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Many people hear the word henna and automatically think of tattoos.
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Its not like hennahairtreatments are promoted and available on beach boardwalks and in amusement parks.
My first experience with using henna on my hair was in high school.
I was itching for a change from my very dark, nearly black natural hair color.
Chloe Toscano a week after using henna on her hair
(Henna can act as a naturalconditioner, as well.)
I loved the look and decided to keep it, touching it up with more henna month after month.
A few years later, I felt that itch to change my hair again.
I got myself a tub ofcolorless henna from Rainbow Researchand the results were better than Id anticipated.
To explore it further, we turn to the experts.
First, what is henna and how is it culturally significant?
Henna comes from the dried and ground leaves of the lawsonia inermis plant.
Henna holds great cultural significance in India, where it is used in festivals and ceremonies like weddings.
What are the benefits of using henna on your hair?
According to our experts, henna offers a host of benefits.
(How clean your henna is, of course, is determined by the brand you use.)
Henna can deposit long-lasting color to your hair and improve the overall look and feel of your strands.
What are the risks of using henna hair color?
Henna can also have unpredictable results when used on top of bleached hair.
She adds that layering henna over previously dyed hair can also lead to patches in color.
But this doesnt mean you should probably have completely virgin hair to use henna.
Haliti recommends starting with a strand test and gradually transitioning to hennahair color.
How long does henna hair color last?
How do I color hair with henna?
Coloring your hair with henna can be a messy process.
Youll want to ensure youre wearing all black or clothing you dont mind ruining.
The same goes for your bath towelsI dont recommend grabbing the monogrammed ones from your grandmother.
Shed likely be upset to find them splattered with brownish-yellow stains.
Says Haliti, start with clean, dry,detangled hair.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves and start working the mixture into your hair.
Haliti suggests leaving the henna in your hair for at least one hour.
Some clients leave it on for up to six to eight hours, she says.
However, leaving it on too longmore than eight hourscan leave your hair feeling dry.
Then rinse with lukewarm water and conditioner.
Haliti suggests skippingshampoofor 24-48 hours after so the henna can fully oxidize.
Henna appears [more vivid] immediately after rinsing and deepens over the next two days, she explains.
If you dont want your color to intensify, wash your hair sooner.
Special henna hair color tips and recipes for you
Henna can definitely cover gray, Baum says.
(Rainbow Hennarecommends one tablespoon for every two ounces of henna.)
Dr. Garshick recommendsLush Rouge Hennafor its conditioning and shine-enhancing properties, which are amplified by the formulas lemon juice.
Lemon juice is rich in antioxidants, includingvitamin C, which can help amplify shine, she says.
Youll regularly see them formulated with lemon juice, she says, essential oils and herbal powders.
Below are some henna hair color brands several of our experts have recommended.
Read more hair color stories:
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