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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Henna Hair Coloring Tips

Henna Hair Coloring Tips

Henna has been used to color hair for centuries in India, the Middle East, and many other parts of the world. Apart from the coloring part, henna is also good for the health of the hair. For a few henna hair coloring tips, read on...
Henna Hair Coloring Tips
What is Henna?
Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a flowering plant, possessing a burgundy dye molecule called lawsone, which is more concentrated in its leaves. Lawsone bonds with protein and this explains the usage of henna as a dye to color the hair, skin and nails. Henna is also used to dye silk, wool and leather. Natural henna can give a natural red color to the hair. Products which are labeled as black or brown henna contain some other dyes and ingredients. Hence, it is better to choose natural henna (without any other dyes or chemicals) over other hair color products. Henna is now so popular, that the plant is commercially cultivated in many countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, etc.

Benefits of Henna Hair Color
One of the advantages of henna over other hair color products is that it is natural and is beneficial for the hair in many ways. As henna is a , it is almost devoid of any side effects. Apart from dyeing the hair, it is also a good conditioner, which imparts a lustrous shine and smooth texture to the hair. It is also believed that henna has anti-fungal properties, which helps in controlling dandruff. It also contains several nourishing constituents that strengthens the hair. Application of henna on the hair makes it more tangle-free and manageable. Unlike some of the commercial hair dyes, which can cause side-effects in some people, pure henna is free of such problems, but can cause serious reactions in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Henna Hair Coloring Tips
As in the case of cosmetics and other beauty aids, the origin of can also be traced back to the ancient Egypt civilization. It is believed that henna was used as a hair dye, by the Egyptians, for the first time in 1500 B.C. Since then, the popularity of henna hair coloring has been on the rise. Being a natural hair color, henna is preferred as a by many people across the globe. You can also try henna on your hair with the help of the following henna hair coloring tips.
  • Always remember that application of pure henna can change the hair color to natural red only. The black and brown versions of henna available in the market may either contain some other natural dyes or chemicals. It is better to use pure henna powder. Repeated usage is found to be beneficial for too.
  • Take a sufficient quantity of powdered henna in a plastic bowl. Add some warm water and lemon juice and mix it to make a paste with the consistency of yogurt. Cover the bowl and keep it overnight to allow the release of the dye.
  • Mixing the right ingredients is very important, as far as the end results are concerned. If you are having dry and brittle hair, add some drops of mustard oil into the paste. If you have dandruff, two teaspoons of yogurt can be added. In case of oily hair, lemon juice is good. If you want a darker tint, you can add some dried gooseberry powder to the mixture.
  • Wash and dry your hair before applying the henna paste. Wear some old clothes and cover the floor with some newspaper to protect from spillage of the paste. If you are applying henna for the first time, then you have to do a strand test to check whether you are allergic to henna hair coloring. This can be done by applying henna on a few strands of hair, starting from the roots to the tips. If you develop any reactions, then don't proceed with the application.
  • If you are not allergic, then you can proceed with the application of henna. Wear hand gloves to prevent staining of your hands. First, part your hair in the middle. Apply the henna paste through the parting, making sure that you are covering both the sides and the entire length of the hair on both sides. Next, roll these strands in the shape of a bun. Repeat the process of parting and application. Other such strands should also be rolled over the first one in a clockwise direction. Continue the procedure till the whole scalp and entire hair is covered with the paste.
  • Leave the hair like that for one or two hours. Once the paste becomes somewhat dry, wash it off with running water. If the paste is completely removed, then shampoo the hair and let it dry naturally.
Now, feel the difference in your hair texture. It should have become smooth and shiny with a change in color. If you are having application of henna gives a red highlight, which can be seen in sunlight. Henna hair coloring makes blonde hair look natural red in color, while red hair turns to a deeper red shade. White hair turns to a natural red color with the usage of henna. For deeper color tones and for maintaining the color change, you have to apply henna frequently. Always make it a point to buy pure and henna, without any harmful chemicals.

Coloring Your Hair

Coloring Your Hair

Hair Colors

Coloring your hair is perhaps the quickest and most dramatic way to change your look. It is also an excuse to go out and buy a new wardrobe of clothes, because you'll find that what suited you as a brunette looks rather drab on a new blonde.

