Henna is a natural hair dye made from the dried and shredded leaves of the henna plant. It has been used in parts of Asia and Africa since antiquity for temporary body art (mehndi) and as a hair dye. And although today you can buy a million chemical dyes that can dye your hair any colour, henna remains very popular, and for a reason! Here are four benefits of dyeing your hair with henna you may not know about.
1. It Is Less Damaging Than Chemical Dyes
Most commercial hair dyes contain ammonia or other alkaline compounds that open the cuticle (the outermost layer of the hair shaft) for the pigment to reach the cortex of the hair. This process weakens the hair. In contrast, henna-based dyes are free of ammonia, oxidising agents, and other chemicals that can be damaging to your hair. Sometimes henna makes the hair a little dry, but this won’t happen if you follow a few simple rules of dyeing your hair with henna.
Check this out: How to Dye Your Hair with Henna
2. It Can Dye Your Hair Different Colours
Pure henna only stains the hair various shades of red (from bright orange to deep reddish brown, depending on the original hair colour). However, it can be mixed with other natural ingredients (indigo, amla, bhringraj, neem, coffee, hibiscus, etc.) for a wide range of colours and shades, from strawberry blond to deep black. A lot of brands that produce henna also produce henna-based hair dyes that come in multiple shades.
Check this out: Herbal Hair Dyes by Lady Henna
3. It Makes the Hair Stronger and Healthier
Not only does henna not damage the hair, but it can actually make it stronger! The henna plant is rich in nutrients that help to nourish the hair and repair damaged hair structure. In addition, henna has balancing and conditioning properties; it normalises the hydro-lipid balance of the scalp, locks in moisture, prevents brittle hair and split ends. By the way, if you don’t want to dye your hair with henna but want to make the most of its hair strengthening benefits, you can try using neutral henna.
Check this out: Neutral Henna Powder for Strong and Healthy Hair
4. It Can Double as a Scalp Treatment
If you have colour-treated hair, you need to dye your roots every 4–8 weeks so that they match the rest of your hair. But have you known that colouring your roots with henna actually doubles as a scalp treatment? Thanks to its antiseptic properties, henna balances the scalp, combats dandruff, and stimulates hair follicles, promoting the growth of strong and healthy hair.
Check this out: Henna Hair Mask with Herbs by Aasha Herbals
