Henna is a herb that helps not only change hair color, but make it shiny, healthy. The natural ingredient has been used for many centuries, but few people know that there is a product made in India, and there is Iranian henna.
Features
Indian henna is a natural dye that gives a tan color, but there is also a colorless powder for painting, used as a mask to improve the structure of hair. Applying such a product is quite easy and simple: the grass is supplied ready-made, it is an absolutely natural product that is simple enough to mix with water, wait until it is infused, then apply to hair.
To get the desired shade, the mask must be kept on the head for several hours. Older ladies also use henna to hide gray hair.
Apply the powder twice a month, this is enough to make the hair healthy, shiny and voluminous. The mask helps to restore the lost health of the hair, restores the damaged structure. In addition, henna restores the acid-base balance of the scalp.
Henna is a very good conditioner: it covers every hair and creates a protective barrier against damage. Regular use of the paint makes the hair thick and strong, retaining the necessary moisture. Such a paint can treat dandruff.
Some finished products on the market are also enriched with 9 other herbs. This combination improves the condition of the hair follicle, activates growth.
Comparison with Iran
Indian henna is "taken" from a bush, which during flowering is covered with white-pink inflorescences.It is its leaves that become the basis for the creation of the coloring composition. The whole production process is built on manual labor: men and women collect the plant, dry it and grind it until a powder consistency is reached. It is in this form that the paint comes on store shelves for further use.
This is an amazing product that includes the necessary vitamin complex for the hair. Indian henna differs from Iranian in that after staining a red tint is achieved, very bright, saturated. You can add other ingredients to the powder, for example, tea or coffee, then the shade will change. When dyeing, it is important to take into account the natural color of the girl’s hair, because on dark, chestnut or light curls, the color can vary greatly.
The difference between Iranian henna is not only that it grows in Iran. The powder has a pale green color, after dyeing you can see a copper color on the hair, which will become darker if you add a little basma. The cooking process is the same as in India: everything is based on manual labor.
Henna is easy to color gray hair, you can treat curls. Which one is better is difficult to say, since both options are exclusively natural products, respectively, have a beneficial effect on the hair.
Indian henna is grinded much stronger, so there is no problem with the application. In both cases, it is important to note that such a paint is completely safe for hair and scalp, it has a powerful restoring effect.
Another difference is the aroma, since the Iranian product does not always smell good. He paints gray hair worse, in comparison with him, Indian henna lasts longer on the hair and makes them silky.
Shade options
The difference in shade is often the main factor why a particular product is purchased. Iranian henna tint is only copper-red, while it varies depending on the natural color of the girl’s hair. The Indian product has much more features, since you can choose among seven shades, there is also a colorless option.
When dyeing Indian henna, you can get black hair, brown, chocolate shade. Sometimes the curls in color resemble a burgundy or simply acquire a golden hue. Looks good chestnut or copper color.
It is very difficult to predict what the result will be after dyeing, since it is very important how the composition was prepared, how long the paint was kept on the hair, what color the natural strands were. As experience shows, the brighter the hair, the more intense the effect: the hair turns bright red. When using Indian henna on dark hair, the shade is burgundy.
To control the color intensity, girls try to regulate the amount of powder. The more it is, the brighter the result should be expected.
However, it is practically impossible to maintain the same consistency of the mixture each time, therefore, other ingredients are often added.
Blondes are advised not to brew henna with water, but to use chamomile infusion for this, due to which the shade is golden-honey. If you use the same tool on dark hair, then the saturation of henna can be softened.
To achieve an even brighter color, you can add turmeric to the grass. For the fiery red color, saturated beet juice and red wine can be used as an additive.
Coffee and tea will also be great helpers when you want to give your hair a chestnut shade. The exact color will depend on the amount of additional ingredients per serving of henna, but the advantage of using such a dye is that the result can be very quickly corrected by repeated coloring, while there will be no negative effect on the hair.
Despite the fact that henna is a natural material, it is not worth using it more than three times a month.
How to choose?
You can find fortified henna with oils on the market, however, regardless of the goods purchased, the powder inside must necessarily be fresh, since only in this way can the desired result be achieved.
The best paint is made from the top leaves of the plant. It is there that the most coloring pigment is located. When opening the pack, there should be finely ground powder inside, no sticks or other large fragments. You can sift henna yourself to get a 100% quality product.
A good option is Jamilya powder, the quality of which is confirmed in practice. When using it, it is possible to achieve the desired result: the shade is quite bright, saturated. For sale comes in convenient packaging weighing 100 grams. The paint is in foil, and a small bag is packed in a box. The aging time of the mixture on the hair is 3-4 hours. The grass inside is well sifted, easily washed off from the hair, and the texture of the paste is similar to melted chocolate. After coloring, a deep tan tone appears.
It is also worth paying attention to the organic Indian henna powder from the Rajasthani region, which is well balanced.
After dyeing, a typically reddish tone is present on the hair; on dark hair, the shade may be close to the color of ripe cherries. The powder goes through triple screening through nylon. On lighter hair, an orange-copper color may appear.
How to dye your hair?
When dyeing at home, it is always worth remembering that the result may be lighter or darker depending on the natural color of the hair. Take from 100 to 500 grams of henna of good quality (depending on the length of the curls), mix the powder with warm water.
When used correctly, you should get a smooth paste. Optionally, you can add orange juice to get red hair. You can lighten the curls slightly when adding a decoction of chamomile or more water.
The plate is covered with polyethylene and left for twelve hours in a dark place at room temperature. Before applying the paint, it is advisable to wash and dry the hair, a cream is applied to the scalp around the hairline to prevent staining. Wear protective gloves, you can put an apron or towel on your shoulders to prevent paint from getting on your clothes.
The hair is divided into parts, the composition is applied from roots to ends so that each curl is well oiled. Henna is quite thick in consistency, so it is difficult to apply if long hair.
After all the curls are well stained, cover them with a bag and cover with a towel or scarf. It is important that the composition does not dry out before the hair is colored, since in this case the pigment ceases to be absorbed. The exposure time of three hours. Wash henna without using shampoo.
Curls can be super bright on the first day after staining. Gradually, the color will become deeper and calmer.
You should not use a hairdryer and a straightener, as they dry your hair. When the shade becomes completely dull, you can repeat the staining procedure.
Reviews
Henna does not harm hair, it is preferable to use it as a means that can restore shine, health to curls. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, helps to cope with dandruff, but from the negative reviews you can often hear that the result was completely unexpected.
Indeed, it is difficult to predict what will turn out, as well as to dye your hair with chemical paint later, because until the henna is washed, it is impossible to correct the color. You can use additional ingredients that will allow you to slightly change the shade, make it more red or bright.
Indian henna video reviews, see below.
