Basics about the Henna Plant (Lawsonia Inermis)
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). It 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 henna 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. It 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.
The history of using henna to dye skin (including body art), 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.1
Hair Dye from the Henna Plant (Lawsonia Inermis)
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.
Thankfully, 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 hair conditioning as well. Traditionally, 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.
Modern Hair Dye Method from the Henna Plant (Lawsonia Inermis)
Unfortunately, as noted previously, henna hair dye application can be long and tedious. In modern society, many people would rather not use a pure henna hair dye application because they simply don’t have the time. However, a quicker application of henna hair dye is available and very easy to apply. Just mix, apply, and wait about an hour, rinse out and style in record time with great results. Read more about it here.
1 Sources on file.
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