When searching for vegan hair dyes, a common question is, “can I use henna for natural afro hair?”. Henna brings many benefits for natural hair and has been widely used all over the world for at least 5,000 years.
With care and planning, henna can be used with many hair types from 1-4, although the preparation stage may be different depending on your individual needs and preferences. Before we look any further though, let’s learn more about the fascinating history of henna.
A brief history of henna
Henna has been used for its natural dyeing and nourishing properties for thousands of years. Its earliest noted use was for body decoration in Ancient Egypt – it was even used by Cleopatra herself.
Henna has also been used for centuries throughout North Africa, the Middle East and India. It’s been applied for body tattoos, hair dyeing, and as part of celebrations and wedding ceremonies. Across time and continents, henna has been used on many different kinds of natural hair structures and textures. It really is for everyone!
Benefits of henna for afro hair
As such, it’s perfectly safe to use henna hair dye for afro hair, and this includes dreads. In fact, doing so will bring numerous health benefits. Here’s 7 of our absolute favourites.
1. Improved scalp health
Henna has many exceptional organic properties. It’s completely natural, so it is kind to scalps and hair alike, nourishing the skin and avoiding irritation that might come from chemicals such as PPD in non-organic dyes.
2. Stimulated hair growth
One of henna’s lesser-known benefits is that, over the long term, you can use henna for hair growth. Using henna hair dye for natural afro hair can result in bigger hair and additional thickness, which can be challenging to achieve using other products. It can also help to avoid hair fall.
3. Conditioned hair
Not only does henna offer beautiful colouring from deep auburn to pillar box red, but it also conditions hair without using additives or chemicals that break down your hair texture. Say goodbye to frizzy and dry curls!
Henna protects hair by fusing to each individual strand, making it stronger, smoother and more vibrant. When used with damaged or thin afro hair, henna can be especially beneficial. And with its frequent use alongside nourishing hair masks and conditioners, you can return your ‘fro to its former glory.
4. Added shine
Henna nourishes afro hair, repairing damaged follicles and strengthening roots. This also makes your hair more reflective of sunlight, giving it a sense of shine and volume. Did I hear someone say hot girl summer…?
5. Apply to various hairstyles
Due to a lack of representation, it’s not an uncommon experience to grow up as a Black person knowing little about dyeing afro hair types. But thanks to the natural hair movement, there’s a lot more information out there and this includes how to use henna with afro hair textures.
Our henna hair products can be applied to various hairstyles for different effects. For instance, you might only want a hint of colour with some on-trend highlights to frame your face or maybe an ombre is more your style. Whichever way you sway, there’s an aesthetic out there just waiting for you.
Dreadlocks
The first style on the table is dreadlocks. You might be surprised, but dreads actually take to henna quite well. The process is fairly similar to other hair types – mix, apply and leave the paste to sink into your locks for 3-12 hours before rinsing – just be careful to wash it out thoroughly as clumps left behind might get stuck in your dreads.
Box braids
Can you dye box braids or any other type of braids with henna? Good question. The answer comes in two parts. Firstly, yes, you can dye braided hair. However, dying braids with henna can be quite tricky.
That’s why we’d always recommend using henna on natural loose hair or your extensions before braiding. Just remember that not all braids are made equal: braids of the synthetic variety might not take on very much hair colour, so do your homework beforehand.
Natural upbraided hair
Ideally, if you have afro-textured hair you should dye it in its natural state: loose, clean and untreated. This will allow the henna powder mixture to penetrate deep into the follicles and do its magic. Unlike chemical dyes that add colour by breaking down the bonds and destroying the hair melanin, henna fuses to the strands, so it might take longer for the colour to develop.
6. Vibrant hair colour
Henna is fundamentally used for its dyeing properties. Due to its preparation method, you can mix henna hair colours according to your desired shade. Henna is a fantastic choice of afro hair dye, whether you want to cover up grey hair, release your inner redhead or add more subtle tones to darker hair.
7. Loosened curls
Those with curly or coily afro hair should consider that henna can temporarily loosen hair curls slightly due to the added volume. When weighing up the health benefits of henna with the risks of using chemical relaxers, it’s a no brainer; the plant-based dye makes a perfect substitute.
Considerations when applying henna hair dye to afro hair
If Fleabag was right when she said “hair is everything” (and we think she is), then the utmost care should be taken before we go for a transformational hair makeover. Afterall, hair is never just hair. It changes the way we feel about ourselves, the way others perceive us and can impact our lives more than we know.
For henna, there are a few things you should think about before jumping off the deep end.
Finding the perfect colour
We mentioned before that henna offers a fun variety of colours and styles for folks with natural afro hair. Pick a shade that enhances your natural features and brings out your inner beauty. Warm and golden tones are gorgeous against darker skin tones, but as a rule of thumb, work out which undertones work for you.
Henna gloss
If you want to exploit the benefits of henna for afro hair but aren’t ready for a bold colour transformation just yet, a henna gloss could be the ideal solution. Essentially, it involves combining henna hair dye with conditioner or shampoo to dilute the concentration of the colour. This way you get deep conditioning with subtle colour.
Be patient with the process
According to afro hair legend, Charlotte Menashe, patience is key. As most natural afro hair is on the darker end of the colour spectrum, it can take some time to achieve a lighter shade. She recommends trying to reach the colour destination in stages: go from a lighter brown or oranges to yellows and blondes.
For henna, you should leave the hair dye to develop for a longer duration during its application in order to achieve bolder, more intense shades.
Follow the instructions to the letter
When applying and mixing henna make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging. This means mixing your henna at least a couple of hours before applying it to your hair.
Stay safe
As with any hair dye, always remember to do a patch test 48 hours before use. While henna is an hypoallergenic alternative to conventional dyes, there is always a possibility that it doesn’t mesh well with your hair and skin.
Avoiding excessive heat afterwards
As afro hair can be especially delicate and porous, you avoid excessive heat and styling after dying. This includes blow drying it for long periods and using hair straighteners. After you’ve injected the colour of your dreams you don’t want to go and damage it.
Healthy and vibrant hair
Henna is a natural ingredient that offers several benefits for natural afro hair. Our vegan hair products are full of organic ingredients, helping you achieve healthy and shiny hair, whatever the texture. Learn more about using henna hair dye at itselixir’s blog today.