"Henna will melt your hair", is one of the most common statements you'll hear from colorists at the salon, when they find out you're using henna in your hair. This is a complete myth.
Unfortunately it's not completely the fault of cosmetologists as this is what is part of the traditional training (and courses) that will be learned in cosmetology schools. There is not much of, if any, training and study of natural hair care, and especially not of curly hair types. To learn about henna, Ayurvedic hair and many natural methods of caring for hair, it must be done so independently through continued education courses (such as what is offered at Henna Sooq).
Take this statement below:
You can run a risk of facing henna’s dark side if you attempt the latter. “Henna, like all plant-based materials, contains heavy metals due to growing in soil. It’s very difficult to remove heavy metals when the henna is processed to make it ready for coloring the hair,” says George. “When the bleach comes in contact with the heavy metals from the henna, uncontrollable reactions can occur with high heat, which can burn the consumer or dissolve the hair.” Yikes.
Source: Harper's Bazaar
High quality henna powder and dyes, such as carried at Henna Sooq, are free from additives, and metallic salts. It will not dissolve nor melt hair away. Henna isn't the problem actually at all. It's the use of very strong bleaching products during the chemical color process to remove henna, that is. Using such harsh ingredients on the hair (and the fact that you are exposing yourself to cancer-causing agents), will absolutely dry, damage and cause breakage to your hair.
Henna binds to the hair and yes in fact is difficult to remove, and that means using very strong chemicals to take it out, if that's what you're aim is. Once you decide to use henna, you should consider if you want to commit to it beforehand. It is permanent dye and difficult to remove and lighten.
Indigo is another herb used with henna to make these natural hair colors: reddish brown, brown, dark brown and up to black tones. Indigo is even harder to get out of hair if you decide to remove it or use bleach as it'll leave your hair with a green-blue hue.
With the above statement, there is actually no video proof of this ever occurring. It has been a myth and a story that is being told to scare us from using natural dyes like henna on our hair.
Ask yourself these questions.
- Who aims to make money when people choose chemicals over henna?
- Which companies have a hand or say in the education at cosmetology schools?
- Who aims to benefit from all of this?
- Who is invested in your health and wellness?
Let us know in the comments what you concluded, and please share your own experiences.