Why I use Henna to dye my hair
By: Shefali O'Hara
Tags: Health, Hair, Colors, Beauty, Cancer

Why I use Henna to dye my hair

Yet one more result of my having cancer

Photo by Mehendi Training Center on Unsplash

Recently I was reading an article about how using hair dyes can increase the risk of cancer for women. Here’s a link to the article. A study was done that shows that both hair dyes and chemical straighteners can increase the risk of cancer by a lot. Particularly for women of color.

I’ve suspected this for years.

After I got cancer 15 years ago, I became extremely wary of any and all chemical products. We started using vinegar to clean our counters and windows. We buy the unscented detergent for washing clothes. I use pure soaps and I don’t use make-up most of the time. On the rare occasions I do, I get the stuff made with minerals like iron oxide instead of red dye number whatever.

And for my hair… I use henna.

My parents are from India, and in that country, as well as in places like Persia, brides regularly use henna to paint intricate designs on their hands when they get married. It’s called mehendi. It dyes skin and it also dyes hair. So the mehendi artist will apply the henna in elaborate, beautiful patterns and then gently wash it off. The stain will be left behind. It is temporary and will wash off eventually.

With hair, henna lasts longer but it’s not as color fast as commercial hair dyes. It’s also messier and a bit of a pain to apply. However, it isn’t a carcinogen.

I get my henna from an Asian grocery store. That’s probably the cheapest way to do it and I’m on a budget. I use pure red henna. I also use indigo, because my natural hair color is very dark brown.

When I was a kid, it looked black except when I was in sunlight, then you could see the reddish highlights.

If I only use henna to cover my gray, I get red and black hair. This was considered a sign of royalty on an old I Love Lucy episode, where she played the Maharincess of Franistan. Since I don’t live in a 1960s sitcom, I don’t want this look.

To get the look I want, after I rinse the henna out of my hair, I apply a coating of indigo. This is also a natural plant. It normally colors things a dark blue, however, when applied to your hair on top of the henna, it colors it black. It also makes your hair shiny and soft.

I’ve found that henna and indigo actually seem to improve the texture of my hair. I know they are not bad for me. They are messy and the two step process is time consuming. So I combine it with other rituals to make it a day to nurture myself. I exfoliate, take a bubble bath, etc.

If you want to try it yourself, here are some general directions.

You’ll need about a quarter cup of prepared henna for shoulder length hair. At least, that is how much I use. Take an eighth of a cup of henna powder and put it in a ceramic container. I use a white ramekin, the type used to make creme brulee. Then add boiling water to this, a little at a time, stirring it with a wooden popsicle stick. The texture should be like yogurt. Keep adding water a little at a time and stir to blend until you get the right texture.

If you have substantial or hard to cover gray, add a little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the mix.

You can also add other colorants — crushed walnut hulls, nutmeg, ground coffee and turmeric are all interesting options. I usually add a teaspoon of ground coffee. I think this gives me interesting highlights.

Once I’ve mixed the henna, I let it sit for about an hour to “cure”. You can let it sit longer, but not more than about 12 hours. If you let it sit too long you’ll need to mix a fresh batch.

After it’s cured, it’s ready to apply. Separate your hair into sections and apply the henna to each section. It can be quite messy and it stains. If you have a friend who can apply it for you, that is a big help. If you’re doing it yourself, be careful. You’ll probably want to use some disposable gloves so you don’t walk around with stained fingers. To prevent the dye from leaking onto your face, you can use vaseline at your hairline.

After you put on the henna, leave it on for at least half an hour. I generally keep it on for 45 minutes. I know people who wait an hour before washing their hair. Only use water to rinse out the henna, don’t use shampoo.

After I wash out the henna, I’ll immediately apply the indigo. It doesn’t need to be cured, you can simply blend the herb with warm water to make a nice texture and apply. Leave it on about 20–30 minutes and rinse.

My hair when I’m done will be gleaming and healthy and black.

One note, you might not like the way these products smell. They are plant based and have an herbal scent that not everyone is a fan of. However, the smell will not linger in your hair.

One thing you an do prior to your next shampoo after you dye your hair — add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil, then use this oil to moisturize your hair. Do it before you go to bed and wash your hair in the morning. It will leave your hair feeling lovely. The essential oil will help it smell lovely as well. FYI, if you go to bed with oil in your hair, put a towel or other cloth over your pillow to keep your pillow case from staining.

So if you’re going gray and want to dye your hair, don’t despair because you don’t want to risk cancer by using a chemical product. There are natural options that work well and that will actually nurture your hair. Give henna a try, if you like. Feel free to ask me questions if you need more information on how to do it.