Henna | 12 Benefits, Uses, Where to Find It and More.

Henna is a purely natural product, quite similar to clay, which allows, among other things, to dye the coloring of your hair by strengthening it and offering multiple benefits to it, also avoids all the harmful effects that conventional dyes tend to cause on your hair. Scalp. The most important health benefits of henna include its ability to relieve headaches, detoxify the body, improve nails, protect the skin, improve hair health, cool the body, reduce inflammation and accelerate healing.

What is Henna?

Henna is the name of an Arab shrub, known as   Lawsonia inermis , which produces a famous and ancient reddish color of natural ink. Its ink comes from the leaves of this bush, which through a drying and spraying process, become a powder. People around the world understand the word ‘henna’ in many different ways. Most people probably associate it with the dark red / brown hair and skin dye that is traditionally used in many cultures, but the name also applies to the flowering plant from which the dye is derived. It can be used in a wide variety of forms, including its dye form, as well as in aqueous extracts, tinctures and ointments, bark compounds, seeds or leaves. This versatility makes henna a very valuable element in traditional medicines, particularly in Ayurvedic practice. Henna oil, bark and seeds are the most common forms of medicinal benefits, and the high concentration of chemicals and nutrients in the plant gives it anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antibacterial, astringent and antiviral effects.

Benefits of Henna for Our Hair:

Henna is a product of totally vegetable origin that has no synthetic additives such as artificial colors, preservatives and flavorings, nor ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and heavy metals such as lead. Its use brings various health benefits of our hair, such as:

  • Do not discolor or damage hair
  • It gives a very natural color and shine
  • It improves the thickness and strengthens the hair, being recommended for people who have thin and brittle hair
  • It lasts approximately three months and the coloration gradually disappears, which makes the change is not noticeable.
  • Covers white hair
  • Can be used frequently

Let’s take a deeper look at the many impressive health benefits of this versatile beautification plant.

1. Hair Color:

Although most people associate the effect of henna on hair with the death of color, it also plays a number of roles in that part of our body. It has been shown that henna increases hair strength and, therefore, represents a safe dye that does not permanently affect the health of our follicles.

2. Hair Health:

Henna helps improve hair health. It helps to seal the hair cuticle, preventing it from breaking and increasing the shine and appearance of the hair. It also prevents dandruff.

3. Reduction of Hair Loss:

For people suffering from hair loss or baldness, henna also prevents this from happening. The traditional mixture consists of putting henna juice or curd oil and then mixing this in your hair, as this increases the effectiveness of the treatment.

4. Improved Nail Quality:

People often forget to keep their nails healthy, but the cuticles and the space under the nails are privileged places for infection and the presence of bacteria; therefore, treating your nails with henna is a wise choice.

“Drinking the water in which the leaves have been soaked helps prevent nail cracking and reduces inflammation”.

The application of a poultice directly to the nail beds can clear up irritation, pain and infection in the nail beds.

5. Anti-Aging Properties:

Although henna’s antioxidant capacity has not been widely studied, it has been shown that the oil is an astringent, which has led some people to use their juice and oil on the skin to reduce the signs of aging and wrinkles, as well As the unsightly effect. Appearance of scars and other imperfections. This is complemented by the antiviral and antibacterial effects that can protect the largest organ in the body, the skin!

6. Wound Healing:

One of the most notable uses of henna is to protect the skin against infections and eliminate inflammation. It has been applied to burns, wounds and scratches for generations, not only because it can add a protective layer against pathogens and foreign substances, but also because it has natural cooling capabilities that literally absorb heat from the skin. This makes it very useful for sunburn, in a capacity similar to that of aloe vera gel.

7. Cure of Fever:

Henna can also lower fevers, according to Ayurvedic traditions. When people suffer from very high fevers as a secondary symptom of another condition, the increase in temperature throughout the body can be dangerous for the function of organs and metabolic processes. Lowering the general body temperature is essential, and henna can achieve this by inducing sweating and effectively breaking the fever, or simply by cooling the body and providing some relief.

8. Headache Relief:

The juice of the henna plant is not always praised as particularly beneficial, but in fact, the juice of the plant can be applied directly to the skin for rapid relief of headaches. The anti-inflammatory effects of the compounds found in henna help reduce that tension and promote healthy blood flow in the capillaries, which is a common cause of headaches and migraines.

9. Anti-Inflammatory Capacity:

In a vein similar to the headache solution described above, henna oil is used topically for arthritic and rheumatic pain. As we age, our joints become more painful as the cartilage and muscles deteriorate. This can result in painful inflammation in many different parts of the body. By applying hina oil on inflamed or affected areas, you can ensure a wider and healthier range of motion to maintain an active and happy life.

10. Reduced Sleep Problems:

Henna oil has been directly related to the relief of certain sleep disorders, so if you suffer from insomnia or chronic restlessness, adding a little of this oil to your herbal regimen may cause you to return to a sleep schedule. Regulate and repair to calm the body and mind, facilitating it in a relaxed state before sleeping.

11. Detoxification:

By soaking the bark or leaves of the henna plant in water and then consuming the resulting liquid, it has been connected to improve the health of the spleen and liver. The liver functions as a crucial level of protection for the body and helps eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body. By optimizing your function and ensuring your health, you can prevent a wide range of other health conditions.

12. Regulated Blood Pressure:

If you consume water or henna seeds, you can enjoy a hypotensive effect that relieves stress in the cardiovascular system and effectively reduces blood pressure. This can help prevent the accumulation of plaque and platelets in the heart and arteries, preventing heart attacks and strokes.

Dangers of Conventional Henna Paints:

Conventional inks cause a lot of damage to the hair, as they contain chemicals such as peroxide and ammonia. Constant use can cause many problems:

  • Irritation of the scalp;
  • Sebum imbalance, making hair more oily and / or dry;
  • Hair loss;
  • Fine hair too, with brittle and damaged appearance;
  • Double limbs

How to Use it?

We recommend always following the instructions for use indicated on the product, but in general terms, we can follow the following steps:

  • Mix the Henna powder with lemon juice until you get a homogeneous and uniform paste (the lemon juice helps to fix the color better);
  • Let the mixture stand in a vessel covered with a plastic lid for 8 hours (we can prepare it before bed and use it the next morning);
  • Wash your hair well, without using conditioner and then dry with a towel;
  • Divide the hair into parts and apply the paste, from the root to the ends, covering well;
  • Once covered, wrap the head with a plastic cap and then with a towel (this will maintain the proper temperature);
  • Leave on for an hour, or according to the time determined in the product instructions;
  • Wash your hair normally later.

As Henna is also used as an ink to the skin during use, it is essential to   wear gloves to avoid stains. To avoid staining the skin of the forehead it is advisable to use some petroleum jelly on the edge of the hair before applying Henna. Finally, it is advised   to be careful with any clothes or towels that may come in contact with the ink, as they can be dyed easily.

Where to Buy?

It is recommended that you always choose the best quality of henna, for this, you must ensure that it contains no chemical within its composition, that is, and that this product must be of plant origin exclusively. These days, it is easy to find henna-based products that are sold in various stores, but unfortunately they are not natural; you should try to get the henna powder, which is its purest form.

Warning: most henna varieties are perfectly safe and non-toxic, but black henna has some allergenic potential, as evidenced by skin rashes and internal discomfort of some users. Also, hair dyes that claim to be based on henna occasionally contain other chemicals that people with sensitive skin may not appreciate, so read the labels carefully! Before adding any new herbal remedy to your routine, it is better to consult with your doctor or an herbalist.