Henna for Hair: All you need to know

The henna powder is gaining in popularity as a natural option for hair coloras an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical dyes containing ammonia. On the contrary, henna is gentle on the hair and scalpoffering a solution that is not only environmentally friendly, but also beneficial to hair health.

But what about white hair? Is henna as effective?

What is henna? What is this plant?

In recent years, going back to nature has become a trend and, above all, a necessity.

Indeed, most of us prefer to use products that are and ecological products whether in food or cosmetics.

This is particularly true for hair care products. The coloring with henna is one of the colorings natural because it is free of chemical substances.

1. The origin of henna for hair

La henna powder for coloring, is a 100% natural product obtained by drying and powdering the plant's leaves. The plant's scientific name is Lawsonia Inermis (Lythraceae family).

It is a fragrant shrub that produces white flowers and can grow up to one metre in height.

Its use dates back millennia (over 5,000 years) to several ancient peoples, including the Minoan civilization and Mycenae.

According to history, the oldest traces of its use were first discovered in North Africa, specifically in Egypt.

The henna plant was then used for its medicinal (thanks to tannin) and fragrant virtues.

The Egyptians used to paint their fingernails and whole body to lower the temperature and protect themselves from the sun.

Moreover, the different parts (his hair, feet and hands) of the mummy of Ramses II were covered with this plant.

Around 500 years ago, henna made its appearance in India, where it is still used to beautify women with tattoos.

Indian women also use it to wash their hair. wash their hair and and add volume.

Today, henna has a wide range of uses, and is also widely known for its power to coloring the hair.

2. The different henna and their dyes

There are two types of henna: the neutral henna and natural natural henna.

The two types of henna, neutral henna (from Cassia obovata) and natural henna (from Lawsonia inermis), are two completely different plants.

Neutral henna

Neutral henna, which comes from subtropical regions, does not bleach hair.

This type of henna comes from the Cassia Obovata plant in the Cesalpiniaceae family.

Indeed, as its name suggests, it does not color hair.

It sheathes hair, fortifying it, making it more supple and restoring its vigor and shine.

In addition to its sheathing effect on fiber capillary, neutral henna provides numerous benefits for the hair:

strengthens the hair;
accelerates growth;
regulates sebum production;
cleanses the scalp and acts against dandruff.

The coloring with natural henna, which gives color

It comes from the Lawsonia Inermis shrub.

The coloring natural henna is made from a plant native to India and the Arabian Peninsula, and is used to color hair.

This type of henna is used for natural coloring hair.

It also contains tannin and has the same properties as neutral henna.

Natural henna powder contains a molecule called lawsone.

It's a coloring pigment that can produce different hues such as red, orange and brown.

These variations in hue depend on several factors: the origin of the henna, the base and the nature of the hair.

The concentration of lawsone in henna varies according to its origin.

There are henna of different origins, namely Egyptian henna, Yé henna, Rajasthan henna (India), Gabes henna (Tunisia).

Its leaves, composed of a natural red-orange pigment, wrap around the hair and attach themselves to it, giving it a coppery or auburn sheen.

It is chosen according to the hair's original color and the desired result.

The coloring with henna: a permanent color and a natural ally for your white hair

The power of coloring henna even on white hair

Natural henna can have a surprising effect on your hair. Here are the 3 things you need to know about this plant-based coloring .

Possible henna shades

This 100% natural powder, to which water is added to form a paste, can add a coloring ranging from bright color (such as red or orange) to coppery highlights .

If you choose Egyptian henna, you will get a bright copper shade.

If you opt for Rajasthani henna, you'll get intense copper, and for Yemen henna, expect a very vivid color : mahogany.

It will give you beautiful highlights, it will totally change color, the result will depend on the ingredients added to the dough.

And to obtain a specific shade, it is possible to mix the different types of henna.

The addition of other plants such as dyes (indigo, turmeric, madder, etc.) allows you to dye your hair light copper, chestnut, brown or dark red...

Please note that henna cannot lighten hair.

