What is henna and why is it good for your red hair?

You may have heard of using henna for temporary tattooing, but what about using pure henna on your red hair?

It’s an age-old ingredient that both natural and dyed redheads have dabbled with for centuries, but before you delve into the unknown, it’s important to know exactly what you’re dealing with.

What is henna?

Henna is a plant that grows in hot, dry climates in Africa, Asia and Australasia. For beauty purposes, its leaves are dried then ground into a powder which can be mixed into a paste to dye your skin, hair, and even your fingernails.

Depending on the strength of the henna you’re using, the effects can be permanent. If applying to your hair to either dye it red or give it a gingerful boost in shade, the effects will likely be permanent. Follow our 10-step guide to using henna

Why is henna good for your hair?

Being a plant, henna is all-natural, meaning that it doesn’t contain any of the chemical nasties found in conventional hair dyes.

And despite its effects being largely permanent, there’s no need to fear. In fact, aside from delivering a glorious red-ginger shade (depending on the type and strength of henna you use, of course), natural henna also provides other beauty benefits that can’t be offered by chemical hair dyes.

For one, it strengthens your hair by two times, as the henna encases the root and locks in natural moisture in individual hair strands. Thickening and volumising also takes place, as henna helps to prevent hair loss, and even aids hair growth. Natural henna also contains anti-fungal and antibacterial qualities, helping to stave off any dandruff and sensitivity of the scalp. Read our 12 reasons why henna is great for your hair

All in all, it’s a pretty effective shield against evil forces.

And to top if off, when your henna hair dye shade fades over time, the natural make-up of henna means that you’re left with a more natural-looking faded colour, rather than the brassy shade that usually occurs with chemical dyes.

Not quite ready to take the plunge? Gingerful’s hair products for redheads contain henna. With lots natural ingredients to provide extra conditioning yumminess, the henna boosts ginger shades to the max.

The products contain the perfect level of natural henna; enough to boost reddish shades found in your hair, but not too much that will permanently dye your hair – the effects only last as long as you use the products. Visit the Ginger Parrot Store or visit Gingerful’s website www.gingerfulhair.com