Image: @trinitialysse via @hennasooq
If you are unfamiliar with the use of henna for natural hair color, you might have a few questions. While the use of henna is nothing new, it has become more popular over the years. Let’s take a closer look at this topic to help you decide if it’s worth the hype.
What does henna do to hair?
Henna is used for a few reasons. It is used primarily as a natural dyeing agent to achieve red tones. It can also be used to darken hair without chemicals. In addition to being used to color hair, henna is used as a mask to leave hair softer, smoother, and stronger than before.
Can henna color hair?
There are few things to keep in mind when using henna to color hair. While the use of henna as a natural hair dye is better than using one rife with chemicals, it can really only give you a red shade. If you want to lighten hair, it won’t work for that effect. In fact, the more henna you use, the darker the shade of red will become — even to where the red becomes more of an undertone. But it won’t lighten your strands at all. It is also worth noting that many users report that henna shades can be a bit inconsistent depending on the light. For example, your hair may look to be a burgundy shade in one type of lighting and more of a copper red under other lighting.
Can henna soften hair?
Henna can be used to soften or smooth hair, but you should keep in mind that henna only provides a temporary effect. Henna doesn’t penetrate the shaft or add any moisture. It does bridge gaps in the hair shaft to make it appear smoother, which also helps strands to pick up more light which gives it more sheen.
It should also be noted that not only is henna not moisturizing by way of its natural properties, in fact it can actually be quite drying for your strands. If you choose to use henna, you need to follow up with your leave-in conditioner to combat any added dryness it might create.
To learn more about using henna to color your hair, check out this article with ingredients and step-by-step directions to do a henna treatment at home. And if you’d like to learn more about another natural hair colorant, read about indigo here.
Have you used henna before? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
