Truly Natural
Morrocco Method hair care and healthy lifestyles

Educational Article:
 100% Natural Plant Henna vs. Hair Color to Dye For

To debunk any myths, perhaps the best way to define henna is with three simple words that describe the results it yields — sheen, body, highlights.

Henna is, in many ways, the ideal colorant. Chemically-based dyes often cause split ends and lifeless hair; henna coats. Rather than permeating the hair, henna coats the hair shaft, preventing brittleness and breakage. And, because it coats, it wears off gradually over a period of approximately 8-12 weeks, eliminating the dark-root problem you must contend with when using chemical tints.

Henna highlights and brightens, it gives hair body, texture and bounce; it makes hair more manageable, it neutralizes excessive oiliness, and it can be used to enhance the beauty of any type of hair -- virgin, tinted, bleached or streaked. It actually helps counteract the damaging effects of chemicals on your hair. Plus, it can be used over and over; each time you re-henna, you will be rewarded with richer color, more body and more sheen.

The beauty of henna is that it effortlessly and immediately gives a lift to any shade of hair — from black to platinum blonde and gray. In fact, just about the only thing henna cannot do is transform a brunette into a blonde (henna brightens but it does not lighten). But when henna makes you fall in love with your hair color again, a dramatic two-process change may be the furthest thing from your mind.

Henna has progressed through the ages as one of the most effective, most beautiful and safest colorants for hair. With a reputation that has gone unmarred for thousands of years, why has henna fallen prey to and been cannibalized by 'cutting edge chemical processes? The answer lies in the technology-driven society we live in and the professional beauty industry, where we instinctively abandon proven, reliable products in favor of using synthetic formulas. However, in the wake of the naturalist movement, henna, sustained 100% by nature, is reinventing itself for the next century and is expected to evolve into one of the most important popular salon services.

Since the dawn of civilization, women have used henna to make themselves more beautiful. Cleopatra and the ladies of her court relied on it as a highlighter, a colorant, a healing conditioner and a beautifying treatment. It is even mentioned in the Bible's Song of Songs, where Solomon sings of "a cluster of henna in the vineyards of En Gedi."

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Made from the leaves , roots and stems of the Lawsonia plant, henna works its magic without damaging, without drying and without chemically altering the structure of the hair. Its appeal is manifold and has extended way beyond the young and rapidly anti-chemical and environmentally-conscious populous.

A popular misconception is that henna means bright red. Actually, today's 100% natural henna consists of three basic shades: red, black and colorless (natural). It is the combination of these three shades that creates the dazzling array of henna color-enhancers now available.

Each shade will look slightly different on each individual; henna works subtly, bringing out the best in one's natural hair color. Of course, for the adventurous, each color can be mixed with others to create new shades. For example, a blend of two parts red and one part burgundy will result in a plum shade.

Henna can be used not only with only single processes but two-step processes that yield exceptional results for gray hair.

Although much less high-maintenance than chemical processes, hair must be property prepared to receive the benefits of henna. The following guidelines will help to ensure the best results:

Pre-Condition If hair is bleached or unusually dry, using Euro Organic Oil before you add color will enable your hair to get the maximum benefit -- maximum body -- from henna. And because henna coats the hair, it will lock in the moisture of your conditioner.

Make Sure Hair Is Dry Henna is most effectively applied to dry hair. If hair needs washing, shampoo and dry before applying henna.

Timing is Key The longer you leave henna on hair, the more intense and dramatic the final shade will be. The shorter you leave it on, the lighter the result will be and the more your natural hair color will shine through. For dark hair, leave it on longer. For light hair, leave it on shorter.
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