It is rare for me to meet a woman over the age of 16 who hasn't dyed her hair at least once in her lifetime, if not regularly. I dye mine every month or two, and this time I wanted to try something different: I wanted to try dyeing my hair with henna.
Knowing almost nothing about henna, I took to the web, asked around, and talked to other henna hair dye users. Turns out, there's a lot to know about using henna hair dye.
Henna is naturally a red/burgundy shade. Some companies add additional components to their henna to achieve different colors, such as brown, black, or a more vibrant red. The amount of time you allow the henna to remain in your hair can also adjust the intensity of the color.
Henna will not make your hair go lighter. If you're looking to go blonde, or to lighten up your hair a shade or two, henna isn't the right method for you. It is mostly safe and all natural, but keep an eye out for henna dyes containing para-phenylenediamine, as this can cause severe allergic reactions. I used Lush's Caca Marron Mama henna hair dye.
Like any dye, henna stains - no mysteries there. I didn't use gloves when dyeing my hair: I forgot to buy them, and I like to sacrifice my bodily parts so you don't have to. My hands and fingernails were stained a little orange, but they were otherwise undamaged. If you have longer or very thick hair, I would recommend using gloves, as your application time may be longer. All of the dye that got on my skin, fingernails, or the bathroom counter was easily washed off.
Henna needs both heat and time to take color adequately. You can leave henna on for up to 8 hours, but most people cap it out at 6. Because henna takes heat and your scalp generates plenty of it, you should apply to the tips of your hair first. Wrapping your head in saran wrap or a plastic shower cap is recommended to keep the heat in. If your head starts to feel cold, run a blow dryer over it until it feels warm again.
Henna took my dull brownish-red hair and added a healthy, lustrous multifaceted red shine. After dyeing, my hair wasn't stripped or unhealthy, and I was able to use my regular conditioner and shampoo without any ill effects.
If you're looking for a new way to dye your hair, henna is an interesting method to try. There are ups and downs to using at home dye treatments, but henna won't dry out your hair, drive you crazy with toxic smells.
Image from Lush.