Henna for Grey Afro Hair
Can you use henna for grey afro hair? Yes you can, but there are a few information you will need to keep in mind. Hair turns grey when the oil glands produce less sebum, which is normal when you get older. That means grey hair often become dry, and Afro curls start to loosen. What you want to avoid at that stage is using chemicals that will make your hair even drier. That is why we suggest using henna for grey afro hair and henna for grey african american hair. Henna will provide color, gloss and texture to afro hair and guess what? You can even achieve a dark brown color on grey afro hair by mixing henna with Indigo. But let's get to it. Today, at OneHowTo we will explain how to henna afro hair, the benefits of henna for afro hair, how long to leave henna on afro hair, and everything about henna for grey afro hair.
Benefits of henna treatment for afro hair
Before we talk about henna for grey afro hair / henna for grey african american hair, let's get some information regarding henna.
Henna comes from a plant called Lawsonia, it is basically the leaves from that plant, ground into a powder, mixed with water, and applied to hair.
Here are the benefits of henna treatment for afro hair:
- henna is 100% natural, so your hair does not come into contact with harmful chemicals
- unlike chemical dyes, henna adds a protective layer to the hair cuticle, so african american hair can get some more weight and substance, which can help for certain hairstyles, for damaged hair, and especially for grey african american hair
- henna is permanent and it builds up, so you can get slightly different, i.e. darker, colors at each application
- being natural, it allows you to mix it with other natural hair dyes such as Indigo and katam to achieve dark hair colors.
- henna treatment for afro hair is good for people with hair fall problems, as it strengthens the hair and makes it less prone to fall. Plus, it stimulates the scalp to grow hair
- henna dye for afro hair makes hair shinier, thick and healthy. It can also work as an excellent natural hair relaxer
- to get the benefits of henna for afro hair, make sure your henna is natural
However, despite the significant benefits of henna on african american hair, you should also keep in mind the following:
- henna dye on afro hair can cause the curls to loosen a bit, because it creates an extra layer, as we explained. So, if that is not what you want, you should perhaps opt for a different natural hair dye, or follow our tips in the next chapters
- henna is permanent and difficult to cover up, especially with lighter hair dye
Now that you know the pros and cons of henna treatment for afro hair, you can make an informed choice. Let's see how henna for grey african american hair works.
Henna for grey afro hair
Henna for grey afro hair is great, as it cover grey hair 100%. However, you should know how to apply henna for grey african american hair. Bear in mind that:
- You will need to apply henna on grey afro hair at least 3 times if you want a red color, instead of a bright light orange one. After a few applications you will achieve a auburn color
- After a few henna dye treatments, when the grey roots grow back, you will need to apply henna on the root at least 2 times to match the color of the rest of the hair
- The first time you apply henna dye on grey afro hair you should leave the henna paste on your hair for 5 hours or more
- If you are using henna for grey afro hair, you should wash and dry your hair before each application, otherwise the sebum will create a layer under which the henna will not be able to penetrate.
How to apply henna for grey afro hair
If you decided to apply henna on your hair, we suggest you follow our suggestions:
- decide how dark you would like the color to be. If you want a fairly dark color, it is best to mix henna with either indigo or katam. Try several percentages before you find the perfect color for your afro hair
- always apply henna only at the first application (do not mix it with other hair dyes, apply it pure), and keep calm. Henna for afro hair will be very light orange at the first application, but the situation will improve at every application. Keep henna on your hair for 5 hours, then rinse with water
- You can apply the second henna for grey afro hair after 72 hours. This time you can mix henna with indigo or katam to achieve the color you want
- Keep the henna on your hair for another 5 hours
- Rinse with water
- If the second application is a mix of henna with Indigo or katam, do not wash your hair with shampoo for 2 days so that the color penetrates well
- Try as many henna dye for grey african american hair as you like, with different mix percentages etc. until you find your unique perfect color
For more information on how to apply henna on hair, check our tutorial.
What about henna on grey afro hair to retouch the roots only?
You can use henna as often as you like, as it is natural. To retouch the roots, you will need to apply henna first, and the henna plus indigo or katam mixture after, following the same steps we mentioned earlier, only on the roots. Otherwise the color will be uneven.
How long to leave henna on afro hair? People often ask that question and the truth is, it is true afro hair, as well as any curly hair, need more henna, and more time to work. Try adding more water to the mixture, and leave it on your afro hair for as long as you can.
In conclusion, henna for grey afro hair is great and has many benefits for african american hair. You only need to find the perfect color of henna for grey afro hair for you!
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