What Is Henna?
Henna, also known as Hina, is a blooming evergreen Lythraceae that grows in the loosestrifes family. Even though most people identify Henna with India since it is an integral part of Indian weddings, Henna was first used for aesthetic reasons in Egypt.
Henna was first employed about 1200 BC when used to color the hair and nails of Egyptian pharaohs. Cleopatra herself is reported to have used henna to decorate her body. For ages, mehndi—the technique of applying henna to the body—has been thought to offer love, wealth, and protection to those who wear it.
How long does henna stains last?
Depending on the henna, care, and skin type, the patterns can stay anywhere from one to four weeks on the skin’s surface. The deepest stains are seen on the palms, soles of the feet, and other tough regions such as the knuckles. The stain on the hands fades the fastest and might persist up to two weeks if washed often.
The forearms, lower legs, and ankles last the longest, sometimes up to four weeks! Henna will stain the lightest and fade the fastest in regions where there are less keratinized cells. The upper arms, back, belly, chest, and face are examples of these regions.
Types of HENNA Dye
Natural henna
Natural henna powder, often known as red henna, stains the skin with a deep brown stain that darkens with time. Natural henna powder is a pure kind of henna, as opposed to neutral or black henna, which may not include henna and contain other plants or colors. This is the henna to use if you want to color your hair organically without damaging your hair from hazardous chemicals.
Neutral henna
As the name implies, this type of henna does not color the hair in any way. This powder comes from a plant named Senna Italica, not from the Henna plant. When individuals wish to condition their hair naturally without coloring it, they use it instead of henna.
Black Henna
Indigo-derived black henna may contain unlisted colors and compounds such as PPD (para-phenylenediamine). PPD turns skin black rapidly, but if put on for more than 2–3 days, it can cause severe allergic responses and irreversible scarring. If you want to color your hair black but don’t like the red tinge that occurs with henna, we recommend using solely pure indigo powder. Indigo powder and henna powder may be used to color your hair black naturally.
How is henna prepared?
- Henna is a plant that thrives in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Its scientific name, Lawonia Inermis, is the most well-known.
- It may grow up to 24 feet tall and has tiny pink blooms.
- Its leaves are crushed or powdered after being dried.
- Cosmetics, hair care, and hair color products all employ the powdered form.
- It may also be used as a temporary tattoo, nail, hand, and garment dye.
- The Henna Powder includes chemicals that are thought to help fight infections.
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE HENNA POWDER?
Henna Hair Dye is a natural ingredient that has many benefits, no doubt. If you want to know how to use henna powder effectively, then keep reading the article.
We have enlisted different uses of the Henna powder step by step process, so by following these steps, you can easily apply them.
Conditioner for the hair
Henna can seal the hair shaft while also strengthening the hair strands. As a result, your hair will be silky smooth and free of split ends.
Mixture:
- Henna should be mixed with enough water to make a thick paste.
- Add three tablespoons of lemon juice to the mixture.
- Mix well and set aside for 30 minutes.
- After that, add two tablespoons of curd.
- The combination can be applied straight to your hair. Rinse with regular shampoo to remove the material.
Product for Scalp Care
Henna powder for hair can nourish and relieve inflammation in the scalp, making it an effective dandruff cure.
It relieves irritation and dryness while also preventing recurrence.
Anti-dandruff henna mixture:
- Add a teaspoon of mustard oil to a sufficient amount of henna.
- Methi seeds should be soaked overnight and ground the following day.
- To the Henna and Mustard Oil combination, add the crushed methi.
- After you’ve combined everything and formed a paste, you may apply it straight to your scalp.
- Gently massage it. After 30 minutes, rinse the Henna mixture out and wash your hair with ordinary shampoo. Then you must condition.
- It preserves the natural alkaline-acid balance on the scalp when applied. It can even naturally eliminate dirt.
- Overall, it aids in the improvement of hair health. It prevents breakage and improves the sheen and look of the hair.
Hair Color
As previously said, Henna Powder for hair is a popular hair dye that results in beautifully colored hair.
Mixture
- Prepare your henna powder (100g for short hair, 200g for shoulder-length hair, 400g for waist-long hair) by mixing it with enough water to make a paste.
- While stirring, add the lemon juice.
- Cover the bowl where you combined the ingredients with a cloth and set aside for a full day, or until a brownish hue appears.
- The combination can be applied straight to the hair.
- Allow two hours for the paste to fully absorb into your hair before rinsing with usual shampoo and conditioning.
Quicker Healing of Wounds
Henna powder‘s capacity to reduce inflammation and protect the skin from infection is incredible. It has a cooling effect that absorbs heat from the skin while also forming a protective layer that shields the injured skin from infections.
Nail Quality Is Improved
If your nails aren’t cleaned regularly, bacteria will build up under them. Even after cleaning, there is no guarantee that the bacteria have been eradicated. Henna has antimicrobial qualities that inhibit germs from spreading. It also helps to keep irritation and cracking at bay. Apply Henna Paste on your nails regularly to keep them healthy.
Side Effects of Henna
Eaten by mouth
When consumed by mouth, henna is extremely dangerous. If you accidentally ingest henna, get medical help right away. It can result in stomach pains, muscular breakdown, renal failure, red blood cell destruction (hemolytic anemia), and death.
Applied on skin
When used on the skin or in the hair, henna is most likely SAFE for most individuals. Redness, itching, burning, swelling, blisters, and skin scarring are all possible adverse effects. The most common cause of these negative responses is a chemical added to henna. This additive is most commonly seen in “black” henna.
Allergic reactions such as hives, runny nose, wheezing, and asthma might develop in rare cases.
Warnings and Special Precautions
Breast-feeding or pregnancy:
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, don’t take henna by mouth. There isn’t enough trustworthy information to say if the henna powder is safe to use on the skin when pregnant or nursing. To be on the safe side, avoid using it.
Eaten by mouth
When consumed by mouth, henna is extremely dangerous to children. Applying henna powder on a child’s skin might be hazardous.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency:
Henna can cause red blood cells to rupture in babies and children with G6PD deficiency.
Henna allergy
If you have a henna allergy, avoid coming into touch with it.
HENNA reacts with lithium.
Henna may have a diuretic or water pill-like effect. Henna may impair the body’s ability to eliminate lithium. This might cause significant adverse effects by increasing the amount of lithium in the body. If you’re on lithium, check with your doctor before using this product. It’s possible that your lithium dosage has to be adjusted.
What Is the Best Way to Store Henna?
Henna is perishable and must be carefully kept to maintain its color.
Storage of Henna Powder
Henna powder may be kept unopened for 3-5 years in a cold, dry area. Place it in the freezer for long-term storage.
When opening henna powder, expose as little of the henna as possible to the air and carefully wrap it for storage. Store in a cold, dry location or the freezer once again. Make certain that no water or humidity gets into the henna powder.
Henna paste
If you plan on applying henna paste within a few days, it’s acceptable to keep it in the refrigerator. To keep food fresh for more than a few days, place it in the freezer. A henna cone may be thawed in around 15 minutes. Henna should not be left out at room temperature for longer than required.
Henna may be very unexpected. I’ve used henna that had been in the fridge for over three weeks and gotten amazing results, but I’ve also used henna that had just been in the fridge for four days and had awful results. This is mostly attributable to the stage of the henna’s dye release process. Because there is no way to know where the henna is at any point throughout the procedure, be cautious when keeping henna paste.
