When you reach a certain age, or simply a certain level of wanting to live in the least toxic way possible, there are many things we have to rethink. Namely, what we put in our heads. Yes, I'm talking about paints, chemicals, toxins that quickly enter our bloodstream and that, over time, can harm our health.
I started getting gray hairs very early on... And, inevitably, I started dyeing my hair. Quickly, my hair began to look dull, dry, brittle, and lacked structure.
When I decided to risk dyeing my hair with henna, I was dissuaded by several well-meaning friends and hairdressers who warned me about the likelihood of my hair turning orange or red, that it would fall out, etc...
If only I knew then what I know now! The hair does NOT fall out, nor does it turn orange! Instead, it is covered in a delicate natural dye, resulting in a healthy appearance, structure, elasticity, and shine!
Henna is a mixture of plants and roots… which, in combination, can leave hair black, brown, or even blonde. And in our case – the hennas we have available on the website – are 100% certified organic and approved by COSMOS Ecocert.
The most important thing is to know how to prepare and to have patience.
- To prepare your mixture, choose the color that best suits your taste... In my case, I mix dark brown with copper.
- Start by heating water. Add a tea bag. For darker shades: black tea, for blondes: chamomile. Let it steep.
- Place the henna in a bowl. You can use a single color or mix different colors to achieve your desired shade. Add enough henna to cover your hair – this will obviously depend on its length.
- In my case, 3 tablespoons of dark brown and 1 tablespoon of copper.
- Add the infusion gradually until you obtain a consistency similar to Greek yogurt... It needs to be thick enough to coat and "grab" the hair strands.
- Protect your clothes with a towel - I use a dark one. Use a brush; I have a hairdressing brush, you can buy them in stores like Pluricosmética, or even a painting brush from Ikea will do.
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Importantly, the hair must be dry . Preferably "dirty" (1 or 2 days without washing is perfect!).
- Start by parting your hair and coloring as close to the roots as possible. A good layer. The strands of hair shouldn't be visible. I like to start with the front, where the gray hairs are most visible, and then move to the back.
- Make sure you have a good layer of the henna mixture throughout your hair.
- I then cover it with a towel and leave it. I try to leave it for up to 2 hours to make sure the color sets well.
- If it's your first time using henna and you feel the color hasn't taken, that's normal. Especially if you use shampoos with silicones… You'll have to be patient and try again after a few days. Once you get it right the first time, subsequent applications will always take.
FACT
One thing I love about henna, and feel in my hair, is undoubtedly the strength it brings to each strand. As you can see in the hair of those who have been dyeing with henna for hundreds of years in Indian communities, women have silky, strong, and shiny hair. And this undoubtedly has to do with the benefits that the mixture of plants and roots present in henna brings to the hair. The hair becomes more elastic, nourished, and protected – unlike chemical dyes. It's definitely worth trying because after a few applications the results are visible both to the touch and to the eye.
MYTH
Henna washes off... That's not true. Henna adheres and doesn't come off.
I only dye my hair again when the roots start to show. That's why it can be many weeks before I have to dye it again, and usually only the roots.
Our henna (I can't speak for others) DOES NOT STAIN THE SKIN.
TIP
If you're looking for blonde hair, add 1 teaspoon of turmeric to help the color last longer.
If it's for browns, 1 teaspoon of coffee.
18 comments
Olá Inês
A henna é uma coloração natural. Ou seja, vai sempre adaptar-se ao tom do seu cabelo.
É uma questão de experimentar a mistura e ver qual prefere.
Deve começar por experimentar num bocadinho de cabelo e depois fazer a aplicação completa.
Qualquer dúvida, estamos sempre disponíveis para a esclarecer.
Um beijinho.
Olá Mafalda, tenho poucas brancas e tenho usado a henna castanha escura, muito parecida com a minha cor original, e estou a gostar. No entanto, já com 1 ano de uso, acho o cabelo um pouco escuro demais… Entre mistirar uma colher de henn cor acobreado ou loiro fico na dúvida… Tenho receio que o acobreado puxe muito para laranja, que na realidade é a cor que penso ter subjacente na minha cor natural… Se o loiro clarear um pouco o castanho pode ser preferivel, pois imagino que se note mais nas brancas. Gostaria de um conselho :)
Olá Ana,
Obrigada pela sua questão.
A henna é uma coloração natural e vai adaptar-se ao tom do seu cabelo.
Se preferir, pode experimentar misturar o castanho com o loiro e colocar numa mecha. Se o tom for o que pretende, pode fazer a aplicação completa.
Qualquer questão pode contactar-nos, estamos disponíveis para a esclarecer.
Um beijinho
Olá Tânia,
Obrigada pela sua partilha.
Aplique a henna sempre em cabelo seco. Como qualquer coloração, a Henna vai funcionar melhor sobre cabelo seco e “não lavado de fresco”.
Espero ter ajudado, qualquer questão disponha.
Um beijinho
Bom dia Maria
Obrigada pela sua questão.
No seu caso aconselho a misturar o castanho com o loiro.
Como a henna é um produto natural, vai adaptar-se à cor do seu cabelo.
Espero ter sido útil.
Um beijinho