How To Apply Henna On Hair For Best Results
Henna has been a part of beauty and hair care regimes for a very long. A treasure trove of many phytochemicals and essential oils, henna is popularly applied on the tresses in the form of a paste. It not only nourishes the hair but also conditions them deeply. Furthermore, it also helps in getting rid of hair fall, dandruff, split ends and other hair problems. Needless to say, it leaves the hair in impressive shades of reddish-brown. Those who are new to henna and its techniques worry not as we bring you a detailed henna guide that help you treat your hair problems while achieving desired results.
Read more to find a detailed guide on applying henna on hair for the best results, easy henna-based hair masks, its countless benefits and interesting facts! Not just that, we've also listed down some best henna powders that you can shop right away.
How To Apply Henna On Hair
1. Prepare the mixture
Take one to four cups of henna powder in a glass or ceramic container, depending on the length of your hair.
You can also add a few aromatic herbs, spices or essential oils, such as cloves, paprika, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, amla juice, etc. as per choice.
Slowly add water stirring to make a thick paste, cover the container and let it sit for a few hours or preferably overnight.
2. Apply oil or gel on hairline
Henna can leave stubborn stains. Avoid the same by applying a thick layer of petroleum jelly, balm or coconut oil on your hairline including neck, forehead, and ears.
Also, make sure that your hair is clean, even if not freshly washed, and free from any products. With that being said, do not use conditioner on your hair before applying henna, as it can prevent penetration of the latter into the follicles.
3. Apply henna evenly on partitioned sections of your hair
After untangling your hair, take roughly a two inches wide section of your tresses and apply the prepared paste over it, starting from the roots to the tips.
After this, twist it into a bun; the thick texture of henna will make sure it sits well. Alternately, you can use a pin or a clip to secure the bun.
Similarly, make more sections of the hair, twist them and merge them into the bun after applying henna.
Pro tip: Begin this step from the topmost section of your hair and then proceed to the lower layers and ultimately to the hairline.
4. Cover your hair in a wrap or shower cap
Henna needs some time to settle and dye the hair. Cover your hair with a wrap or a shower cap and let it sit for a few hours, depending upon the shade that you aspire to unlock. This keeps the henna warm and moist.
If you want a deeper and darker shade, let it sit for longer, and vice-versa.
5. Wash it after two- to four hours
Rinse your hair with water. You can also use a conditioner to remove the henna properly.
Henna takes about a day or two to deepen completely. Initially, it'll give a lighter orangish shade to the hair. However, after a day or two, the shade darkens, depending on how long you had kept the mask on.
Tips For Applying Henna On Hair
- Apply the henna paste on damp hair for better absorption.
- Henna paste can be made smoother by adding sugar to it.
- Leave the henna paste longer for deeper shades and vice-versa.
- Wear old or worn-out clothes while applying henna to avoid spoiling your outfit.
- You can apply henna on a small section or few strands from the underside of your hair, to check the final results and decide as per your style.
- Do not use a metallic container or mixing spoons for preparing the mixture. Henna and metal do not go well together.
- If your hair get dry after applying henna, you can pre-oil them to give a moisture boost and prevent dripping.
- Wash out the henna properly to avoid itchy scalps. You can use a conditioner or shampoo for the same.
- If you have curly hair, you can amla powder to your henna mixture to maintain the curl pattern. However, amla can tone down the reds of henna.
- Do not apply henna on your hair, if you are planning to go for lighter dyes in near future. Henna colour is stubborn to get rid of.
- Do not forget to apply a thick layer of balm, cream, petroleum jelly or coconut oil on ears, face and neck, to prevent henna stains.
Easy DIY Henna-Based Hair Packs
Henna packs can also be clubbed with a few other ingredients for better results and complelete hair nourishment
1. Henna pack for hair growth
Make a powder of fenugreek seeds that have been soaked overnight, and then grind them to form a paste. Add this paste to your henna pack, along with amla powder.
2. Henna pack for dandruff
Add basil and neem leaves to your henna pack in equal proportions. If you have an extra itchy scalp, you can also add curd for better results.
3. Henna pack for hairfall
Add egg white, lemon juice, amla and methi (fenugreek) powders to your henna pack, if you are specifically looking for hairfall remedies. Make sure to add more amla powder in larger quantities, as compared to the henna powder. Applying this pack once a week, for six weeks will help you in fighting off hairfall effectively.
