Henna can possibly be considered the most natural of all hair dyes. It’s a great alternative if you want to dye your hair, but avoid the extra copper and the dangerous chemicals found in many of the permanent dyes. Henna is made from the Lawsonia shrub grown in desert areas. Its leaves are dried and powdered to make the dye. It has been used for thousands of years to dye the hair and more recently has been developed to include more of the darker colors than just the reddish hues.
The downside of henna is that users need to be aware that previous perms or coloring can make the henna color react in unpredictable ways. The hair should not be processed with other coloring or perms in order to achieve the best color. Henna is not considered a permanent hair color, meaning it will not last through several months like some dyes. It is usually labeled to last through so many washes.
Valley Naturals carries the Natural Henna Hair Color by Surya Brasil. It comes in eleven colors, and I thought it was an outstanding product when I tried it. It’s made of all sorts of rare herbs and fruits from Brazil and India, and yes, henna. There’s no peroxide, ammonia or heavy metals like so many hair dyes contain. The color looked very natural and did not dry out my hair. It even came with a conditioner that could be used after dying process. Of course, this product is not labeled as permanent color, but it lasted longer than I expected. If a person doesn't wash their hair daily, it will last even longer. It lasted about two and a half to three weeks for me, and I wash my hair about every other day.
The upside is that its ingredients are so safe, you can use it often! The ingredient list reads like something you could eat - fruit and plant extracts. Even the colors they use are not the typical ones that have been listed as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization. The toxic colors start with an “F.” These colors do not. Just remember, since the main ingredient is henna, the hair will have more reddish overtones than gold overtones.
If you want a safe, conditioning hair color that you can use often and look great, I would recommend Natural Henna Hair Color by Surya Brasil. Ellen
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