Sandra’s Got A Hunch About Henna:
Hi! I read your blog a lot, and it’s so interesting that I’m actually considering changing my major from Biology to Chemistry!
Anyways. I want to grow out my hair to very long lengths, so I’m always looking for ways to take care of it. A lot of people at the Long Hair Community use henna and swear that it strengthens and conditions their hair.
If I got it right from what I’ve read, henna coats the hair shaft, and even penetrates the hair to a certain extent, and binds to the protein of the hair, thus the strengthening. The coating effect smooths down the cuticle, so there you have the conditioning. So what`s the truth – Does henna condition hair?
The Right Brain Coos About Chemistry:
Sandra, we’re THRILLED to think our blog has helped you in in selecting your major. You`ll have to write back and let us know if decide on a career in chemistry.
Speaking of careers, The Beauty Brains have been in the hair industry for many years and we have NEVER seen a single technical reference that ascribes hair strengthening or conditioning properties to henna. While we`re big fans of the Long Hair Community (we`ve quoted them on several occasions) this one sounds like the kind of thing someone just made up or heard from someone else.
This much is true: the active ingredient in henna (called Lawsone) does have an affinity for keratin protein (like your skin and hair.) That`s why henna is used to create mendhi, those decorative Indian skin designs. The brown stain sticks around for so long because it binds to your skin’s protein. But there`s no evidence that this interaction has any affect on the structure of your hair. Modern hair researchers have the ability to measure how well ingredients penetrate into hair AND how they impact hair`s tensile strength. Good conditioners need to be able to lubricate the hair shaft to smooth the cuticle and there`s no data to show that henna is efficacious in this regard.
(Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, henna does do a good job of staining skin brown but it doesn’t really work well enough to help you quit getting grey hair.)
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With all due respect:
While there may not be a technical reference to henna’s conditioning properties, it works for everyone (I mean purely natural, body-art quality henna; not “henna dye kits” sold in stores with metallic salts in them). Well-mixed henna produces a beautiful red tone on hair and covers grays well, and they are less noticeable when they reappear. It leaves the hair highly reflective and unbelievably soft and manageable. In my henna mixes, I use chamomile tea, lemon juice and yogurt and I do not use shampoo or conditioner during the dyeing process.
I dye my hair with henna, and I have dyed seven others’ as well (including my mom, who got a lot of grays from me) – and the results are the same on every woman, although the shade of red is slightly different. There are a million people who swear by it. Try it yourself or see if you can find someone who’s willing…it leaves your hair in amazing shape with a gorgeous color.
I think simply that not enough thorough chemical research has been done. Henna is terrific.
Henna is something that has to be experienced. Just because there isn’t a “single technical reference that ascribes hair strengthening or conditioning properties to henna”, doesn’t mean that it should not work. I wonder if there just haven’t been done enough research yet.
I don’t think that millions of women around the world are just experiencing some sort of placebo effect from the henna, many swear by it, even to the extent that henna was the only thing that made their hair to be strong enough to grow long.
But, there are many different types and qualities, and it may not work for everyone.
Good properties of henna that people experience include:
-Thicker hair
-Healthy scalp
-Lovely light reflecting red colour
-Lessens shedding
-Stronger hair