4. Henna pack for deep conditioning
Add an egg to your henna pack for deep conditioning of your hair. Being rich in proteins and hair-growth promoting nutrients, such as lecithin, eggs will complement henna in conditioning the hair. You can also add a few drops of lemon or orange juice to reduce the egg smell.
5. Henna pack for damaged hair
To treat damaged hair, add amla powder, hibiscus powder, methi powder (fenugreek), and curd to your henna pack.
Best Henna Powders To Pick From:
Below we've handpicked some best henna powders from which you can pick and achieve desired results. Wait no more and take a look.
Godrej Nupur 100% Pure Henna Powder for Hair Colour (Mehandi) | for Hair, Hands & Feet (400g)
H&C Herbal Ingredients Expert Natural & Pure Herbal Henna Powder/Lawsonia Inermis (Organically Grown) 227 g For Hair Care | Hair Color | No Ppd No Chemicals, No Parabens
Indus Valley Bio Organic Combo Herbal Henna Powder for Hair, (100g*2= 200g) - Green
Shahnaz Husain Professional Power Henna | Precious herb Mix | Henna Powder | Amla | Neem | Shikakai | Babul Gond | Mehndi | 100g x 3
Frequently Asked Questions About Applying Henna On Hair
What is henna?
Henna is a natural dye obtained from Lawsonia inermis, a flowering plant. This dye is often used for nourishing and colouring hair or nails, and making natural tattoos on the skin. Used in many rituals across the world, it also has a cultural significance.
What are the benefits of applying henna on hair?
Henna is rich in phytochemicals, essential oils, and other nutrients. It deeply nourishes the hair and promotes hair growth. It also enhances the hair colour, releases oxidative stress, repairs the damaged hair, balances the pH and oil production, prevents hair fall and dandruff, and improves scalp health.
Are there any side effects of applying henna on hair?
Although henna in its pure form doesn't have any significant side effects, henna powders mixed with colouring dyes can cause allergies, irritation in the eyes, dryness in the hair or even hair damage. You can try doing a strand test first by applying henna on a small patch of your hair, before applying it all over your head.
Is henna safe?
Pure henna is safe and has long been used in many beauty and hair regimes, as well as, tattooing. However, adulterated henna containing chemical dyes can cause severe allergic reactions. As per the Food and Drug Administration of the US (FDA), several reports of skin injuries have been reported after the application of products marketed as henna or black henna.
How much henna powder should I apply?
It depends on the length as well as the volume of your hair. Generally, 100 grams of henna is recommended for shoulder length hair, 200-250 grams for bra strap length and 300-350 grams of hair for hip length hair. In either case, make sure to have a thick mayonnaise-like consistency of the henna paste and apply it evenly.
Does applying henna loses the natural curls of hair?
Frequent henna application may alter the natural curling pattern of the hair, in some cases. It is best advised to perform a strand test beforehand, to be sure.
Also Read: How to apply eggs on hair
How To Apply Henna On Hair For Best Results
| Product | Price in India |
|---|---|
| Godrej Nupur 100% Pure Henna Powder for Hair Colour (Mehandi) | for Hair, Hands & Feet (400g) | ₹ 200 |
| H&C Herbal Ingredients Expert Natural & Pure Herbal Henna Powder/Lawsonia Inermis (Organically Grown) 227 g For Hair Care | Hair Color | No Ppd No Chemicals, No Parabens | ₹ 189 |
| Indus Valley Bio Organic Combo Herbal Henna Powder for Hair, (100g*2= 200g) - Green | ₹ 189 |
| Shahnaz Husain Professional Power Henna | Precious herb Mix | Henna Powder | Amla | Neem | Shikakai | Babul Gond | Mehndi | 100g x 3 | ₹ 234 |
A multi-media journalist and writer, Vaibhavi views the world as one big piece of poetry. Time and again she tries to capture this poetry through words, as well as, the lens. She loves to explore the depth of human psyche, philosophy, cultures, and oceans! Carrying forward this quest for exploration she reports on various beats ranging from tourism, culture, art, social issues, business, market trends, science and environment to technology. For her, the life mantra can be summarised with the catchphrases, “Hakuna Matata” and “Carpe Diem”.
