Henna Hair Dye

Henna is a natural plant that grows in very hot climates. Popularly known as mehndi , it is typically used for dying hair, skin and nails in various parts of the world that include South Asia and the Middle East. As a natural plant it makes only one color : orange-reddish tones.  Other colors for the dye are derived by mixing other ingredients or by adding natural based dyes.
The  cosmetic usage of henna is been followed from ages. Fairly for ladies to put on henna on hands in addition to legs specifically during teej or other important occasions. This article discusses the usefulness of henna for attaining long and lustrous hair.
Everyone is aware of the many uses of henna as an hair conditioner. Many of them today have this wrong assumption that henna spoils the hair texture. The fact is that the product sold in the market isn’t of good quality and hence affects the hair texture. Natural henna leaves are known to provide complete nourishment to the hair thereby making them manageable and beautiful. To reap from the many benefit’s of henna, mix it with other ingredients like tea leaves, curd, ova, lemon juice, and amla juice, before using it as a conditioner for your hair. With regard to hair care, henna not only works as a hair coloring agent but also an excellent hair conditioner.

How to use henna on hair

Mehandi powder- 2 cups,
Eggs- about 2 or 3
Coffee powder- 2 tbsp
tea leaves- 4 tbsp
Kattha powder- 1 tbsp
Sugar-1/2 tbsp
Procedure:  Take a tea kettle and add 2 glasses of water along with the coffee powder and tea leaves. Let it boil for 5 minutes. Now strain it in a clean bowl and add henna and all the other ingredients to it. Mix it well, see to it that there are no lumps being formed in the mixture. Cover the bowl and keep it for about 2-3 hours (yields best result when kept covered overnight). Apply this henna mixture along your hair and leave it for an hour. Now wash it off with warm water, till the water rns clean.

Method regarding application regarding henna on hair

Wet your hair with little water. Apply the henna paste along the length of your hair beginning from the roots upwards to the ends. Now cover the head with a shower cap or plastic cover. Leave it a for a minimum of  1-4 hours roughly.  Wash your hair and leave it to dry. If you have dry hair/scalp then after shampooing and drying the hair yo may also choose to apply oil and leave it overnight for extra nourishment. The effect in this dye are going to be noticeable in the morning when the color of your hair would seem deeper.

Mentioned below are few useful tips for healthy hair

• If your hair is exceedingly white and you are want to use henna for the very first time, then use it daily and leave the henna hair pack for 4-5 several hours and then wash it off. Follow this routine for till 4-5 days to weeks.

• When your is unmanageable and turns curly and wavy then applying henna is the best solution to make hair straight and soft, make use of henna (mehandi) with eggs and curd.

• The character of henna is usually cool so it is advised not to use when yo are affected with cough, cold, fever and menstruation.

• Dandruff problem can be resolved by applying henna.

• The re are no side-effects of henna as a conditioner.

• Hair gets proper nourishment and shinning. It is also restored from being rough to smooth, soft and silky.

• Head ache and sleeplessness is cured

• If you are a vegetarian then yo can skip eggs and replace it with curd. This will also act as a perfect conditioner for your hair.

• Yo may choose to oil your hair before applying henna to it. Those who just want to use it as a conditioner and not as a hair coloring agent can resort to this technique. Oil application doesn’t allow the henna color to penetrate in the hair thereby leaving it in its original form and color.

• After henna is applied it should be covered to keep it moist. Leaving it open will dry the mixture and it will become very difficult to wash it off. In addition it will not be able to yield better results if it is kept open after application.

• Leaving henna pack on the hair for a longer time will help repair the damaged hair, thereby leaving it nourished and healthy.

Benefits of Henna as a hair dye

There are many benefits of using henna for a healthy hair Coloring hair with chemical products has always been difficult , because there areevery high chances of getting skin problems, itching and  inflammation. Besides giving color to the hair henna has the following benefits —

• It isa natural ingredient and there are no chemicals used.
• Henna dyes grey and light color hair  very well
• It is the best conditioner that  leaves hair heavy, thick and silky
• It is helpful in reducing dandruff and can eliminate ringworm and lice.
• It also helpsto loosen tight curls.
• It helps to grow hair.
• Henna helps in protecting hair from sun and dust 

How to use henna paste for hair dye?

• Depending on the length of the hair add enough henna powder in a bowl. On an average shoulder length hair will Ned about 100 grams of henna. Make the paste with half water and half   juice of lemonor orange juice to release the dye. If coffee or tea is added, no juice is required.
• Add a small amount of clove powder to intensify the color of the henna
• Let the mixture sit overnight at room temperature. The water on the above will turn into a dark color. Remove the excess water and mix the paste thoroughly.
• Henna is messy so it should be applied after wearing gloves and old clothes which mat take the stain.
• Apply the henna paste by splitting the hair into sections. Complete the full head until all strands of hair are completely covered. Henna need to be applied generously and extra henna that drops on the face, neck or ear must be wiped immediately with a clean cloth.
• Wrap the head with a towel or wear a shower cap to hold the moisture and wait for twohours. Keep wiping the henna that falls from the head to other parts.
• Wash off the henna with warm water. This is a laborious job and will take some time. Wrap and dry the hair with a towel which may take some stains.
• It takes about three days to get the potential color of henna, so patience is required. This is a result of oxidation, which causes your hair to darken into a deep rich color.

Recipes of henna paste

Hair Coloring with Henna:

Henna is mostly used to color the hair in a natural way.  Make a paste with  2 cups henna powder, ½ cup alma powder, 2 spoons shikakai  powder, 1 egg white, 2 spoons lemon juice, 1 spoon Tulsa powder  with a concoction of tea or coffee. Leave it overnight and apply it generously on the hair in the morning.  Cover the hair with a plastic cap.Rinse after one hour.

Hair Growth Oil with Henna:

Henna can be used to make an essential oil to get rid of hair fall, white hair and pollution. Boil 250 grams of gingili oil with 5 cups of henna for 5-6 minutes. Cool and strain the mixture and store it in a bottle for use.

Hair Conditioner Pack with Henna:

Henna can also be used as a natural hair conditioner by  mixing  2 cups henna powder,1 cup  amla powder ,2 spoon  hibiscus flower powder , 2 spoon meth powder and  1 spoonorange peel powder with sufficient curd. Leave the mixture for one hour and then apply on the hair. Rinse after one hour and cover it with a plastic cap.

Dandruff Treatment with Henna:

One of the best procedures to fight dandruff with henna is to use Fenugreek seeds and Lemon. Soak fenugreek seeds overnight and grind them to a paste. Mix henna powder and lemon juice and apply on the scalp properly.Rinse the hair after 45 minutes.

Hair Fall Pack with Henna

Hair fall due to any cause can be reduced by  mixing 1 cup amla powder , 3 spoons mehndi powder, 2 spoon fenugreek powder,1 Egg white  and 1 lemon juice one hour before applying to the hair. Rinse after 45 minutes and feel the change immediately.