Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.)

Lawsonia (Lawsonia) non-thorny (Lawsonia inermis L.) is a fairly tall shrub about 2 meters high that grows in hot and dry climates. At night it emits a specific smell. Distributed in many countries of North Africa and the Middle East. Mainly grown in India, Sudan and Egypt.

Henna is a natural dye that is obtained from the leaves of the cinchona bush Lawsonia inermis L.

Hair coloring

It gives the hair a rich copper color and a beautiful shine, making the hair harder, thicker and more voluminous.

Henna is a natural dye obtained from the leaves of the cinchona bush, lawsonia inermis. Henna leaves are collected, dried and ground into powder. Powder from the leaves is used to treat wounds, ulcers, eczema, tumors, burns, abdominal and throat pain, obesity, women's diseases, fungal infections and many other diseases.

If you don’t want to dye your hair, but want to make it healthier and give it shine, then you can simply wash your hair with a weak henna solution: 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of boiling water. Brew the mixture, cool slightly and strain, and then rinse your hair. In the same way, you can refresh an old henna color if the shine of your hair has disappeared and the tone has become insufficiently bright.

Henna is one of the oldest cosmetics used to color hair, arms and legs, nails and feet. This is an absolutely safe dye that is harmless even for small children.

This plant culture contains many essential oils and tannins, so its effect on hair is not only harmless, but also extremely beneficial: henna strengthens and heals hair, strengthens and heals hair roots damaged by chemical dyes and simply from improper care, and gives them highly visible shine. Moreover, henna protects hair from the harmful effects of the sun, stops hair loss, and helps eliminate dandruff.

Fresh henna in powder has a gray-green color, but after some time when exposed to air it turns brown and loses its coloring ability, so it must be stored carefully packaged in a cool, dry place, preferably in the refrigerator. In this case, henna can retain all its qualities for several years! Henna contains a special acid that binds collagen in skin cells and keratin in hair and colors them reddish.

Henna in combination with other plant dyes covers gray hair well. At the same time, henna retains its color on the hair for one to one and a half months.

Body painting

Mehndi (khndi मेहँदी, Urdu مہندی, also mehendi) - painting on the body with henna. Unlike a tattoo, it is a temporary decoration of the body, but lasts much longer (up to three weeks) than paint or other methods of drawing on the body. Most common in Arab countries, India, North Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Mehndi originated about 5,000 years ago. Even in Ancient Egypt, noble ladies decorated their bodies and nails with designs. In the 12th century, it gained a foothold in India, becoming more than just a decoration. For example, many Arab women believe that mehndi brings happiness and protects against bad luck. So, during the wedding, the bride is painted with a design, and the remaining henna is buried in the ground to protect the marriage and avoid the husband’s infidelity.