Benefits of Henna Explained – The Safest Natural Hair Colour
The benefits of chemical-free hair colors like henna are countless. It has been popularly used as a natural dying agent since ancient times in India. Other ancient civilizations, Egyptian and Persian in particular, are also known to have recorded history of using henna for hair and skin colouring. Henna was not only used as a natural hair dye but also as a conditioner as it offers many benefits and maintains hair and scalp health. Organic henna hair colour helps in keeping the scalp free from bacterial and microbial attacks. Regular use of henna on hair helps keep hair healthy promoting hair growth.
What are the advantages of henna?
The benefits of organic henna powder are manifold.
- Organic henna powder conditions hair
- It helps enhance the natural colour of hair
- It protects the scalp from external threats like dirt, pollution and UV rays of the sun
- It keeps hair hydrated
- Organic henna also helps repair damaged hair
- It also helps reduce hair fall, split ends, dandruff and bacterial infestations
Does henna damage hair?
Although much has been said about this in mass media, the truth really is that henna, being a natural ingredient, does not damage hair and scalp in any way. On the contrary, its natural stain lawsone conditions and nourishes the scalp and hair like no other. Only when the natural dye lawsone that comes naturally present in henna is processed synthetically in laboratories does it harm skin and hair.
What are the side effects of henna?
Being a natural ingredient, henna has no side effects. Although its cooling effect may lead to cough and cold if applied on hair during winters. For those allergic to vegetables or pollen, a 48-hour patch test is a must.
What are the disadvantages of henna?
Henna has only two disadvantages—the first one being its mildly pungent smell, especially when applied in abundance and the second one being its orangish stain that it leaves on light coloured hair. However, both these issues can be easily resolved.
The pungent smell can be easily removed by adding some hair care essential oils like tea tree, or any other. The orangish stain can be easily converted into black to brown shades by adding other natural stains like indigo, chamomile or manjistha.
How to use henna?
Most of the time when organic henna powder is used, it is not used alone. It is most often used in conjunction with other essential hair care herbs and extracts that enhance its healing powers, to name a few—amla, shikakai, bhringraj, olive oil and indigo powder, brahmi and many more.
Some ingredients which add to the enrichment offered by henna are:
- Indigo leaf powder and henna
Indigo has many medicinal uses along with its ability color up the hair. Indigo leaves a bluish tint over hair. When mixed in varying proportions with henna, it gives varying shades of brown. The intensity of the color can be achieved by increasing or decreasing the proportion of indigo powder. Indus Valley Bio-Organic Indigo Leaf Powder for hair is a triple-sifted, microfine indigo powder that releases more colour, more quickly. It is also extremely easy to work with as it does not form lumps while mixing into a paste.
- Amla powder and henna
Amla, or Indian Gooseberry, when combined with henna, is known to darken the color of henna. It can also be used together with indigo powder and henna as it helps make indigo powder last longer on hair. Make amla water and mix it with 3 tablespoons of henna, 4 teaspoons of lemon juice and coffee. Make a thick smooth paste. Apply thoroughly over your hair. Let it sit for 45-60 minutes and then rinse with normal water.
- Coffee and Henna
Coffee helps in improving the texture and look of hair. Apart from naturally enriching the color stain left by henna, it facilitates hair growth, makes hair shinier and smoother and evades the smell of henna. Add warm water, 5 teaspoons of henna and 1-2 teaspoons of coffee in a container and mix until it turns into a smooth thick paste. Leave overnight and apply the next morning. Leave it on for 3 hours, then rinse with water. Shampoo if needed.
The final takeaway
Combination of Indus Valley Bio-Organic Herbal Henna Powder and its bio-organic indigo hair powder is one combination that has received rave reviews from its users online. You can use this natural stain freely to not just colour your hair, but also to nutrition your hair and scalp. Do feel free to connect with our beauty and health experts with your comments below.
