Henna is Great But…

Last updated on September 7th, 2024 at 12:20 am

henna on fine natural hair

Does using henna intimidate you even though you’ve heard great things? I can relate. That’s why I’m here to offer you an alternative to henna. But before I do, let’s examine the reasons why you may be on the fence.

Maybe you’re afraid to use it because you think it will mimic a protein treatment and cause and overload in your hair OR

Maybe you had a bad experience with henna because someone (or maybe you) didn’t apply it properly to your hair OR

You don’t want the color stain that henna will deposit into your hair (especially if your hair is naturally a lighter color) OR

You want to try henna but you’ve heard it can damage your hair.

Whatever your reason for not using henna regularly in your hair care regimen, one thing that you should know is henna is still great.

Now, that’s not said to influence you toward using henna in any way. In fact, I have an alternative for you to try so that you can still achieve the strengthening effects of henna in a gentler way that doesn’t deposit any color.

Cassia is its name. Cassia Obovata.

cassia for hair
Image credit: SaraHenna (can be purchased at https://www.sarahenna.com

Cassia Obovata (from this point, just Cassia) is also known as “neutral henna.” However, it isn’t actually henna at all.

Like Henna, Cassia is a natural herb that when applied to your hair will increase it’s tensile strength and will make it appear healthier and thicker – even after the first use.

Why Cassia is a Good Alternative to Henna

Cassia is a bit gentler than Henna. Use of Cassia does not cause cumulative benefits like with Henna so it doesn’t temporarily loosen your curl pattern.

Cassia is also a lot easier to prepare since you don’t have to wait for the “dye” (lawsone content) to release before use. Yet, do not be mistaken. Just like Henna, Cassia has a number of benefits for your hair:

  • Fills in gaps along the hair shaft, thereby strengthening the strand
  • Adds shine
  • Balances a dry itchy scalp
  • Makes the hair feel thicker
cassia strengthened hair
After Cassia Hair Gloss

How to Use Cassia in Your Hair

Just like with Henna, you can create a paste by combining Cassia powder with warm water and applying it directly to your hair. That’s a simplified method.

However, it’s even better to use Cassia with your deep conditioner of choice to create a gloss. This way you get the benefits of cassia along with the benefits of your deep conditioner.

By applying 1-2 tablespoons to the amount of deep conditioner you intend to apply to your hair, you’ll create a super deep conditioner.

For an even more powerful treatment using Cassia, combine it with the warm water plus:

  • Lavender and or Rosemary Essential oil
  • a teaspoon of olive oil or coconut oil
  • 1/2 Aloe Vera juice in place of 1/2 water

Cassia Obovata is such a great alternative to henna but that’s not to say you should give henna the cold shoulder. It’s still great. Yet, if you’re a newbie you may want to start with Cassia.

You can read up more on the differences between Cassia and Henna here.

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2 Comments

  1. Hi Michelle, do you have a YouTube channel, and if so, would you kindly provide me with the name. I would like to follow you, but I am not big on using Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. I just stumbled upon your channel today, and liked what I read in your blog. I also have fine, thin, curly hair with terrible shrinkage, and I have been natural for years, but of the shrinkage, my hair just wants to curl up into a curly afro all the time. I am interested in trying out the Cassia, and that’s what lead me to your channel. I am trying to see if I can get my hair to start growing and thickening up again. If you don’t have a channel, I hope your blog is still active because I feel like you have some valuable information to share that pertains to my hair type. I hope to hear from you soon.
    JT

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