Henna seems to be more popular than ever. As we seek out healthier alternatives to everyday products, using henna for hair dye just makes sense. But is henna good for your hair? Find out how it can help you get healthier hair while providing beautiful, long-lasting color.
Does Henna Dry out Hair?
Your hair may feel dry or even straw-like after dyeing it with henna. Don't worry, though; henna doesn't actually dehydrate your hair. It raises the hair cuticle temporarily, making strands seem rough. Simply work conditioner through your hair and rinse it out after applying henna to smooth the cuticle. Sulfate-free conditioner is best, especially if you have skin sensitivities.
How Henna Protects Hair
Not only does henna not dry out your hair; it actually helps it retain moisture. Henna also protects your hair from sun damage. Lawsone, the molecule in that makes it possible to use henna for hair dye, binds to keratin. Keratin is the protective protein that forms the structure of your hair. When keratin and lawsone join forces, keratin blocks damage from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Other Henna Hair Benefits
Henna helps with some of the most common hair complaints. Is your hair dull? Henna lends a glossy shine to go with that rich color. Do you have thin, lifeless hair? Limp locks can benefit from henna's volume-boosting ability. Henna brings the shine and helps you say goodbye to split ends and flyaways. The natural hair dye is also good for the scalp; henna can be used to help with scalp itch and flakes caused by dandruff.
Does Henna Give You Permanent Hair Color?
Henna is also considered a permanent dye; although the color does become less vivid after a couple of months. Just touch up your roots as needed. There's no reason to head to the salon for chemical-laden color every six weeks when you can treat your hair to henna hair dye at home.
Henna vs. Conventional Box Dyes
Those who use henna for hair dye appreciate the lack of harsh, unnatural ingredients. Lawsone, henna's dye molecule, binds to keratin without any help. Conventional hair dyes, on the other hand, rely on chemical developers to force hair to "take" color. Henna also eliminates worries about allergic reactions to para-phenylenediamine, or PPD. This ingredient, found in many conventional hair dyes, can trigger reactions ranging from mild to quite serious.
If you're looking for a healthier way to color your hair, give henna a try. From its hair- and scalp-conditioning capabilities to fighting frizz and dandruff, henna takes on your biggest hair challenges while providing beautiful, permanent hair color at home. Choose from a wide range of reds and browns, as well as jet black, at The Henna Guys store. Our colors are crafted from pure henna, indigo, and proprietary herbal blends.