If you’ve dyed your hair with henna recently, you may be wondering how long the henna color will last. So if you’re going to dye your hair with henna and then die with other hair care products, it’s important to know how long your henna hair dye will last.
Henna is a somewhat permanent dye that retains its full color for about four weeks. After that, it slowly fades. The effects of henna hair dye should be completely gone after a two-month span, at which point reapplications will be required. Lighter dyes will fade more rapidly than dark ones.
Some high-quality henna hair products can last longer than others and provide more vibrant color that takes longer to fade. The longer you leave henna in your hair, the darker you start using it, which in turn means the henna hair dye will completely disappear from your hair.
Compared to using chemical hair dyes, applying henna can be messier, time consuming, and troublesome. Dyeing your hair with henna will not be easy, as henna hair dye is very resistant. If you choose a shade of henna that is close to your natural hair color, it will add texture and shine without changing the color too much.
Henna Stains Persist for a Long While
Once you’ve dyed your hair with henna, it’s hard to change anything. Once you’ve dyed your hair with henna, removing the dye will be very difficult, if not impossible. However, it is not worth dyeing more often, since henna stays on the hair for a very long time.
Use cold water when washing your hair to close the cuticles and preserve the henna color. With each wash, you naturally remove some of the henna dye, and its brightness and color on your hair begins to fade. Even after the color has faded, you may have to wait for the henna-treated hair to fully grow out before using chemical dye on it.
The reason you can’t dye henna with a chemical dye is because the henna coats the outside of the hair shaft, affecting the penetration of the chemical dye.
This happens when the Lawson molecules in henna stick to the hair strands, creating a color sheath that changes the hair’s porosity. The more often henna is applied, the thicker the layer of Lawson molecules will be on the strands of hair. The longer you leave the henna paste on your hair, the more Lawsone molecules will migrate into the keratin, creating rich and rich color.
How Henna Hair Dye Is Applied
Instead of applying harsh chemicals to the hair like traditional box or salon dyes, henna is applied to the hair follicles, creating a finished look that combines natural hair color and henna dye. If you want more natural shades like black, brown, red or orange, your best bet is to dye your hair with 100% natural henna. If you’re so confident about coloring your hair in natural earth tones, henna is the way to go. If you use or plan to use 100% natural henna on your hair, the answer to the question is no: the color will not fade.
You can’t expect your hair to return to its natural color after a few washes, especially if you’re using natural henna products. Don’t worry about letting your mane heal, as henna usually doesn’t contain the chemicals your mane needs to heal. If you’ve used henna on your hair, be sure to let your colorist know, and always do a patch test and strand test to determine how the dye interacts with your body. Before you start, it’s important to let the stylist know you’ve got your hair done so it’s ready.
Before you dye your hair with henna for the first time, there are a couple of important things you need to know. In the strange and wonderful ways of the universe, my experience gives me the right to tell you today about what mistakes you should not make when trying to dye your hair with henna.
Henna Is a Natural Alternative to Modern Hair Products
If you’re looking for an alternative to chemical-laden hair dyes (in fact, I just read on Cancer.gov that over 5,000 chemicals are used to make hair dyes…ugh) – or if you just want your hair were shiny and resilient. – stop and look at the henna for a long time. If your problem is that your hair has turned green like a frog, the henna has reacted with chemicals left in your hair from the last time you dyed your hair with chemical dye, in which case, read on.
This means that the durability of henna hair dye depends a lot on how you treat your hair or protect it from things that can damage its color and vibrancy. The frequency of application depends on the growth rate of the hair, especially if henna is used to cover gray hair. How long it takes to dye henna also depends on the strength of the mixture and how it is prepared.
Tips on Interacting with Henna Stains
Usually, henna stains last until strands fall out or hair grows back. Most henna dyes can take a long time to fade completely, and as your hair grows, wash your hair every day. Sulfate-free shampoos and shampoos that are specifically designed to hold dyed hair color often take longer to wash the henna from your hair. Some henna dyes last much longer than others, and the length of time may depend on your hair care regimen and hair type.
Do not wash your hair for 24 hours after a henna treatment for best results. I highly recommend applying henna to your hair in the bathroom, ideally standing under a dry shower so you can wash off the dirt when you’re done.
If you leave the henna mixture on your hair for too long, it can dry out your scalp and hair, causing irritation. This is very similar to the result of many traditional hair dyes, but unlike the more common dyes, henna can be applied over top to enhance tone and brightness. In addition to the simple benefits of color, henna strengthens, nourishes and softens your hair to make it look healthier.
