Is Henna Good For Hair? Benefits & Disadvantages

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Last week a query popped in my inbox asking, “Is henna good for hair? Or is it bad?”

Since I started this series, we already discussed, is head and shoulders good for hair? is Cantu good for hair? and even discussed Garnier being good or bad for hair. I thought I would be covering different brands but this query seemed like something that needed to be answered.

So is henna good for hair or is it bad? Let’s discuss.

What is henna?

Henna is the Arabic name for a shrub called Lawsonia inermis, which is used to make a famous and ancient natural dye with a reddish tint.

The dried and powdered section of the leaves is used to make henna powder or Mehendi, which is sold as a dye. This powder will be used to color the hair, but it has also traditionally been used as a dye to tattoo the skin temporarily.

 

Benefits of henna for hair

Henna is good for hair because of the following benefits it offers:

Completely natural and free of harsh chemicals

It is a product of 100% vegetable origin, free of additives, as long as we purchase it from specialist companies. Several studies have shown that it may be good for our skin and hair. This is because it is a product with significant antibacterial properties, which may aid us in reducing the effects of certain substances that harm our hair and skin.

Being natural, it does not contain chemicals and provides your hair with greater strength and beauty, in addition to giving you a natural shine worthy of healthy hair.

Covers grey hair naturally

This is the main benefit and what most women look for when it comes to dyeing their hair. Although it is hard to believe, after several Henna applications, it can cover the gray hair that comes out as a sign of age.

Henna adds thickness and strength to our hair while also aiding in the concealment of gray hair. Because it is a natural product, the effect will be weaker. It is generally recommended that we get henna in a color that is comparable to our hair.

If we have black hair, we should avoid purchasing red henna because we will most likely not achieve the desired appearance. Of course, on the plus side, it usually results in a more natural color.

Color lasts longer

It lasts for three months on average and then fades away.

Furthermore, because its effect is weaker than that of commercial dyes, its disappearance will be less dramatic than that of a hair dye.

Henna, on the other hand, has a reddish color and is frequently sold in combination with other plants like indigo to boost color variety. There is also neutral henna, which is henna that is not colored, that can be used as a deep conditioning hair mask.

Also for the best results, do check out:

• How To Mix And Use Henna And Indigo For Gray Hair: The Right Way?
• My Grey Hair Reversal Story: How I Got Rid Of Premature Greys, Naturally

Promotes hair growth

Henna is good for hair because it has a lot of nutrients that not only strengthen hair but also promote faster hair growth. Therefore, you will change the color of your hair and help stimulate it to grow faster. I used it while I was on my hair growth journey and greatly benefited from it.

Helps with scalp problems

If you suffer from dandruff or oily hair, with the application of Henna, you help combat this type of ailments produced by abuse and bad environmental conditions.

Safe To Use by pregnant women

Another benefit of henna is that it is extremely safe to use even by pregnant women.

It can be used during the gestation months, so if you are pregnant and worried about neglecting your hair, do not worry. The use of Henna is a magnificent alternative that will not harm the fetus. It also helps control hair fall after pregnancy.

Best Henna For Hair

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Disadvantages of henna for hair

Does henna damage hair? Is it bad for your hair?

These are fair questions to cross your mind.

Henna is bad for your hair because of the above disadvantages:

Combining henna and hair color isn’t safe

As we already shared in detail while sharing hair coloring tips, it is not advised for previously colored hair, nor is it recommended to use conventional colors if you have previously dyed your hair with henna. The combination of these two agents, no matter how minor, can produce unexpected outcomes.

If you wish to switch dyes, you’ll have to wait a few months for the previous one to fade fully. If you don’t want to wait that long, color your hair once the previous dye has faded from the roots and cut your hair a few centimeters short.

You can also use these clarifying shampoos to remove the color from henna do a hair detox and wait a week before proceeding with your hair color. Even then please don’t forget to do a patch test.

Time-consuming and messy process

Another disadvantage of henna is that it takes much longer to apply than commercial colors, loses intensity with each wash, and takes 2 to 4 hours to achieve the desired effects.

It is more difficult to utilize, particularly if used at home. If you want to color yourself with henna, you’ll need to be patient because it has a pasty, mud-like texture. The color palette is a little more limited. If you want anything specific and it isn’t henna-compatible, you’ll have to use another technique.

May result in uneven color

Since it’s natural and every brand differs a bit. Plus, the fresh the batch of henna powder, the better the color. So using henna might not give the exact desired color as the chemical-based hair dyes available in the market.

Might dry out your hair

Using henna for hair results in stripping off excess oils from your hair and scalp. It might result in dry hair when used on regular basis. Even if you start washing your hair with just water, your hair might still appear dry.

Also if you soak henna in an iron vessel, it dries your hair even more. So soaking henna in a glass bowl or a steel-based bowl is a better idea especially if you have dry hair or curly hair.

In case your hair gets extremely dry, then try this or use a banana hair mask.

Color correcting tends to be very difficult

If you somehow end up with the wrong shade of hair color, then correcting it will be a bit difficult. Since henna penetrates deep in your hair shafts just like good penetrating hair oil, the color tends to last longer. Stripping henna color off and correcting it would be a huge test of your patience.

The fragrance of Mehendi lingers longer

This is yet another disadvantage of henna. Mehendi has a strong fragrance that you might not like as much. So even after you wash it off, the smell lingers on your hair for days.

A good idea would be using homemade hair perfume to make hair smell good again.

Conclusion: Is henna good for hair or is it bad?

These are the pros and cons of using henna for hair. Now whether you find henna good for hair or bad, it’s totally up to your own judgment.

Take care.

Citations:

• Henna Study Conducted in 2019,
• Study conducted on coloring effect of henna on gray hair