Henna can dry your hair out. Henna can cause breakage. Henna is for life, and you will never be able to get it out of your hair. Henna will melt your hair.
This and more are the most common phrases you'll hear about how bad henna is for your hair. Let's discuss.
Henna will dry your hair out.
Short answer is yes, it can dry your hair out. Long answer is no, you can easily add moisturizing ingredients to make your henna hair coloring have the moisture it needs. It's important to use henna hair color in a way that is best for your hair needs, hair type and texture. At Henna Sooq, we recommend you add aloe vera powder, or your favorite hair oil for added moisture. In our salon, we also use steam in majority of our henna hair coloring treatments to open the hair to better receive the color, and it keeps hair hydrated during the coloring process. You should also use our Cleansing Conditioning CoWash to restore moisture back into the hair, and use a very good leave in that your hair likes for best results.
Henna can cause breakage.
This is the same as above. If you aren't using henna according to your hair type, texture and needs, your hair will be dry and when it's dry, it'll cause the hair strands to break. There are some people who still experience breakage when dryness isn't the issue. A person with very fine or delicate hair strands can have hair breakage if the henna is left in too long (over 4+ hours). Sometimes there's protein sensitivities and since henna behaves like a protein, using a gloss might be more gentle while you still get the hair strengthening benefits.
Using henna will prevent water and products from penetrating.
Henna does protect and coat the hair strand. It will strengthen the hair strands as well as color your hair and greys. Will this mean water will just slip and slide on and off of your hair? No. Will that also mean no moisturizing products nor deep conditioners will work on hair that had henna applied onto it? Another no. As professional henna hair colorists, we have never experienced this. Our clients have their hair washed, colored or treated with henna using steam, then conditioned out and our final steps are moisturizing, drying and styling. This leaves the hair 100% better then when the client walked into the salon. So we know from professional experience (backed by cosmetologists) that this is not true. All of the leave in products and oils (if needed) deeply moisturize and penetrate hair that has just had a henna coloring treatment. Clients leave with in between maintenance instructions and products to keep their hair at its very best, and helps them to reach all of their hair goals. Saying all of this to say that this is not a true fact. Water and products will work very well on henna color or henna treated hair including all hair types, all hair textures, and locs.
Henna is for life.
Absolutely true. Henna is permanent. Be aware before you start. It can be very difficult to remove as it binds to the hair strands, just as strongly as it stains cloth, and nails. It has to grow out. Colorists really don't like henna for this reason as it is very difficult to remove. The good thing, is when using Henna Sooq's henna hair coloring line, it is safe to use chemicals over it without damaging the hair. Just be ready to do multiple chemical dyeing steps to pull it all out which therefore causes the hair to become quite weak. Indigo is a whole other story. Your hair might turn greenish-blue when trying to remove it with chemical color.
Henna will melt your hair.
I have yet to see a video of henna actually melting the hair when a colorist is using a chemical color over it. Henna is very permanent and difficult to remove. Therefore when a colorist is trying to color over it, for sure it's going to require several steps with chemicals and/or developer to get it out and go over it. This will damage and weaken your hair possibly causing breakage. It's easier with chemical dye to match the same color you currently have but going lighter is going to be really tough and weaken your hair. Should you decide to use chemicals or go back to them, or even use perms, our henna hair color products do not contain any metallic salts, nor additives, and nor compound henna that can conflict with chemical color.
There are definitely pros and cons to using henna for hair. At Henna Sooq, we are here to support you in any and every decision you want to make regarding your hair care. You can use henna in ways that work for your hair, or perhaps you won't use henna at all. There are many Ayurvedic healthy and easy hair care treatments you can use from Henna Sooq. Start with our Hair Quiz to figure out where to start. You can even book a one on one hair consultation with me (Khadija), leading henna hair color and Ayurvedic hair care expert, to really get personalized recommendations.
Do what works best for your lifestyle, your hair goals and what makes you happiest. We just appreciate being apart of your journey. Should you have any questions please comment below or give us a call at 1-833-811-7667. Our Retail + Salon location is located at 6935 Oakland Mills Rd, Suite D, Columbia, Maryland 21045. We hope to see you soon!
