Quick Ways to Add Henna to Your Hair Regimen
Last updated on November 10th, 2023 at 06:52 am
There are so many ways you can add henna to your natual hair regimen if that’s something that interests you.
In this video I share the many ways you can add henna to your natural hair regimen that go beyond just doing a straight full strength henna treatment.
For many, the very use of henna for hair can be intimidating. That doesn’t need to be the case.
Below are the many ways you can easily add henna to your hair regimen.
Henna Gloss
This is the most common and cost effective way to add henna to a hair regimen. All that’s needed to do is add 1-2 tablespoons of henna to a deep conditioner of your choice (alternatively, the henna can mixed with banana, avocado and honey). You can also add essential oils if you choose.
Henna boosts the strengthening potential of your deep conditioner. It’s best to use deep conditioners with little to no protein in them. It interacts with your hair much like a protein treatment so you don’t want to overdo it.
You’ll want to portion out into a plastic bowl the amount of conditioner you would normally use to treat your hair. Then, mix in the henna.
Allow the newly mixed henna gloss to sit for at least an hour, allowing the henna to penetrate the conditioner. Over night is optimal.
After applying, allow the gloss to sit in your hair covered with a plastic cap from 30 minutes to an hour. Apply a heat source for intense conditioning (ex: Hot Head, Thermal Wrap or dome shaped hair dryer).
Note: When first starting out, use less henna to determine your hair’s tolerance of the herb.
Henna Infused Cream or Whipped Butter
This method requires a little bit more work but it’s worth it.
You can take a moisturizing cream you love OR a hair butter like shea or mango and whip it in a blender until it’s creamy.
Should you choose to use a moisturizing cream that’s already made, bear in mind it may have other ingredients in it that may lessen the effectiveness of the henna. That is if it’s not an all natural product.
If you choose to use a single, pure butter, your henna infused butter will be much more potent.
Assuming you’re using 8 ounces of cream or butter, add 1-2 tablespoons of henna to it and blend well. Using a high quality blender or food processer is best. You want the henna completely ground into the cream.
Godrej Nupur Henna Mehndi f...Shop on Amazon
This can be used to seal the hair after moisturizing.
Henna Tea Spray/Spritz
A while back Curly Proverbz on YouTube shared how to create a spritz for your hair, containing henna and other herbs (ex: Amla, Shikakai). I recreated her recipe, tweaking it for my fine natural hair. Here’s a video sharing my Henna Tea Recipe:
Spritz on a bit of henna “tea” from daily to every other day when added moisture (and strength is desired).
Note: Follow with a leave in conditioner to prevent dryness.
Henna Infused Hair Oil
This may be one of my favorite ways to add henna to a natural hair regimen.
The oil gets stronger and more therapeutic the longer it sits with the henna infusing into it. It’s very easy to make. In a glass jar, mix up:
- 2 tablespoons of henna (or a henna blend like this one)
- 8 ounces of the oil of your choice. I recommend a mixture of coconut/grapeseed oil.
Allow the henna powder to sit at the bottom of the jar and your hair oil will continue to infuse. Use a dropper to dispense the oil and apply throughout hair and scalp.
Note: Using a dark glass jar helps to preserve the potency of the herbs but a mason jar can also be used. Just be sure to keep it in a dark place.
Henna Bars
One method of adding henna to a natural hair regimen that goes beyond full strength treatments that I didn’t mention in the video is henna bars: henna gloss bars or shampoo bars.
While henna glosses can be achieved by adding some henna to a deep conditioner, the time needed to prepare may be reduced by purchasing a henna gloss bar. Lush sells them and they are also available from various online manufacturers and suppliers, including Amazon.
Henna gloss bars are conditioning bars that have been mixed with henna to create an all in one strengthening and moisturizing treatment. It has to be melted down for use so it’s debatable if it’s faster to create. It’s very convenient though not as cost effective since one full bar is usually required to create treatment. This can vary depending on the length of your hair.
Henna shampoo bars are bit different in that they condition and strengthen the hair but also cleanse it. You may find that you need to add a moisturizing leave in conditioner after rinsing. For some, henna shampoo bars can be a bit drying to the hair.
Online Sources for Henna Bars
Henna Sooq Gloss Bar – $13
Etsy – for Gloss or Shampoo Bars – prices range
How Henna Benefits Hair
Henna is a very easy natural herb to work with. It’s very affordable and widely available. It has a number of benefits for hair:
- Reduces hair shedding
- Promotes hair growth
- Increases shine
- Has Antifungal and Antimicrobial properties so helps with itchy scalp
- Improves managability
- Adds “weight” to the hair with cumulative use, resulting in thicker strands
- Fills in gaps along the hair shaft (similar to that of a protein treatment)
- Strengthens weak strands
- Covers gray hairs (although it’s a reddish hue but usually only when a full strength treatment is applied)
Hopefully, you’ll give henna a shot in one of the ways just shared.
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This very informative blog thank you for sharing this kind of article
thank you for stopping by!
How is it for covering gray roots And which method would you recommend?
Excellent. That’s what I typically use henna for. You have to do a full strength treatment for gray coverage
Thanks Michelle! I purchased some henna a couple of months ago after being sure I wanted to use it immediately. When it arrived, I was too nervous to use it. I like the alternate ways you’ve introduced using. I’m excited to try the spritz or the oil infusion.
awww don’t be afraid. It’s very simple. You mix and put it in like you would a relaxer. Try the henna gloss. It’s the simplest way 🙂