For some people, trying
henna for the first time may seem a little scary, but using natural
henna in your hair is actually really simple, rewarding and a bit of fun.
Using natural henna
for colouring hair has been around for centuries, Natural
Henna is a great alternative to modern chemical hair colours, it
actually coats the hair, conditioning and protecting each hair individually.
Unlike some chemical hair colours, henna does not damage or strip your hair, it
adds colour to it and of course is the best way to colour your hair without
chemicals.
As with all hair
colours, it is suggested to do a patch test to ensure that the colour is
suitable for your needs, I would suggest doing this with some hair from your
hairbrush a couple of days before your henna day. To find out what colour to
expect from your henna mix a ½ teaspoon of the powder with a tiny amount of hot
water and the hair from your hairbrush, leave for a few hours, rinse and
observe.
Once you have chosen
your henna colour, (view our Colora
Henna Colour Chart here) it is best to set aside a good few hours to
apply your henna. In winter especially, I would suggest doing it in the
afternoon so that you can have a sit out in the sunshine and make best use of
the time that you will be sitting, relaxing and letting the henna do its thing.
Good things take time, so have a good book, some emails to catch up on, some journaling
to do or maybe just enjoy a glass of wine. Enjoy having some relaxing time in
your back yard or balcony with a dollop of henna on your head; it sure beats a
couple of hours in a salon with smelly chemicals.
Remember that henna is
a naturally derived hair colour, it looks like greenish brown ground up herbs,
mixed with water is looks like chocolate cake mix and it has a wonderful earthy
smell. Be prepared - henna also will colour anything that it comes into contact
with, so make sure that you cover your floor with newspaper, wear some old clothes, use some old towels and
most importantly use gloves. It is also a good idea to use some pawpaw
ointment around your hairline to prevent the henna colour from staining
your skin. It is a good idea is to have someone to help you with colouring your
hair, a friend with a sense of humour and some skill with applying hair colour
will make the process easier and more fun, but is not essential.
Just like everyone has
their own secret recipe for making spaghetti bolognaise, using the same basic
ingredients, the same goes for using henna, everyone has their own little tips
and tricks, it all just comes down to experimentation and experience. View our
How To Apply Henna article for a step by step guide and practical suggestions
for applying henna for the first time.
As a cautionary note,
it should be mentioned that if you consider colouring your hair with henna, you
will need to grow out the colour as it is quite difficult to remove once it is
on. Choose your henna colour carefully, use our Colora
Henna Chart to find the best colour for your hair, it makes sense to say
that trying to colour light blonde hair with black henna will produce some
discouraging results – think before you henna. Also, for those with more than
20% grey hair, it is advised that you use the Colora
Henna Crème as this has added coverage for greys. Lastly, as henna will
coat and not strip your hair, do not expect henna to lighten your hair, you can
only go darker and healthier with henna.
Overall, henna is by
far the most natural way to colour your hair, it also conditions and
strengthens your hair so it is excellent for long hair or those wanting to grow
out a shorter style. See our How To Apply Henna article next week for a step by
step guide and practical suggestions for applying henna.
Happy hennaing!