Henna is a shrub from which a natural dye is obtained that does not damage the hair and gives beautiful reddish brown reflections. The application is not the simplest and requires precautions to avoid the risk of staining the skin, clothing and surrounding surfaces. After applying henna to your hair, you will need to wrap it in plastic wrap and wait a few hours before you can rinse it. The key to obtaining a good result is preparation because the powder must be mixed and left to rest for several hours before being able to apply it; so make sure you start early.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Apply the Henna
Step 1. Blend the henna powder
Henna is sold in powder form and needs to be mixed with water before you can apply it to your hair. Pour 50 g of powder and 60 ml of hot water into a bowl, then mix to combine. If necessary, add more water, one tablespoon (15 ml) at a time, until you have a paste that has a consistency similar to that of mashed potatoes.
- When the water and the powder are perfectly mixed, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the henna sit at room temperature for about 12 hours.
- Just before applying it to your hair, add a little more water so that the mixture stays thick, but is spreadable.
Step 2. Shampoo and dry your hair
Henna should be applied to perfectly clean hair. Wash them as usual to remove dirt, oil and residue from styling products. Rinse them thoroughly to remove all traces of shampoo, towel dry them and then let them air dry. If you want, you can also use the hairdryer.
Do not use conditioner as oils and other moisturizers may prevent the henna from penetrating deeply into the hair
Step 3. Protect the surrounding skin
If you have long hair, gather it in a ponytail behind your head to keep it away from your face, neck and shoulders. If they are short, wear a headband to have a clear forehead. Apply an oily product along the hairline, such as coconut oil or shea butter. In addition to the forehead, spread it also on the nape of the neck and ears.
The oil will create a barrier between the henna and the skin, thus preventing it from being stained
Step 4. Comb your hair and part the middle
Untie the tail and use a wide-toothed comb to comb them. This way you will be able to remove the knots and prevent them from becoming frizzy. When finished, make the middle part and let them fall evenly on both sides of the head.
There is no need to divide them into different sections because you will proceed in layers
Step 5. Protect your skin
Henna tends to run, so it's a good idea to wear cheap clothes and still protect them with an old towel. Place it on your shoulders and position it so that it also covers your neck; if necessary, hold it in place with a clothespin. Since henna can stain your skin, wear latex or rubber gloves to protect your hands and nails.
- You can also use a plastic or fabric cape like those used by hairdressers.
- Keep a damp cloth handy with which to immediately wipe off any drops that have fallen on the skin.
Part 2 of 3: Applying the Henna
Step 1. Apply the mixture liberally to a small section of hair
Start with the ones above. Take a section about 5 cm wide from the center back of the head, separate it from the other hair with the help of the comb, then apply 1-2 tablespoons (2-4 g) of henna on the roots. You can use your fingers or a brush to paint. Gradually distribute it down to the tips, adding more as needed.
Henna doesn't spread as easily as regular dyes, so make sure your hair is fully saturated before continuing on
Step 2. Twist your hair and pin it close to your head
When the first strand is completely covered in henna, twist it on itself a couple of times to create a small bun, then secure it with a spout near your head. Henna is pretty sticky, so you won't struggle to get it to stay in place.
If you have short hair, twist the section briefly and secure it with one or more bobby pins
Step 3. Apply henna to the next section
Continue with the top layer of hair; take another section 5 cm wide, next to the first one. Apply henna to the roots with your fingers or a brush, then gradually distribute it to the tips, adding more if necessary. Continue until the hair is completely saturated.
Step 4. Twist and wrap the lock around the bun you created earlier
Wrap it around itself a couple of times, then roll it around the bun you created with the first strand of hair. Since the henna is quite sticky, it is likely that they will stay in place without difficulty, but if you want you can fix them with another nozzle.
If you have short hair, twist the section and pin it to the first section with bobby pins
Step 5. Continue applying henna to the rest of the hair
Proceed with one small section at a time, as you have done so far. Move to the forehead, applying henna to the hair on both sides of the head. Continue with strands no more than 5 cm wide to be able to distribute the mixture evenly. When you have finished the top layer of hair, repeat the same process with the bottom one and continue until you are done.
Continue twisting and wrapping the strands of hair around the original bun
Step 6. Touch up the hair along the hairline
After each strand has been covered in henna and wrapped around the first bun, check the hair along the forehead, ears and nape of the neck and add some more color where you see fit. Finally, check the remaining root areas as well.
Part 3 of 3: Installation and Rinsing
Step 1. Wrap your hair in cling film
Once you've done the necessary touch-ups, take a long sheet of film and wrap it around your head. The hair must be completely covered, including the roots at the hairline. Leave your ears out.
- Creating this cover with foil is to keep the henna warm and moist, so that it can penetrate the hair properly.
- If you need to go outside during shutter speed, wear a hat or wrap a scarf around your head.
Step 2. Keep the henna warm and let it sit
Generally, a shutter speed ranging from 2 to 4 hours is required. The longer it stays on the hair, the more intense and vibrant the color will be. You can promote better results by keeping the mixture warm. Stay indoors if it's cold outside or wear a hat if you need to go outside.
Henna can be left on for up to six hours for even more vibrant highlights
Step 3. Remove the henna with the help of the conditioner
At the end of the shutter speed, put on the gloves again and remove the plastic cover from the hair. Enter the shower and rinse your head with plenty of water, then massage some conditioner on the strands to be able to dissolve even the last residues.
Keep rinsing and applying conditioner until the water at the bottom of the tub is completely clear and there is no henna left on your hair
Step 4. Wait a few days for the color to fully develop
It takes about 48 hours for the results to fully manifest. When the hair dries for the first time, it will appear extremely shiny and with reflections that tend to orange. After a couple of days, the color will become darker and more intense.
Step 5. Touch up the roots as the hair grows
Henna is a permanent dye, so you don't have to worry about it coming off with shampoo or the color fading. More or less once a month, you can reapply it on all hair to get even brighter reflections or just on regrowth.
To touch up the regrowth, leave the henna on for the same amount of time as the original application to achieve a similar color
Advice
- Protect the floor and furniture with rags or old towels so they don't get stained.
- Henna always gives reddish reflections. Dark hair will turn reddish brown, while blonde hair will take on light red or orange shades.
- During the processing time, the henna may drip. To avoid this, you can add a quarter of a teaspoon of xanthan gum when preparing the mixture, so that it takes on the consistency of a gel.
Warnings
- You should wait at least six months before using henna after doing a perm, dye or chemical straightening. Likewise, you should wait six months before subjecting your hair to one of these treatments after using henna.
- If you have never used henna before, apply it only on a small section of hair located in an inconspicuous part of the head and see if you like the result. Leave it on for between 2 and 4 hours, then rinse, then wait 48 hours to issue a final judgment.
