Information is available everywhere. A simple search on the internet can answer all your curiosities whether you want to fix your hair or skin. It’s just a revolution that so much is available in so little time.
While the cyber age is at its peak, it is hard to distinguish what is the right information and what is fake. The same is true with henna, while it's the safest color pigment out there, there are still a lot of myths that need to be addressed by professionals.
The Henna Guys are all about care. We make sure that the right information is distributed to our readers, no matter if it’s on the good side or the bad. Also, we conduct our own testing rather than relying on online journals or blogs. This is done to ensure that all the products available on our website are safe for your skin, hair, and other usages.
Separating facts from fiction, here are some common myths about henna, answered by industry-leading henna professionals.
Myth 1: Is Henna Good for your Hair?
This is a popular myth that worries us the most. By no means is henna bad for your hair. The only henna that is bad for your hair is "black henna", also known as "Kali Mehndi". In general, there are 3 types of henna you can find in the market.
- Natural Henna: Made from the leaves of the henna (Lawsonia inermis) plant.
- Neutral Henna: Made from the leaves of Cassia (Senna Italica) plant.
- Black Henna: A mixture of natural and neutral henna, combined with unlisted dyes and chemicals such as PPD.
All of these have their own characteristic and set usages. Natural henna is mostly used to color hair and skin. Neutral henna is used alongside other herbs for better hair health. Black henna is mostly used as a dye to color fabrics or in some cases to color hair.
The reason why people have trouble distinguishing between these 3 terms is because of the fact that they look very identical. Although there's a slight difference in colors, it's only visible if you look at them side by side.
Also, black henna mixed with natural henna gives a more vibrant and darker color, but at a cost that can damage your hair in the long run. This hidden truth is kept from the audience, and in turn, leads to a lot of hair problems
By no means do we recommend Black henna. In fact, PPD based dyes are banned in the USA and are restricted to use on both hair or skin. What we’ll recommend you to use is Natural henna, aka brown henna.
Brown henna has tons of benefits and can really bring a change in your hair care regime. It not only colors your hair naturally, but also makes your hair shiny, prevents breakage, and offers anti-fungal properties that can help with an itchy scalp.
For optimal results, choose hair dyes that are made from all-natural and pure henna leaves.
Myth 2: Henna only colors your hair Red
The color pigments of henna molecules do give your hair a red to orange stain. But it doesn't mean that you're only restricted to just 2 colors. Henna can be mixed with other herbs such as Indigo and amla to make exciting colors.
At the henna guys, our perfectly crafted henna hair dye formula allows us to make shades starting from brown to black. We've listed 11 exciting colors in our henna hair dye category - All made from natural powders.
One downside of using henna is that you can't achieve bright colors like yellow, green, blue - Not unless you mix it with chemicals.Â
Myth 3: You can only mix henna with water
Although water is a liquid most recommended by professionals, it's not the only liquid you can use. You can add coffee and lemon juice as well. Here's the science behind this. Henna mixed with black brewed coffee offers a more vibrant and rich color tone. The same goes for lemon juice.
But it doesn't mean that you should use coffee or lemon juice as your primary liquid. Use a mixture of all of these to get double the benefits.
Myth 4: Using lemon juice in the henna mixture gives better results
Similar to myth 3, you shouldn't use only lemon juice as your primary liquid. Lemons are a very good source of acidic properties that blend well with the natural oils of your hair. Excessive use of lemon can affect the connection process of henna, leaving your hair dry and frizzy.
Alternative Solution: Only use some drops of lemon juice in your henna dye mixture. This makes your paste more vibrant and richer in color. As for your primary liquid, use water or coffee.
Myth 5: Frozen Henna Powder is the best for Hair Dye
Many henna companies have huge freezers where they store their henna powder. It's a myth that frozen henna gives it more shelf life.
But in reality, you don't need to store your henna in a freezer. Have it like a flowering powder that can survive outside in the atmosphere.
How about the henna powder that is left after usage?
Well, in that case, you can just wrap the pack and store it in an airtight container. It is best to store henna in its original packaging as it is a customizable material packaging dedicated to keeping the powder fresh.
Myth 6: Do not use a metal container to mix henna
This information is available all over the internet, and we were surprised to find out that even the major suppliers state this. In reality, Yes, metal containers shouldn't be used to mix henna, but the exception for this is stainless steel.
Iron and aluminum containers are the common household utensils used for cooking. What most people do is use the same container to mix the henna paste. Metals like these may not be as healthy for your hair as it sounds.
Alternative Solution: Use a glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel container to make your henna mixture.
Myth 7: Henna Makes your Hair Fall
Do you know that henna hair color is more beneficial than any other chemical-based dye in the market? Sure, it has some exceptions like it takes a lot of time to dye your hair, but is it something you can sacrifice for your overall hair health?
Henna hair color prevents the hair from falling, thinning, and breaking. In fact, continued use of henna strengthens your hair and improves overall hair health. Just because henna is all-natural, it doesn't mean that henna is beneficial for you. That's why we recommend you do a patch test or allergy test prior to the application.
Myth 8: You can't use henna over chemical-based dye
This one is a bit complicated and depends on what kind of hair dye you've previously used. Based on this, it might turn your hair into a variety of different shades.
If you've dyed your hair using chemical-based dye, it is recommended to wait for at least 15-30 days before using henna. There's no rule of thumb here, it's only just to prevent both of the hair dye molecules to contrast with each other as most chemical-based dye contains ammonia.
Myth 9: You can't use henna powder for henna tattoo
This one has a bit of science behind it. Most of the henna cones available in the market either contain black henna or natural henna mix with other addictive. The reason why it's not all-natural is that the henna paste is made in bulk and then packed and stored for long-term usage. And black henna is perfect for the shelf as it has the longest lifespan.
Alternative Solution: Always make pure henna powder paste for your henna tattoo project. The duration might be a bit long, but it's something you're trying on your skin so always tread with caution. First, make a henna paste from pure henna and then use it with stencils or a henna tattoo kit.
Myth 10: You can’t chemically bleach your hair after henna
Most people are afraid to bleach their hair after they have done the henna treatment. While it’s something we don’t recommend, you can still use chemical color after the henna treatment.
But keep in mind that depending on how many times you’ve applied henna to your hair; the coloring process of chemical dye will be slow. But as long as you’ve used pure henna dye before, you can use any synthetic color dye afterward.