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Is Henna a Natural Relaxer

 
Alice Marini
By Alice Marini. Updated: January 16, 2017
Is Henna a Natural Relaxer

Experimenting with henna as a natural hair relaxer is part of the quest for natural ways of relaxing hair. Hair relaxers are lotions used by curly people that chemically disrupt the elliptical shape of curly hair and reconstructs the hair in a different shape. While the curls will loosen, the hair might break up, and the scalp risks of getting burnt if it comes into contact with the relaxer. So, it is very important to find some kind of natural hair relaxer that does not damage the hair. Does henna relax curls? This is what we will discover in today's oneHOWTO article. We will also teach you a henna relaxer recipe, and talk about using relaxer and henna on the same day. So, read carefully as we explain: is henna a natural relaxer?

You may also be interested in: How to Loosen Curls Permanently

Is henna a natural relaxer?

Let's get things straight: no natural treatment can achieve what a chemical relaxer does. Henna, as well as any other natural relaxer, will not completely change the shape of your curl pattern. Henna relaxes curly hair by increasing the thickness of every single hair with plants deposits, i.e. hair is heavier.

We can consider henna as a natural relaxer, and you can use henna instead of relaxer, or have a henna treatment after relaxer, depending on how you want your hair to look like, and how much of the health of your hair you are willing to sacrifice.

The answer to the question is henna a natural relaxer is therefore yes, and no. Henna relaxes curls to a certain degree.

Does henna relax curl patterns?

Let's see what a henna treatment can really do for your curly hair:

  • henna will elongate your curls
  • henna cuts down the frizzes of your hair
  • henna makes curly hair stronger and thicker
  • hair becomes more fluffy
  • henna makes curls weigh down loosely
  • henna conditions the hair
  • henna treatment makes curly hair more easily manageable
  • in synthesis, henna relaxes curl pattern, it does not straighten hair

One thing you need to bear in mind is that, while some people love using henna as a natural relaxer, some other people do not like the way henna relaxes hair. Maybe you can try the treatment on a hair lock to see if you like the relaxing effect. There are also other ways of loosening your curls permanently.

If what you want to do is using henna treatment after relaxer, check the following section.

Is Henna a Natural Relaxer - Does henna relax curl patterns?

Relaxer - henna same day application

If you want to boost the effects of your chemical relaxer, you can consider using both relaxer and henna on the same day. Henna treatment after relaxer can really help strengthening the hair damaged by the relaxing effect as well, and make the hair less prone to break down. The tannins present in henna will minimize the damage provoked by the hair relaxer.

Some people wonder whether it is safe to use relaxer and henna on the same day. It is! Henna does not have adverse interactions with relaxers. But you need to make sure what you've got is 100% natural henna otherwise you do not know what kind of chemicals you are mixing, which can be really dangerous for your hair and trigger allergic reactions.

You can use henna treatment after the relaxer, or before. What we suggest, however, is that you use henna in alternation with the relaxer, let's say you use henna one month, and the relaxer the following month.

What usually happens if you use henna regularly on your curly hair is that, after 1 or 2 years, you will not need to use a relaxer anymore, and you can use henna instead of relaxer as your only hair treatment.

Henna relaxer recipe

Now that you know that henna is a natural relaxer, you can start learning how to use henna to relax curl pattern. We have a wonderful henna relaxer recipe for you:

What you need

  • 1 pack henna powder, make sure it is natural henna (lawsonia) from a reliable brand. Use more if you have lots of hair
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice from lemons
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • water at room temperature as needed

Equipment

  • glass or plastic bowl, not metal
  • hair dye applicator spatula
  • cling film
  • microwave or oven

Instructions

  • mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl, adding a little bit of room temperature water at the time until you reach the consistency of a thick paste, it should be thick, not loose
  • put a lid over the bowl and let it sit in a warm place overnight
  • the following morning, put the mixture in a microwave for a few seconds
  • apply the henna relaxer mixture hot on your hair. You should apply lots of henna, to form a thick layer. If you want henna to relax curl patterns, pull your hair continuously while applying henna
  • Wrap you hair firmly with cling film. That will help keep the heat, thus relaxing your curls
  • Let the henna relaxer mixture sit on your hair for at least 3 hours, and up to 8 hours for best results
  • Wash henna out with water only

This henna natural hair relaxer recipe will work immediately. However, if you want to stop using a chemical relaxer altogether, you can apply henna to your hair weekly for a month, then every 2 weeks for 3 months, and finally once a month.

You will see for yourself how well henna works as a natural relaxer.

Is Henna a Natural Relaxer - Henna relaxer recipe

If you want to read similar articles to Is Henna a Natural Relaxer, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.

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