Black henna for hair

Every woman, choosing a hair dye, thinks that she does not harm her hair. The chemical components that make up most paints can cause hair depletion, hair loss, dandruff and allergic reactions. Especially often this happens with prolonged use of the same type of paint. Therefore, many women prefer henna (or henna) - a natural remedy known since time immemorial.

Shaded black henna has its own distinct advantages that make it competitive with the most modern professional chemical dyes.

• it is absolutely eco-friendly and hypoallergenic;
• has a low cost;
• has no age restrictions, suitable for use during pregnancy and lactation;
• strengthens and restores hair, gives them strength, shine and volume;
• heals and soothes the scalp, providing antimicrobial and antifungal effects.

With all its advantages, black henna also has its drawbacks:

• does not differ in high durability, the color is gradually washed off when you wash your hair;
• does not paint over gray hair (the color of gray hair becomes greenish);
• poorly washed off the scalp, face and hands;
• it cannot be used after a perm, as the curls will straighten out from this;
• when using henna after another chemical dye, the hair may turn green;
• it is very difficult to recolor hair after henna with chemical dyes, since it forms a kind of “protective layer” on the hair;
• with prolonged frequent use, henna can begin to “dry out” the hair due to the tannins it contains, so it should be used no more than once a month.

Few of the women who use henna know that there is a black version of it. This dye is obtained by mixing powder from the leaves of the Indian indigo plant (better known as basma) and classical red henna powder.

Black henna dyes hair in deep black with a noble blue tint. But in combination with red henna, the color can vary to light chestnut, depending on the chosen proportion and the initial condition of the hair, that is, the more red henna, the lighter the resulting shade. Therefore, the exact desired result can only be achieved experimentally.

Black henna is great for coloring hair at home. For painting, you will need a wide brush, a plastic cap and a warm towel. Before use, it is recommended to dilute a little powder in hot water (at least 90 degrees) and color one strand, wait 15-20 minutes and check the result.If the color suits you, then you can start staining.

For medium length hair, 2-3 sachets are required. Pour the powder into a glass or ceramic bowl, pour hot water over it and stir thoroughly. The resulting mixture, while it has not cooled down, with a brush, apply along the entire length of the hair, starting from the roots, put on a cap and wrap your head with a towel. For deep staining, you need to wait at least 3 hours, but for the first time it is better to wash off the paint after 30-40 minutes. Henna should be washed off with warm water without using shampoo, so you should wash your hair before dyeing.

The time that the color will last depends largely on the manufacturer of the powder and the type of hair. As a rule, on wavy hair, the paint lasts no more than 1.5-2 months. Naturally dark hair can lose its hue after 30 days, but blond and red hair, with proper care, sometimes retain a rich color for 3 months.

In addition to being used as a hair dye, black henna is used to create mehendi - painting on the hands and on the body in the Indian style, especially popular recently among young girls. For this, the paint is produced not in powder, but in tubes, of a creamy consistency.

Both black and brown variations are great for applying henna tattoos, it all depends on the pattern and individual preferences.However, brown henna is considered "more natural" as PPD is often added to black henna, which gives it a more permanent color, but is a strong allergen.

By itself, henna is an absolutely natural product obtained from the lavsonia non-thorny plant (mainly from the leaves), but other components are often added to create different shades. When choosing henna, you should pay attention to the composition indicated on the package. Often, manufacturers add paraphylendiamine (PPD) to it, a cheap synthetic product that gives the paint greater durability, but is a strong skin allergen. Therefore, the content of PPD in paint intended for creating mihendi or dyeing eyelashes and eyebrows is unacceptable, and in hair dye should not exceed 6%.

Currently, domestic and imported manufacturers provide a large selection of henna for hair coloring and more.

"Black Tulip". Tinted henna from "Fito cosmetics". The manufacturer promises flawless even coloring of even gray hair, a lasting result and a general healing effect.

"Black coffee". Indian herbal paint from Aasha Herbals. Its active ingredients include henna, beetroot, turmeric, Arabica coffee and indigosphere. The paint not only colors the hair well, but also actively nourishes it, improves the condition of the scalp, eliminates microdamages, normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands and gives a noticeable volume.

Black henna Lush. Means from manufacturers of handmade cosmetics. It is produced in the form of tiles with a pattern, which must be crushed before use. The composition includes cocoa butter for better color retention and clove bud oil, which gives the hair an exquisite spicy shade.

Golecha Magic Black. This is a special henna for applying mehendi and tattoos. It does not contain PPD and ammonia, therefore it does not cause allergic reactions. Gives a rich color from deep black to various shades of brown, depending on the place of application and the thickness of the layer. Fixes in 20 minutes, lasts for 5-7 days.

Most women who have used black henna for hair coloring leave only positive reviews about it, backing up their words with before and after photos. Many note that after application, the hair becomes thicker, shiny and healthy, combs well and splits less. Only in rare cases do women complain that the paint is quickly washed off, or that it was not possible to obtain the desired shade.

See the following video for a master class on henna hair coloring.