It is impossible to become blond if you are a brunette, as henna is not a bleaching product.

Henna powder for hair care

What sets henna apart from colorings is its sheathing power.

The pigments are deposited only on the hair surface, but do not penetrate the cuticles.

This gives the hair extra protection, without altering its nature.

Henna also adds volume to thin hair and sparse hair.

It acts by tightening the hair scales thanks to its astringent effect.

It strengthens hair and leaves it shiny.

As well as coloring, henna has dandruff-fighting properties and helps regulate sebum production.

It also helps restore the scalp's PH balance. There's nothing like natural henna for natural hair color.

By adding Ayurvedic herbs to henna, you'll obtain an excellent blend for even more convincing results: soft, shiny, healthy-looking hair.

In short, a coloring done with henna brings a color that's always rich and luminous.

It will never be bland, even over time.

The coloring permanent henna and white hair: the process of this color

Henna isn't just for dyeing hair, it's also great for masking gray.

It can be used to shade white strands and play on the opacity of the natural color base.

100% coverage of white hair with henna.

Henna softens white hair while bringing out your hair's natural color hue.

It embellishes the whole head of hair with highlights and copper tones.

Henna is a plant that coats white hair firmly thanks to its acidity.

The coloring with henna is a permanent coloring , it remains on the hair.

It lasts over time and may lighten slightly in summer.

It gives the entire head of hair a coppery, auburn or red sheen, depending on where it comes from.

Different shades depending on the plants used with coloring vegetal with henna

Depending on the percentage of white hair, the organic colorist will add other dye powders plant-based.

Depending on the percentage of white hair and your basic color , the colourist mixes other natural plant dyes with the henna.

Indigo, for example, is combined with henna to enhance shades and darken naturally brown hair.

Note that coloring perfect white hair after henna application is not immediate: you need to give the pigments time to burn.

Two days in the open air is usually enough for the color hair to change to darker shades.

Different colours and colorings possible depending on the number of applications

You can do one application or two.

A single application gives a color from blond to coppery.

If the hairdresser makes two applications, he will not apply the same mixture twice.

The aim of two applications is to achieve a dark color .

In fact, the first color in the first application makes it possible to grip the hair.

The second application will complete the color.

How to fix color and henna dye on white hair permanently?

For coloring henna to last as long as possible, we recommend waiting two or three days before washing your hair.

During this period, the pigments are released and fixed by the acidity of the hair's keratin.

It is then important to maintain and care for your coloring with oil masks plant-based once a week.

Henna changes the nature of the fiber hair by strengthening it and sheathing it.

The mask will soften the fiber and smooth the scales that have allowed the pigments to cling.

The result is luminous, voluminous, silky hair, free of graying.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it's best to trust the professionals. You can make your diagnosis online to obtain your personalized color !

Is coloring henna good for hair? For grey hair too? (video)

Henna is a natural plant widely used in oriental countries to dye hair.

However, if used incorrectly, it has a number of disadvantages, as detailed here by Charley:

Long-term hair dryness
Hair alteration in case of poor quality henna
Limits in the possibilities of colours

Is henna bad for hair? What about grey hair?

Henna: a product to be chosen with care

Few people really know about henna.

What about this plant? What are its properties?

Is henna bad for the hair? Why choose organic henna like the one offered by Biocoiff'?

Choosing a 100% natural henna

Henna that is bad for the hair contains sodium picramate (metal salts) which is considered toxic. It may also contain paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause allergies.

To achieve a beautiful coloring with henna without damaging the health of the hair, it is essential to use 100% pure henna without additives.

Ideally labelled ORGANIC or COSMOS ORGANIClike the one proposed by Biocoiff'.

What is black henna?

What we call black henna is actually indigo. It does not come from the henna plant at all.

Indigo is also a plant, but one that can be used to obtain black. Black henna, in other words indigo, is also a dye plant that can be used to color hair darkly. This plant can also be used to achieve a permanent coloring . It is also capable of covering and hiding 100% white hair.