Henna, the most popular natural dye, is a powder made from the dried leaves of the lawsonia plant. For centuries in the East it has been used as a healing, antiseptic, and cleansing agent, but its main uses have been body and hair care. The product is gentle and safe for hair and skin and offers several benefits. Henna is generally non‑allergenic, conditions and softens hair, helps combat dandruff, and adds shine. Best of all, when used for coloring, henna gives such a natural hue that no one would suspect it isn’t yours.
Henna is well known as a very long‑lasting dye, which can make switching to other hair colors difficult; attempts to cover it up can leave bluish or greenish tones. That’s especially true for people trying to go blonde — achieving that look after henna can be a real challenge. Some people believe henna can clog hair follicles and dry out the hair, which may contribute to split ends. For that reason, henna often works best on oily hair.
The dyeing process typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours, but it can vary a lot. Some people leave henna on for 2 to 8 hours, and some even wear it overnight. Mix henna with boiling water and let it steep briefly. Apply the mixture to clean, damp hair, then rinse it out with warm water mixed with apple cider vinegar. Avoid shampoo for three days to let the color settle.
In addition to water, henna can be mixed with kefir; the acidic environment helps release the dye, producing a brighter, richer color. You can also dilute henna with buttermilk. For 75 g of henna, use about half a liter of kefir. Many other ingredients can be added to henna to boost its conditioning effects and create a variety of shades.
For a reddish tint, mix henna with hibiscus tea or warmed red wine. For a cherry‑red color, add a little beet juice or elderberry. Cocoa will produce a mahogany shade. Ground coffee, black tea, and walnut shells give a chocolate hue. In ancient India, people added ground cloves to deepen and enrich the color; use about 10 g of cloves per 100 g of henna. To get a honey‑golden shade, add chamomile, saffron, rhubarb, or turmeric. Mix turmeric directly into the henna; finely chop and simmer rhubarb on low for about 20 minutes, then strain it and use the liquid instead of water. Boil a pinch of saffron in water, then mix the henna into that water. Steep 2 tablespoons of chamomile in 100 ml of boiling water for 30 minutes, strain, and add it to the henna.
Avoid chemical dyes and perms before or after using henna. Also avoid henna if you previously had highlights, because that combination can produce blue‑green tones.
If the first attempt doesn’t give the result you wanted, don’t be discouraged. Apply a bit of warmed oil to your hair for 20–30 minutes, then wash it out with shampoo. Add a teaspoon of cognac to the oil to help it rinse out more easily.
Now, here are some coloring and strengthening masks with henna:
- Mix one packet of henna with the juice of one lemon, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 1 egg yolk, then pour in 100 ml of strong black tea. Let the mixture sit in a warm place for half an hour, then apply it to your hair for an hour and rinse without shampoo.
- Combine 100 g of henna with 1 tablespoon of cocoa and pour in 250 ml of warmed buttermilk to which you’ve added 5 drops of tea tree oil. Let the mixture steep for 8–10 hours, then apply it to your hair for 1.5 hours.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of colorless henna into 100 ml of warmed kefir and let it steep for 15 minutes. Apply it to the roots, distribute the remainder through your hair, leave it on for 40 minutes, and rinse with warm water. This mask strengthens hair and adds shine and volume.
- Mix a packet of colorless henna with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, two egg yolks, and low‑fat cottage cheese to make a thick paste. Apply to your hair for 40 minutes while keeping it warm. This mask nourishes the roots and restores thickness and shine.
- Pour a packet of henna with 100 ml of boiling water, let it steep for 15 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of warmed burdock oil, cool the mixture, and then add half a teaspoon of oil‑based vitamins A and E. Store this mixture in a cool place and use it multiple times. Apply for 40–60 minutes, 1–2 times a week to strengthen hair.
- Shampoo mask: Mix 2 parts of colorless henna with 1 part of ground grains and 1 part of nettle. Add 2 teaspoons of mustard, pour in hot water, then apply the mixture to your hair for 7 minutes, massage the scalp, and rinse with water acidified with lemon juice.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of colorless henna with 1 tablespoon of cocoa, 1 teaspoon of tobacco, and 5–7 ground cloves. Pour in hot water and let it sit for an hour, then add one egg yolk, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of kefir, and half a teaspoon of vitamins A and E. Apply the mask to the roots, distribute it through the hair, and leave it on for an hour to strengthen the hair.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of henna with hot water, and after 20 minutes add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of honey to the cooled mixture. Keep it on your hair for 40 minutes. This mask deeply nourishes hair and improves its structure.
- Pour 2–3 tablespoons of colorless henna with hot buttermilk and let it sit for 20 minutes, then add 1 teaspoon of honey and apply the mixture to your hair. Keep it on for 1 hour. This mask is very nourishing and strengthens hair.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of colorless henna with hot water and let it sit for 15 minutes. Mash an avocado and add it to the henna along with 1 tablespoon of castor oil. This mask provides intense moisturization.
