14.3.12

Henna - The Best Black Hair Conditioner

Henna is the BEST CONDITIONER for black hair (and most hair types as well).  

Wanna grow it long? 
Henna is essential to achieve fuller, longer lengths. 

Henna is chemical-free and all natural.

As a conditioner, henna strengthens the hair, is an anti-fungal and reduces the occurrence of dandruff, conditions the scalp, slightly loosens the curl pattern, helps to detangle and make hair more manageable and provides a natural and healthy sheen and shine to hair. 


RESULTS are:
  • Stronger and Thicker hair
  • Silkier and Shinier hair
  • More Relaxed and Smoother Curl
photo above: http://www.curlynikki.com/2008/12/henna-pictorial.html



RECOMMENDED HENNA BRAND FOR BLACK HAIR:
The Jamila brand of henna is great for black hair because it is less abrasive on our hair as we rinse the henna out.  It does not have strong dying properties, and is great for maintaining your hair color, while providing all of the great conditioning benefits of the plant.



FACTS ABOUT HENNA:

  • Henna is a tall shrub or small tree, 2.6m high.
  • Henna has been used since the Bronze Age to dye skin (including body art), hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool.
  • Henna has been used as a cosmetic hair dye for 6,000 years.
  • In Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra and Nefertiti were known to have used it.
  • It was commonly used for many centuries in areas of India, the Middle East, and Africa.Henna's coloring properties are due to lawsone, a burgundy organic compound that has an affinity for bonding with protein. 
Henna not only conditions hair, but also serves as a natural hair dye.
The color that results from dying with henna can fall into a broad spectrum, from auburn, to orange, to deep burgundy, chestnut brown or deep blue-black. To achieve a colour that is more brown or black, the user must use indigo hair dye as well as henna. The henna is applied first, to coat the hair. Once dry, the indigo is used. The following factors determine the hair color that results from using henna:
  • user's original hair color
  • freshness of the henna
  • region of origin of the henna
  • amount of time the henna is left on the hair to process
  • whether it remains wet on the hair, or is allowed to dry
  • the amount of heat retained on the head during the dying process

Natural henna stains only a rich red brown. Products sold as "black henna" or "neutral henna" do not contain henna, but are instead made from other plants, or from other substances altogether.


FAQ:
What is Neutral Henna?


Neutral henna, a green powder that smells like freshly cut grass, is neither henna nor neutral.  It is Cassia obovata.  Cassia obovata contains anthraquinones, particuarly Chrysophanic acid, a remarkable anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.  Cassia obovata has a golden dye molecule that will stain dull blonde and gray hair yellow.  It will help damaged hair, make hair full, glossy, healthy. 


What is Red Henna? 


Red henna, a green powder that smells like hay, is Lawsonia inermis, commonly known as henna.  The leaves of the henna plant have a red-orange dye molecule, Lawsone, a napthaquinone.  Henna will stain your hair red-orange; but this stain is translucent and will combine with your natural color.  Body art quality henna has a much higher dye content than the henna usually sold for hair.  Henna is the best hair conditioner of all.  It will make your hair heavy, thick and silky.


 
What is Black Henna? 


Black henna, a green powder that smells like frozen peas, is neither black nor henna. It is indigo, Indigofera tinctoria.

Learn more about henna here: http://www.byregion.net/articles-healers/Henna.html