One of the oldest herbs in history as it was discovered that ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra adorned her body with it hence its discovery in Egypt. A powdered leaf of plant now popular amongst several African countries and the world is a form of art used in beautifying the hands and feet of females. In this article we would be looking into henna – Types, Effects and Uses
It gives an extra added beauty to females while representing their culture and tradition as each designs has its symbolic meaning. Aside being ornamented, Henna powder is very beneficial for hair as it reduces loss, treats dandruff and many hair infections and in our present-day society it’s a major component of several hair products.
Henna can also refer to the temporary body art resulting from the staining of the skin using dyes from the henna plant. After henna stains reach their peak color, they hold for a few days, then gradually wear off by way of exfoliation, typically within one to three weeks.
In India henna is called MEHNDI while its scientific name is LAWSONAI INERMIS.
While it is said to be common amongst the Muslims in celebrating special occasions, it is now part of fashions for non-Muslims as it is seen to add special beautiful effects on ladies of this generation.
The essential oil derived from the plant itself is used by Indians in devotions as it is believed to increase spirituality and chase away evils.
Henna is a symbol of joy in many religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. The Henna paste symbolizes good health and prosperity in marriage, and in some cultures, the darker the henna stain, the deeper the love between two individuals.
There are mainly two types of henna for beauty purposes: Black, and brown henna. Natural, brown henna, is a pure form of henna and produces a rich, red-brown color. Natural henna is recommended for those who strive to have their body arts and hair dyed without causing any additional damage
Brown henna is the complete opposite of Black Henna. Also known as natural henna or pure henna, brown henna is made from the ground-up leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis). The leaves are crushed and mixed with a liquid (water,oilive oil, essentials oils or coffee) to make henna paste/mixture and then applied to the hair or skin.
During the process of mixing brown henna, there are no value-added preservatives or chemicals to increase its lifespan or consistency, hence the name pure henna mixture.
But it doesn’t mean that brown henna has a lighter tone compared to black henna, there are tons of herbs and liquid you can use it increase the color consistency, hence the different types, uses, and effects for each variants
Black henna is somewhat similar to natural henna, the only difference lies in the ingredients – specifically, a chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD).
This chemically mixed element is used in the henna paste to increase its life and to offer darker and brighter colors. Although PPD is legally used in many products of hair (under strict procedures) but when applied on the skin can cause some serious problem.
The problems can include skin reactions such as scarring, burning, blistering, and itching.
It smells like a chemical: Well, this one is the most obvious. You can easily tell the difference between what is a natural product, or what is made of chemical ingredients. Although black henna is odorless, it sometimes has a paraffin-type smell.
In contrast to this, brown henna has a more earth-like smell. You’ll get this when you open the pack of brown henna, it feels like you are experiencing nature
The Ingredients are different: Most people do not check the product ingredients before they are being bought. The best way to check if it is either fake or real henna is to look at the ingredients. If it’s not made from natural, earth-driven leaves of Lawsonia inermis, consider skipping it.
Real Henna has Reddish Brown Staining: Always remember that real henna, driven from the leaves of the henna plant only has one color stain, reddish-brown. This stain will last on your skin for about 4-6 days. Black henna has a darker reddish color.
The Duration Period is different: The maximum amount of time that you leave real henna on your skin, the brighter the color tone. Black henna on the other side is advised to leave on for just 30 minutes to 1 hour. So next time, if you go to a henna artist and they claim you can get a brighter color in just 30 minutes, please ask for the ingredients.
Shelf Stable vs not shelf-stable: Natural henna is not a shelf-stable product. Once you make the paste, the maximum amount of time it can last for is 3-6 days. Black henna on the other hand has a shelf life of more than 6 months. And this is the main reason why PPD is used in black henna, to increase its shelf life.
Do a Patch test before Application: One of the best methods to check the quality of the henna is to do a patch test. It’s simple, just apply the henna on your skin and leave it for about 15-20 minutes. If you feel any sensitivity or feel that your skin is burning then it’s probably made of black henna.
It is unfortunate that black henna contains ‘henna’ in the first place. The thing that haunts us the most is how companies widespread the use of “henna” and negatively advertise it as a pure and natural product.
What colours are available on the henna colour chart?
Henna – types, effects and uses varies from
This acts as an astringent it is said to reduced the signs of ageing, wrinkles, and fine lines
Also its reactive on some skin types thereby causing redness, itching, blisters, swelling and scarring of skin.
It is considered to be unsafe for children, infants, pregnant and lactating mothers as its effects are far reaching when administered orally or applied on the skin.
Infants with a condition called glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are at especially high risk. Putting henna on the skin of these infants can cause their red blood cells to burst
Normal dose of henna is dependent on several factors which include but not limited to the following: health, age, and other conditions. Even though there isn’t enough scientific backings to determine an appropriate dose of henna, natural herbs are not hundred percent safe as they do not have appropriate measurements or prescriptions
It is used for cosmetics and body arts works
Can also be used for hair dyes, it colour coats the hair giving it a beautiful shade and induces hair growth.
Good source for medications and treatments of illness like pile, ulcers, jaundice etc.
For treatment for dandruffs
To improve nails growth.