Henna hair coloring. My experience and thoughts

For centuries, people have used henna hair coloring as a natural and nourishing hair color alternative. In contrast to chemical dyes, henna is derived from plants and does not harm hair. Its ability to give a beautiful, rich color while strengthening and adding shine is what draws a lot of people to it.

I was unsure henna could give me the desired effects and how it would affect my hair when I first considered using it. I was eager to switch to a more natural and healthful option after using chemical dyes in the past.

I’ll discuss my personal henna hair coloring experience in this post, along with the difficulties I encountered and the outcomes I got. I hope my opinions will assist you in determining if henna is the best option for your hair.

Henna and its place in modern times

The dried and crushed leaves of the thornless lavsonia plant, Lawsonia inermis, are used to make henna.

This shrub is evergreen and ranges in size from 2 to 6 meters, depending on the area. dispersed throughout the wild and raised by people in Morocco, Iran, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, India, and Pakistan.

Lawsonia includes tannins, polysaccharides, essential oils, vitamin C, and vitamin K in addition to a yellow-red pigment. possesses antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for skin, fabrics, hair coloring, and body drawings since ancient times. Lavsonia flowers are used to make essential oils.

Henna from Egypt, Iran, and India is still widely used today for coloring. Indian henna from the Rajasthan region is traditionally regarded as one of the most saturated and pigmented. Amateurs’ observations indicate that Indian wines tend to be redder than Egyptian and Persian wines, which are more reddish-brown in color.

You need to know before buying

On the market, there are numerous manufacturers selling goods with a range of costs and qualities. Prices range from a few tens of rubles to a thousand and a half. variations in the growing area, packing, grinding, and additions of additional herbs. Items that also contain artificial dye "cream henna" I only consider natural herbs, purposefully ignoring them in their finished form.

How should I pick henna in a shop? You should first choose the desired outcome and the shade. Yes, and no, henna color is unpredictable. Herbs work like a sticky tint on the hair; they cannot take the place of existing pigment in the hair. Henna color is therefore equal to your natural level plus herbal toning. You can go from a lighter to a darker color, but not vice versa. The henna will be brighter and more saturated the lighter the base. Try henna combined with herbs that either don’t color or color only under certain conditions if you want a naturally occurring herbal dye that isn’t overly vibrant.

Additionally, you ought to be aware of Iranian or Egyptian henna. They produce a color more in line with yellow-red-brown. Indian henna is a better option if you want brightness because it has more pigment and can produce a reddish-reddish-beet shade. Darkness sets in easily.

As I mentioned previously, there is a wide range of prices for powders. I attempt to use the mean. Too cheap henna is typically coarsely ground, might include twigs and debris, is poorly mixed, releases pigment more heavily, and it can be very difficult to remove this joy from your hair. I don’t think it makes sense to purchase overpriced products either—often overspending on attractive packaging or additives. A price range of 200–500 rubles per 100 grams is what I’m looking for. Nevertheless, out of curiosity, I will still try the pricey Khady henna.

In any case, I think it’s much less expensive to dye hair with herbs than with paint. especially now that the hue has intensified throughout the length. With 100 grams, I can color three or four times.

How I came to dye my hair with henna

I would have laughed a lot for a long time if someone had told me five or ten years ago that I would end up loving natural dyes. I’ve had fair hair, red hair, brunette, and blonde hair throughout my life. And before receiving conscious care, I had even attempted henna, but for some reason I was unimpressed and did not get it. And I soon grew weary of the paint’s flat red color.

My hair has never been a sign of wealth; on the contrary. I made an effort to give it a stylistic, hair, and coloring that was at least somewhat divine. After making the decision to take conscious care of my hair, my initial plan was to use low-oxide hair color that was similar to my natural color. And after that, let your grow fully. My interest in herbal remedies, such as Hairmaniac, began when he entered my life. It was hard to resist the girls’ descriptions of witchcraft with all kinds of powders and how it affected hair so deliciously. I would have preferred colder shades, but my only hesitation was fear of what would happen to my dyed hair.

I had a bad haircut at the end of 2020; the left part was shortened and the length was thinned out. It felt as though my hair had been chewed off. After two days of crying, I went to the market and bought some herbs because I wanted brightness and I was sick of my gray hair.

First dyeing

I tried the Guriya Golden natural herbal paint as my first henna. Henna blended with additional herbs. I was worried that if I got a shade that was too bright, it wouldn’t fit me. Additionally, use caution when applying henna. The initial dyeing did not work out well; the color faded fast and was nearly invisible in some lighting.

I went back and colored again a week later. The color came out beautifully, but it still washed off, so I changed to using only pure henna coloring instead of adding additional herbs as additives. I stayed true to my choice of Bustan Budur henna for a considerable amount of time.

