Henna: When Natural Is Not Always Recommended

[@esthertjones]

Pure henna shouldn't have any metals in it - Henna Sooq has a lot of good info!

[@brownie0605]

Agree! Love Henna Sooq 🙂

[@dramasearchers]

yeap, a brand I highly recommend.

[@ramahh979]

I’m definitely a henna head. I use Curly Prozerbz

[@dramasearchers]

@@ramahh979 another great brand.

[@dramasearchers]

Herbalist and subscriber here. Henna is for clients who want to use natural hair dye that strengthens,and has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can help to maintain scalp health. They typically are not transitioning to color such as blonde, and bright colors which may need "lifting". Unlike chemical dyes, which only color hair without providing any other advantages. Use pure (body art quality) henna, free of additives. The ingredient list should have only one ingredient, lawsonia inermis (henna). Pure henna which is grounded leaves does not have metals or damaging chemicals. Yes henna does build up on the hair. The lawsone molecules penetrate the hair shaft and bind to the proteins within. Filling gaps in the hair resulting in strong healthy strands and a semi permanent color. Yes it's drying like most natural and ayurvedic herbs which is why after care is essential. Henna can be drying, it resembles protein in many ways. Properly using henna and the after care of your hair is crucial for a successful process. Add aloe vera powder, gel, or juice to the henna. Then apply the mixture to clean hair and rinse it out with a conditioning co-wash or conditioner. Do not deep condition. You will remove the color. If at all possible, avoid shampooing for at least 48 hours. Avoid using any products containing protein or strengthening ingredients for the next week. To avoid drying out your hair even more. Use products that have moisturizing and hydrating ingredients. Your ability to fully reap the benefit from henna depends on how you apply it and how you take care of your hair thereafter.

[@crystalsimmons9976]

That was very informative.

[@bernadettebenjamin232]

Thank you v much for the info. I use henna and indigo on a regular basis (did it yesterday). Would never go back to chemicals.

[@ramahh979]

@@dramasearchers thank you for providing such detailed information! I often add aloe vera, honey and essential oils to my mix. My fine, high porosity strands love the build up, strength and conditioning of the henna, and my hair can't take lifting at all without drying out and breaking off

[@Peace-Love-Justice]

I've been using Henna followed by Indo for a year on my non chemically treated 4c textured hair and I love it. I add Aloe Vera Powder to both the Henna and the Indigo. Until this last time, I add coffee to the both the henna to the indigo as well. The only think I recall doing differently this last time around is I added lemon juice instead of coffee and it dried my hair out something terrible. I am going to go back to using the coffee. But I'm glad to see that I can rinse the henna with a conditioner / co-wash. But I'm wondering if that is also the case if I'm following up the henna with indigo. And because I wait 48 to 72 hours before shampooing, I've always wondered if I could used "product" to style my hair. I.e. leave in conditioner, curling gel, and a curling cream to bring my natural kinks/curls out. The was a very helpful comment. I was actually headed over to amazon to look for semi permanent black. But I think I'll stick with my henna and indigo. It softened up after that last drying episode because I deep conditional it during my first shampoo after the henna - a few days.

[@cl4840]

@@Peace-Love-Justice yes stick with coffee because lemon juice is too drying. Go ahead and use your styling products. You are doing great with your timing.

[@A_Wilson]

Henna has been so beneficial for my hair…it’s a crucial part to me retaining length. ☺️🌸

[@nicolejohnson9453]

I’ve used Henna Sooq for years with no issues.

[@joybanks4974]

Natural henna does not have metals. Henna colors the hair red. To get black or brown, you must mix it with Indigo. Commercial henna has metals and can damage the hair if you use hair dye on top of it.

[@amg3021]

I used Henna Sooq products and in order to get dark brown, or black, had to mix indigo with the henna, then repeat with just indigo. Color did not stay long enough as my hair grows fast, and I have graying edges and I then developed an allergic reaction to the indigo. Made my hair 3C, feel stronger, but was drying, and time involved was not suitable. Love the ayurvedic mask, and other conditioning hair product from the collection though as well as the oils.

[@angelaamare9290]

Absolutely I tried Henna from a very reputable source. But it damaged my hair so I have been cutting periodically to get rid of it. I actually think my final cut yesterday. I grew an entire new head of hair. I think it will make a big difference. However I did experience some shedding from the Mielle products 😊

[@chestarr21batson46]

Same here. One company even mentioned in the comments. Damaged my hair as I’m protein sensitive, therefore it felt like a Brillo pad eventually started breaking. Try adjusting by adding other products to the powder to help. But I refused to give up… it’s natural right? Had to stop and grow it out and clip often. I prefer the natural process and would have loved to continued but it wasn’t for me. Maybe one day but will embrace the gray eventually.

[@erniecelindsey8418]

Same here, I am so mad that I had to cut my hair. I had just got it to the length I wanted it to be.

[@chestarr21batson46]

@@erniecelindsey8418 Isn’t it so disappointing to try and use natural products while trying to do your best for your hair to only end up cutting it or damaged hair? Frustrating!! I can use dye with no problem, while henna destroyed it. I went the whole Ayurvedic route at one point. Many people have success but I wasn’t one of them.

[@eyekandy3000]

I have always loved henna but recently found it drying. I have fine thin 4c hair and helped make it feel thicker and tangle less but not sure if I’ll keep using it.

[@chestarr21batson46]

I purchased Henna from a very popular reputable source to cover my gray (age 64-so I have done it all- relaxed/natural) as I wanted to use natural products. I tried quite a few of their other products over the years. It worked but was very time consuming as I prefer to use Indigo after to dampen the red. So hours with the henna and then another hour with the indigo powder (with me hating the smell of Henna ) was a challenge. But again… it worked so I sucked it up as part of the process. My issue was I’m protein sensitive. My hair became more and more brittle and hard as time went on. Yes, I used a protein free deep conditioner after and even steamed my hair for extra moisture. My hair stylist ( when I would go for trims) started questioning what I was doing at home as my hair was changing. I started to experience breakage and was forced to stop the Henna and go with a Demi to color my hair. No more issues and my hair has soften up. I wish I could have continued. A few more years and I would embrace the gray even I don’t like I. 😢

[@dinespeace2538]

Anthony you are funny. I am nuts and berries with an occasional Birk. Seriously though I have used Henna here and there over the years but my last experience wasn't the greatest. I noticed my hair being so dry no matter the deep conditioning or oil treatments.

[@nbelle8844]

So any suggestions to color gray hair without damaging or drying the hair 🤔

[@jdbailey442]

Demi permanent color.

[@monicathomas3266]

@@jdbailey442so where can you purchase this Demi permanent dye

[@SUN7SHINE25]

✊🏽👋🏽👏🏽🤗😄

[@shelbyoakenshield9093]

Thank you Dickey I was looking to use henna for my grays maybe. I'm a 4c and I think I will not be nuts and berries and Birkenstocks to use it. lol❤

[@gwenncoath8941]

I used henna once because a KZbinr said that it would strengthen the hair. Well, it turned my gray a brassy gold and it took forever for that brassy gold color to go away….

[@cl4840]

Some have mentioned problems with henna and other herbs in the comments section. Relying solely on what other people are doing with "their hair" will result in undesirable results, we must understand our own hair and conduct our own research. If research isn't done, user error will occur.