The benefits and harms of henna for hair
Most women, wanting to change their hair color, but at the same time dreaming of preserving their health and beauty, use such a natural dye as henna. This natural dye has been known to mankind for a long time. I wonder what is the benefit of henna for hair, can it be harmful?
Useful and medicinal properties
People have long been using such a natural dye as henna to dye hair or to apply drawings on the body. At all times, this natural product was considered safe for human health. Nowadays, henna is used not only as a dye. Very often it is used as a useful remedy for strengthening hair, against hair loss and against dandruff. Today, you can find many hair care products that contain henna. Does this natural product really heal and strengthen weakened curls, and also has a positive effect on the health of curls? What exactly is the benefit of this substance?
To understand exactly how henna affects the health and beauty of hair and whether it can provide treatment for weakened hair, you should find out what beneficial substances it contains. This natural product, which is already on sale in the form of a ready-made powder, contains a large amount of various vitamins. For example, these are vitamins of group B, K and C.
Using this natural product, it is quite possible to protect your curls from the negative effects of the environment.
The active ingredients in henna help to protect the hair, as if enveloping it from the outside.Thanks to this tool, the curls become thicker, more magnificent. Neither the bright sun, nor cold winds and other negative factors can spoil the health and beauty of the hairstyle.
Due to the fact that this natural dye contains tannins, its active use allows you to strengthen the hair roots, return the natural shine to the curls and accelerate their growth. That is why it is recommended to use this tool for those whose strands have lost their former shine, have become more brittle, and the ends have become split. Also, this tool helps to fight excessive oily curls.
This natural remedy contains substances that prevent the scalp from drying out.
For this reason, you can easily get rid of not only dandruff, but also from constant itching, flaking and small rashes on the skin.
Harm
Despite the fact that henna is a natural remedy, many people are still afraid that it may have a negative impact on health. Is it harmful to regularly use henna, how does it harm your health? Real natural henna cannot harm the body. But only if you use a proven and high-quality product, and also follow the precautions and recommended doses.
Many, when the hair begins to fall out a lot, decide to use henna often. Overuse and applied to previously colored hair can harm it.
As a result, the hair color will be damaged and it is impossible to wash it all at home, you will have to contact a specialist. The same unpredictable effect awaits those who try to mix henna and regular hair dye on their own at home. This cannot be done.
Wanting to further strengthen and heal the curls, many too often and actively use henna. As a result, it will be possible to achieve the opposite effect.
Overuse hair will quickly lose its natural moisture and become dull, coarse and brittle.
If you apply this natural remedy to curls after a perm, your hair will become even again. It turns out that the whole procedure of perming the strands will be done in vain.
Also, if you do not use gloves while using henna, then the skin of the hands can be severely stained. After that, the natural paint will not peel off for a long time. Therefore, work should be done with gloves. In order not to harm your curls, you should definitely carefully study the instructions, observe the recommended proportions and give preference only to a high-quality product.
How to reduce harmful effects?
In the event that you are the owner of dry hair, then the frequent use of such a natural product can only harm the health of your curls. But if you follow the useful recommendations, then you can always reduce or completely avoid the harmful effects of henna on hair health. Owners of dry curls should remember that this product cannot be used more often than once every 2 months. If only colorless henna is used, then do not abuse it more than once a month.
To ensure that the natural product does not have a detrimental effect on the health of the hair, never pour boiling water over the powder. It is absolutely impossible to do this.
The optimum water temperature is 60-65 °. In addition, it is impossible to dissolve the powder in a metal dish, this will negatively affect the quality and beneficial properties of henna.
Can pregnant women dye their hair?
During pregnancy, many women face problems such as dandruff, hair loss, etc. Due to hormonal changes in the body, hair often becomes dull and brittle. Of course, such a natural remedy as henna will help to save the situation. But is it possible to dye curls with this tool during pregnancy, will it not harm?
Unlike the usual hair dyes, which can cause an allergic reaction in a pregnant woman, henna is completely safe in this regard.
This natural product does not contain such aggressive substances that are usually found in hair dyes.
In addition, you should not be afraid to use henna during lactation. The use of henna will not affect the quality of breast milk and the health of the baby.
The only thing recommended before using the product is to do a little test. Apply a small amount of the diluted henna to the back of your hand. If after thirty minutes there are no allergic reactions, itching or redness, then you can safely use it for hair. But remember all the warnings we mentioned above.
Application methods
It is imperative to use henna strictly according to the instructions. To achieve the desired result, be sure to prepare the product for use according to all the rules. Hair coloring with this tool does not require any special skills, but it is imperative to protect yourself from getting paint on your hands, clothes, etc.
Hands should be protected with gloves, but the skin along the hairline should be treated with cream or oil so that accidentally ingested paint does not stain the skin.
By the way, many advise owners of thin and weakened hair not to just use water to dilute henna powder. It is quite possible to replace the water with a decoction of those herbs that are suitable for your hair type. Thus, you can be even more beneficial to the curls. The herbal tea will help strengthen the hair, achieve the desired shade and have a soothing effect on the scalp. In addition, it is worth remembering that parsley will help to lighten the curls a little, hibiscus will give a reddish tint, and black tea will allow you to achieve a brownish tint.
After you dye your curls with henna, you should protect them from direct sunlight, otherwise the result will be short-lived.
During the next 2-3 days, try not to be in the bright sun or use various styling products. Otherwise, the coloring of the curls will be in vain. Ideally, apply a leave-in serum or hair oil on them to help set and preserve the result.
Henna diluted according to the instructions should be applied exclusively to damp curls. Hair should be divided into small strands and applied to each strand separately, from the roots of the hair and moving along the entire length. If you want your hair to acquire the desired shade as quickly as possible, you can cover it with a film or plastic bag.
In the event that you want to use this remedy only for the treatment and strengthening of hair, then it is better to choose the so-called white henna.
It must be diluted according to the instructions and insisted for an hour. Such a product does not color the hair at all, so it can be applied with massaging movements on the hair, on the scalp. It is recommended to wash off the white henna after an hour. At the same time, you do not need to cover your head at all. If desired, other natural ingredients can be added to white henna to help strengthen the hair roots and return them to a healthy look. For example, it can be a decoction of herbs, honey, various oils or egg yolk. It all depends on the individual requirements, condition and type of hair.
Reviews
Many women who use a quality product correctly for several days leave only positive reviews. Most people note the fact that after the first application, the hair becomes smoother, fuller and more elastic. Professional hairdressers also very often advise their clients to use henna as a remedy that helps restore hair health. But there is no clear opinion of trichologists on this matter.Their opinions on this issue were divided.
Some argue that henna is only beneficial and has a positive effect on the health of the curls. Others are of the opinion that using henna can harm the hair and scalp. Therefore, one cannot completely rely on the opinion of only one trichologist.
In any case, listening to the numerous opinions and positive reviews, it will not be superfluous to consult with your specialist to make sure that this product is exactly right for your hair. Everything is individual, which is why someone remains in complete delight, and someone does not. But most women are still very happy. The main thing is to use only high-quality henna and do everything according to the instructions.
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