural pure henna, you can even use it after a chemical coloring. However, it is advisable to start with the step of pure henna before any other mixture with other coloring active ingredients, which will allow your hair to have pretty auburn or red highlights depending on the dosage, the exposure time and your starting color. You can also use henna mixed with natural powders to get other colors like brown or honey.
Want to cover up white hair? The henna vegetable color is very effective in combating your graying hair. But two steps are needed to get a optimal result. The first is to color your hair with pure henna : leave on for three hours, your hair will be very orange. The second step will correct this orange color. Mix dye powders to your henna to obtain a tailor-made result at the top: goodbye to white hair!
Also know that a henna coloring usually fades aftera month and a half. A result which can vary according to the number of weekly shampoos.
Which henna to choose and how to prepare it?
There are henna dyes all ready in the trade, but we must remain vigilant on their composition. You can also make your own mix : to do this, first choose your henna. You want to have reflections coppery orange ? Opt for Egyptian henna. If you want to get deeper orange highlights, choose the rajasthan henna and to have mahogany highlights, take some yemen red henna.
To get another color, you just need to add one or more dye powders like for example theIndigo which can be used with Yemen henna to achieve a dark effect with bluish highlights. If you want golden reflections and a brightening effect, you can mix henna from Egypt or Rajasthan with rhapontic root.
Henna coloring can sometimes dry up a bit the hair. To counteract this effect it is recommended to add a vegetable oil to its preparation such asmacadamia oil, coconut, castor or olive. Add natural yogurt to your mixture can also limit the drying effect. All you have to do is apply it to your hair.
How to apply henna coloring?
First and foremost, it is important that you protect your shoulders with a bath towel or an old T-shirt to avoid dye your skin and damage your clothes. It is also advisable to protect around her face with a fat body like cream or oil to prevent the henna from stain your skin. You can then apply the mixture to your wet or dry hair by spreading it strand by strand with your fingers.
Let stand two to three hours depending on the intensity of the color and the reflections you want then rinse with clean water. After rinsing, a plant odor may remain: if it is too pronounced, you have the possibility to make a very mild shampoo without sulfates (they risk altering the color). Once dry, admire your color: your hair is healthy and your white hair is camouflaged !
Henna coloring on white hair
Always useful to remember that henna is not permanent and that the color gradually leaves the hair as it is washed. The average duration of the product is 1 month, but it may last longer in people who wash their hair less often. It will therefore be necessary to repeat the process quite often to camouflage gray hair.
Read also :
⋙ Hair: colorings that rejuvenate
⋙ Neutral henna: how to use it beautifully?
⋙ Henna: does it work for white hair?
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