The hair gets denser and more vibrant as the pigment builds up, and the color becomes more vibrant and saturated.

Brewing methods, aging and aftercare

Henna can be prepared in a variety of ways, based on personal preferences, desired outcomes, and individual reactions. Fortunately, I soon discovered my own, so I only tried two:

• Henna, water and aloe gel. The whole secret is to add aloe gel to the ready-made infused mixture in order to avoid dryness. Plus, the gel makes the mixture more pliable, convenient to apply, additionally moisturizes.
• Henna, chamomile decoction, acidifier. According to legend, chamomile has a slight lightening effect, which means the color will be brighter. According to my observations, henna brewed with chamomile gives a little more gold in the shade. Lemon juice helps henna release pigment faster. For the same purposes, you can use a little amla.

Do I have to be so insistent? I played around with the timing of applying the mixture at the start of the henna path. However, I am a lazy person who dislikes lengthy procedures. I also don’t have the time or desire to play around with my hair all day. I thus insist on getting henna for no more than an hour. I didn’t see that the length of my insistence had a big impact on the outcome.

Length of time spent holding. The need to dye the length becomes less and less as the color builds up. As a result, at first, I would always dye the full length and leave it on for two to three hours. The need to continuously dye the entire length will eventually go away as soon as the color’s brightness starts to suit. Since the roots dye more quickly in the natural heat, I now only color the root zone. I don’t keep it for longer than one and a half hours.

Following dyeing. To avoid removing too much pigment, I never use shampoo when washing off the henna mass. I’m looking for a vivid, rich hue. Regardless of whether I dyed my entire hair or just the roots, I always use an oil-based leave-in product after applying a mask or conditioner and waiting ten to fifteen minutes. The hair does not feel tanned after proper maintenance.

The versatility of the shade and my feelings

For a very long time, I was a light brown or blonde, so the change to the red side was sudden and unanticipated for both me and other people. It’s said that only true redheads—that is, women with naturally red hair and golden complexion—look good in red hues. They are the right color type. My hair is mouse-gray by nature, but it can easily turn a golden red tint; I’m not sure what color type I have.

I became enamored with henna red, which is complex, unpredictable, and unique. It ended up being the perfect match for me. I feel like I’ve fully embraced this color, so I don’t think it’s not natural to me.

Different colors in different lighting

In artificial light, from dark brown to chocolate-beet.

Naturally, the best herbal hair color, from fiery red to golden sparkles, is accentuated by natural light.

And the most popular iridescent colors in the dazzling sun are red, pink, and purple. The hair color of a firebird.

Naturally, my wardrobe has changed to include more hues, and I’ve grown to appreciate green items. Pale tones emerged. Although I used to love applying makeup, I gave up—or almost gave up—makeup and no longer want it. My hair gives me just the right amount of brightness.

Henna hair, what it is

Like many others, I initially turned to herbs to improve the quality of my hair rather than its color. My natural hair is delicate, thin, medium-porous, and "childish." Damage makes it porous, gaining beauty but making it even more brittle. Density, strength, and better graphics were what I desired. In a nutshell, hair, as in lovely pictures from social media. Was it successful?

• Density – conditionally yes, the hair has become much denser, more elastic, but in the wrong water or with the wrong care it can become too soft and weak-willed.
• Durability – definitely yes, much less damage, no breakage, split ends are at a minimum, despite the thinning due to hair loss. I have not had a haircut for eight months.
• Visual – in 98% of cases I am happy with my hair. Outside the house they are always loose, I do not wear hairstyles. At home I immediately braid them – they get in the way. There are days when the care did not work somehow, the air is not right, retrograde Mercury, when I am unhappy. Then I put it in a bun and wait for the next day, because I wash it every day.

There is a slight detail, though: I wasn’t entirely content with my hair until I chopped off all of the dye-damaged ends. The care was much more intense and the visual impairment was worse—at times very bad—while they were under my care. And my constant companions were brittleness and split ends.

It appears that it won’t be—I used henna to dye burnt tow and got a crumbly, shiny canvas. Herbs can change healthy hair; they can only help sick or damaged hair, or even make it worse. Serious hair damage can be totally dried out by tannins, leaving the hair excessively stiff. Damaged hair that has pigment glued on top of it will only get worse. How can I prevent making the condition worse? Reanimate the hair first. Sever the seriously damaged portion. Gather medical attention.

I select a care regimen

Though I had used silicone-containing products before, when I first started using herbs, I refused to use them. Henna-damaged hair responded to silicones in a wash-off manner by developing dry icicles and creaking ends. Silicone products appeared and vanished from care as the healthy hair grew. Silicone-free Kaaral, Insaight, and Vieso have been primarily under care for the past two years.

