Want Natural Hair, Conditioned and Radiant from Natural Hair
Dye?
Learn about the Henna Plant.
The henna plant is
larger than most of us would probably imagine. It actually grows is size from
the height of a tall shrub of 6 ½ feet to a small tree of close to 20 feet high
(2-6 m). As we note in the picture, the henna plant has numerous branches with
spiny tubes attached to delicate flowers with white or red stamens. It contains
capsules of fruit with approximately 30-50 seeds.*
Where is the henna plant grown, you ask? It's native to various regions of Africa, Southern Asia, and Northern Australasia. The highest natural dye content is produced in tropical and tropical arid zones. Like most plants, henna flourishes during rainy season. The henna plant also loves the heat. It grows in temperatures of 95˚-115˚F (35˚-45˚C). It’s cultivated various countries in Africa and the Middle East. However, the Pali district in India cultivates and produces the most henna in today’s marketplace.
Henna or Hina (Lawsonia Inermis) is
known by a variety of names: Al-Khanna, Al-henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Mehndi,
and Mendee. The lawsone, primarily concentrated in the petioles of the leaves,
cause staining or dying. However, they must be crushed in order for the lawsone
molecules contained within the leaf, to release (when mixed with a mildly
acidic liquid, such as found in lemon juice, strong tea, etc.). Once
released, the lawsone gradually bind to the outer layer of the proteins in the
skin or hair, thus staining or dying it.
A Word about "Henna Hair".
Fortunately, we don’t have to search for and crush henna ourselves. It is commonly traded as a dried powder from milling and sifting the henna leaf. As a powder, it’s also known as Mendhi and is not only used for hair dying, but natural hair conditioning as well. Traditionally, for “henna hair”, the henna mix must be soaked for 6 to 12 hours and rest on the hair for 3 to 4 hours or the lawsone in the henna won’t work. “Henna hair” is naturally a bright red-orange color and not a desired shade of hair color in modern society. Is there a natural henna alternative?
Love Your Natural Hair. Avoid "Henna Hair"!
The history of using henna to dye skin (including body art), natural hair, fingernails- even leather, silk and wool, goes back to the Bronze Age. There is an Indian court record of its use as a hair dye during the 4th century.
With such a background and history, it is no wonder that many men and women have no fear using henna for their natural hair or to transition from harmful chemical dye products. Fortunately, Lustrous Henna® is easier to apply than the traditional application method.
Lustrous Henna® all natural hair dye releases in about an hour. It’s much easier to apply, too. This is a real time-saver! Lustrous Henna® comes in many hair color shades, so no more worries about "henna hair". Users are extremely pleased with the radiant results of shimmering highlights.
A Customer Testimonial
As a performer, it is
essential that my hair always looks it best. As a woman, it is even
more important that my hair stays healthy and beautiful. I recently developed an allergy to 'traditional' chemical hair
dyes and read that fellow Middle Eastern (Belly) Dancers followed in the
footsteps of Cleopatra and treated their hair with henna. And so I did.
And I was amazed! Not only did the beautiful henna from Saba Botanical give me the color promised, it also brought my chemically treated, dried, lifeless hair back to health! No longer stiff and lifeless, my silky hair now shimmers in the light with low and highlights beaming through the rich color.
Thank you SO much for a wonderful product that makes me healthier and my hair more beautiful!
Gia al Qamar -- NJ Belly Dancer and Middle Eastern Dance Instructor
*source: "Henna: cultivation, improvement, trade", Manjit Singh.
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