There are two types of hair dyes: permanent and semi-permanent, with variations of each.
A) Permanent Tints:
Must be mixed with hydrogen peroxide to lift hair color. The peroxide opens the hair cuticle so that the tint can penetrate the cortex and form the color. The higher the level of peroxide, the quicker and lighter the result.
B) Semi-Permanent Colors:
They don't actually lift the color - you can either vary the tone within your natural highlights or go darker. Quasi-color contains ethanolamine and 3% peroxide which slightly opens the cuticle. This means that the color can last up to 20 washes and will softly fade as you shampoo, causing no regrowth problem.
C) Semi-Permanent Vegetable Colors:
Contain only vegetable extracts and natural ingredients, so no color is stripped from your hair. It is similar to henna but it doesn't coat the hair (adds shine though). This color sits on the hair's surface and will wash out after about 8 shampoos.

Different coloring methods suit different hair styles, so get some expert advice when deciding which one to go for...
Skin Tone: Your new hair color should complement your skin tone. Light-skinned people don't look good with very dark hair because it draws color out of their skin. Dark, tanned skin doesn't look great when mixed with a one-tone blonde, but four or five blonde, chestnut or honey tones look fabulous.

BLONDE:
If you would love to be blonde, talk the process through with your colorist (or stylist) before you go for it. It should be relatively painless on virgin dark brown hair, but if your hair has been permanently tinted then the process will become a long saga.
Never attempt this kind of dye job on your own for the first time.

RED:
Red is the ultimate sexy shade, for color that cries out for attention. Hair holds on to red-toned pigments well, so going copper-top can be easy for most people.
But be warned - if you are blonde you will usually have to go two or three shades darker than your natural color to achieve a rich red (brunette), and it's not easy to reverse it.

BROWN:
Brunette is always a safe choice as it suits nearly every girl in town. Varying the shade with highlights can achieve a huge range of looks. From chocolate brown and bronze shades to honey or dark blonde, combinations of natural tones gives incredible shine as darker-pigmented tints add condition to your hair.

BLACK:
This is by far the easiest color to accomplish because the molecules in black tints are larger and will cover all hair types very effectively. Caution is needed when using black as it only tends to look good on people with darker and olive skin tones. it's great for getting the goth look, but definitely not for your granny.

After Care of Colored Hair

After Care of Colored Hair

Once the hair has been chemically treated it is more fragile, therefore using hair products that are gentle and non-drying on hair is advised. There are many products specifically for color-treated hair in all price ranges. Deep condition a few times a month to keep the hair healthy looking.

After the initial color job and a few touch ups, the process becomes a breeze. First timers might be surprised at how much healthier and shiner her hair is after coloring. (Just like the commercials!) And if she has been paying the salon prices for her hair color previously, she will be thrilled at the do-it-yourself results she got for under $10.00!


Color Technique Tips

Color Technique Tips

Color in an area where a bath mirror can be swung open to see those hard-to-view parts of the head, or use a hand mirror. The color will look dark on the hair during processing, so don't panic! Also, a few missed spots won't ruin the result and probably won't even be noticed once hair is styled. (Even natural hair has light and dark areas!) The main sections that require coverage are the front, natural parts, and if hair is worn in an updo often, the sides and neckline.



Steps for Touch up Color:

Steps for Touch up Color:

  • Remove all contents from the box and follow instructions completely.
  • Part hair into four sections, securing with non-metal clips.
  • Start at the top of the head, applying the color mixture evenly to the first section, starting at the roots. Repeat for other sections.
  • The applicator is pointed, which helps for coloring the back, where there is limited visibility. Make vertical parts in the back with the applicator and squeeze the color along the part, continuing until the entire root section has been colored.
  • Once roots are saturated, clip treated hair away from the face and neck and start timer.
  • Wipe away dye that has dripped on face, neck or in the ears. Check the floor and surrounding walls too!
  • Once the time is up, the remaining color is worked into the rest of the hair, left in for five minutes.
  • Rinse and add the conditioner provided in the box. Don’t shampoo!!

Coloring the Hair

Coloring the Hair

If hair is short to mid-length, the actual coloring of the hair is a fairly simple DIY project. Longer hair is a little more challenging, and first timers may want some assistance from a friend the first color. Initially, a strand test should be done 24 hours prior to coloring.

Before coloring, hair should be in fairly good condition and not newly washed. Day old hair has natural oils on the hair shaft that helps protect the scalp and skin from irritation, and will enable the color to set more evenly. Be prepared for some spills. Covering the floor and wearing an old blouse or smock will ensure that dye drips don't ruin anything. A towel, washcloth, hair clips and some cotton balls should be handy as well.


The first time color treatment goes fairly quickly, because the dye is worked into hair starting at the roots continuing to the ends almost like shampooing. However, touch ups require a little more work. The purpose of a touch up is to color the roots that have grown out since the last color. If the dye were added over the entire hair area for the full processing time after that initial color, the hair shaft would become stressed and brittle.