I can’t, however, declare my care completely silicone-free. I’m now reintroducing silicone leave-in products and taming products with silicones. Because of hair loss, the ends are too thin and require extra protection. Furthermore, the native structure is not yet complaining about silicones.

When it comes to hair care, especially in the winter, I emphasize hydration. Hair is negatively impacted by dry air and heating appliances. At home, a humidifier is always running. I’ve also recently developed a strong affection for light restorative products that increase stiffness and elasticity.

When taking care of any type of hair, it’s critical to properly formulate a regimen and mix products. Masks are the basis. We start the week off with moisturizing. Wednesday: a mask that replenishes. Depending on the condition of the hair, Friday’s treatments may include moisturizing and restoration. Sunday: a mask made of herbs. In between: moisturizing or a conditioner with multiple uses. Leave-in items are essential. Depending on the rinse-out care, heavier or lighter. somewhat greater or lesser in amount.

Take care not to overdo it in order to maintain a steady balance.

The legend of dryness

The most common phrase I come across on social networks when girls ask questions about coloring with Lawsonia is "henna dries."

I have previously informed you of the relationship between the state of your hair and the henna effect. I do not have dryness, stiffness, density, or splendor on healthy hair following coloring. However, tannins can still cause hair to become dry; this is especially apparent the day of coloring. Hair may be slightly more rigid than preferred. The ends may tingle and fluff up. It is worthwhile to review the care products if the dryness continues after the next wash because they are ineffective.

Other herbs

I feel compelled to share the non-coloring herbs I attempt to use on a weekly basis for my care. What they offer and why.

• The very first thing is relaxation. I like to brew herbs, combine them with each other, note the effect of this or that powder.
• Voluosity and density. Herbal mask helps to maintain these important qualities of hair for me. I can"t do it with henna alone.
• Stimulation of growth and protection against hair loss. A hot herbal mask gently stimulates the growth of new hair.
• Shine. A herbal mask will add even more mirror shine to your hair.

Herbs and sensitive, oily scalp

I’ve been washing my hair every day for a long time. I’m not attempting to "train" it to remain novel. All I want is a thorough yet gentle cleaning. The scalp is highly erratic; it can react to harsh shampoos, low-quality water, or stimulants by becoming itchy and constricted. There are those who believe that herbs are good for the skin. What is its response to henna? Does it make a difference?

The root zone is always more lush and the volume is easily noticeable right after coloring. However, the skin can be made slightly tighter and drier. I don’t mind, but you can prevent this if you use shampoo to remove the henna.

The frequency of washing is unaffected by the use of herbs. I washed along with everyone she washed. However, the sensitivity improved. In the past, unpleasant skin sensations, such as itching and a sensation of moving hair, would frequently bother me. All these problems subsided with the help of herbs, albeit slowly and imperceptibly. I was shocked to learn that my scalp is not bothering me until recently.

My hair has become healthier and more vibrant since I started coloring it with henna, which has been a life-changing experience for me. I want to talk about my personal experience coloring my hair with henna in this post, including the reasons behind my decision, the steps I took, and the lessons I learned. Whether you’re interested in henna or thinking about switching to it yourself, I hope my insights and experiences will offer some useful advice and motivation.

Can I recommend herbal care

No. Never. I think you should make the decision to switch to herbal care on your own, not because someone told you to. It shouldn’t happen on its own. It is important to thoroughly examine all the subtleties, including the type and condition of the hair, the possibility of an allergic reaction, and the character’s variability. Reviewing the care may be required because different powders can cause different reactions in hair.

Henna is incredibly durable, especially once the pigment has built up. It is a myth that pure henna cannot be lightened, removed with water, or colored. However, it will be very problematic to go outside in the cold shade.

Step	My Experience
Choosing Henna	I opted for natural henna, free of additives for a more vibrant and healthy result.
Preparation	I mixed the henna with warm water, letting it sit for about 30 minutes to release the dye.
Application	Applying henna was a bit messy, but I made sure to cover all my hair evenly from roots to tips.
Waiting Time	I left the henna on for around 3 hours to ensure deep color penetration.
Rinsing	Rinsing out henna took some time, but after a thorough rinse, my hair felt soft and nourished.
Final Result	The color came out rich and natural, and my hair felt healthier overall.

For me, getting henna has been a really interesting and fulfilling experience. I wasn’t prepared for the natural shine and richness it gives my hair at first. In addition, the fact that it’s a chemical-free, healthier alternative gives me confidence in the general health of my hair.

It is not without difficulties, though. Depending on your natural hair color, the application process can be messy and time-consuming, and the outcome may differ. Henna is worth trying, though, if you’re patient and enjoy experimenting with natural beauty products.

Henna coloring is ultimately an individual experience. It might not be ideal for everyone, but if you’re searching for a natural way to improve the health and vibrancy of your hair, this might be the best option for you. Just be ready for some learning by trial and error.

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