Supra for hair lightening: selection and use

Supra, better known to consumers as white henna, is an effective treatment for lightening hair up to 7 tones. However, the composition has nothing to do with real henna, therefore, when using it, you should know some of the features of the supra and the subtleties of its application.

Due to its powdery consistency, supra is often called white henna, but this "natural" name should not mislead you - the drug effectively lightens the hair, but does not spare it at all.

The clarifier consists of two components: ammonium carbonate and herbal supplements. Alkaline components etch the coloring pigment from the strands, and plant components make this process softer. Such a tool is quite cheap, it works effectively, but the resulting color is more technical – it contains unwanted yellowness and needs additional toning.

There are two types of white henna:

• handicraft - has a fairly low cost, about 50 rubles, is sold in the cosmetic departments of supermarkets and hardware stores;
• professional - it costs much more, from 200 to 2000 rubles, the final cost depends on the concentration of the oxidizing agent, the presence of softening components and the manufacturer's brand.

Let us dwell in more detail on the mechanism of action of the supra.The main synthetic component of the substance is ammonia; to accelerate the reaction with the hair shaft, additives - persulfates - can be added to the composition. The reaction is triggered by combining supra with hydrogen peroxide or stronger oxygenates, which are usually offered in a concentration of 6 to 12%.

The artisanal preparation does not contain any emollients, but professional white henna contains silicon salts, dietary supplements obtained from Indian acacia seeds, and some types of saccharides and amino acids that protect hair from chemical damage.

Under the influence of supra and peroxide, melanin is washed out of the hair - the main coloring pigment, which is why after dyeing the curls become lighter, but dry and brittle. This type of dye can cause serious damage to hair, therefore it is very important to follow all the instructions exactly, and after completing the manipulations to change the color, start restorative care procedures as soon as possible.

The main benefits of white henna:

• the possibility of lightening at home;
• quick results;
• the ability to bleach strands up to 7 tones;
• wide price segment.

Of the shortcomings, only one can be noted - the supra has a traumatic effect on the hair, therefore, it is better for women with thin and naturally brittle curls, as well as owners of weak, depleted strands after frequent dyeing and perm, to give preference to other coloring methods.

Supra is used both for complete coloring and for highlighting individual strands, in addition, the use of a preparation for removing unwanted shades is widely demanded.

Lightening strands with white henna can be easily done on your own. The mixture is applied to hair of any degree of pollution. The sequence of actions in this case is as follows:

• the contents of the sachet are poured into a porcelain or glass container (plastic, like enameled ones, can oxidize, therefore they are not suitable);
• the powder is diluted with hot water and stirred until a homogeneous consistency;
• the resulting composition is evenly distributed over the strands;
• to achieve a greater effect, it is advisable to wear a warming cap - usually women use a bag and additionally wrap their heads with a towel;
• the clarifier is kept on the hair for 15 to 45 minutes, after which it is washed off without using shampoo.

When highlighting, special attention should be paid to the consistency of the brightening composition. It is desirable that it has the thickness of sour cream, otherwise the solution will begin to flow, and the clarification efficiency will decrease. However, if the procedure is planned in the fresh air, especially in the hot season, then it is better to make the mixture a little more liquid so that it does not dry out under the rays of the scorching sun.

For highlighting, oxidizers are taken with a concentration of 3% or 4.5%, because the lower this percentage, the slower the reaction is, which means, the cleaner the resulting shade will be. The difference in the use of supra for coloring and highlighting comes down only to the technique of application and the volume of the preparation.

Sometimes after dyeing the hair, the result is very different from the expected, so women resort to washing off the dye, while white henna has shown high efficiency. But keep in mind that in the case of weakened and brittle strands, there are frequent cases when they simply broke right near the roots when applying the brightening composition.If you want to quickly get rid of an unaesthetic color, it is better to turn to the services of professionals who can correctly select and dilute the supra so that its harmful effect on the curls is minimal.

Usually, for washing, combine 1 part of supra, 1 part of shampoo, 1 part of warm water and 2 parts of an oxidizing agent. All components are mixed into a homogeneous mass and spread on the curls with a sponge, simultaneously stretching the hair with your fingers. After the allotted time, the composition is washed off, a conditioner balm is used, and after 2 days the curls are tinted and repainted.

Supra is an effective remedy, but it is incapable of miracles, therefore, the owners of black strands will have to lighten in several stages, and it is desirable to use a professional composition.

The procedure is carried out using the staining technique, but repeat 2-3 times with an interval of 10-14 days. During breaks, special attention should be paid to restorative procedures - the use of masks, oils and serums to regenerate hair.

Supra is a rather strong remedy that makes hair brittle and weak, strands often begin to fall out, and the ends flake, which in general makes the hair look dull and lifeless. After bleaching, be sure to use a balm and conditioners designed to care for loose strands. For combing, it is best to use a brush or a wide-toothed comb. Wet strands, in general, do not need to be combed - in a wet state they are very vulnerable and pull out quite easily, so wait until it dries completely.

Completely exclude the use of a hair dryer, as well as irons and hairs - they only worsen the already painful condition of the hair. If there is no alternative, do not forget to use thermal protective drugs. To restore healthy shine and shine to your hair as soon as possible, you should use treatment masks. They can be purchased in specialized stores, or you can use folk remedies.

By the way, it is not at all necessary to make complex mixtures, you can use mono-recipes. Products such as honey, olive or burdock oil, avocado, egg yolk, also banana and cream.

It's pretty easy to make masks out of them. Let's look at some simple recipes.

• Melt five tablespoons of honey in a water bath and mix with 20 ml of burdock oil, add 1 egg yolk, mix everything and apply to the hair. For greater efficiency, the hair is additionally wrapped with a warming cap. The mask is left on the hair for 25-30 minutes, after which it is washed off with a detergent and a balm is applied.
• Mix burdock, castor and olive oils in equal proportions, heat the mixture and spread it warmly on hair from roots to ends. The duration of the action is not limited by anything; if desired, the mask can be left on the head even overnight under a plastic cap.
• The crushed ripe pulp of one avocado is combined with 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. The fruit should be ripe, it is very easy to check - you just need to press on the peel, and if a dent forms, you can safely use it for cosmetic procedures.

Maximum allowable number of uses per month - three, but preferably less, otherwise, there is a great risk of thoroughly ruining the hair and, instead of beautiful curls, getting untidy hair on the head.

In the next video, you will find a supra lightening technique and dyeing in the salon.