5 Best Ways to Prepare Henna for Different Hair Concerns

It has long been believed that natural ingredients are a boon for enhancing beauty. For instance, using henna is a fun and easy way of giving your scalp and hair a boost of freshness.

Some cosmetic products can damage the hair. However, henna, also known as mehendi, has been used by women for a long time to dye their hair and decorate different body parts (nails, hands, and feet). (1)

For more than 9,000 years, henna has been used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. (2)

Henna pacifies pitta (responsible for metabolic activity) and kapha (responsible for lubrication, structure, and strength) and balances vata (accountable for mobility). (3)

Hair coloring with henna is a widespread practice in India. (4) Other issues treated with henna are dandruff, hair fall, and damaged hair. Henna can also make your hair darker and more conditioned.

Continue reading to learn how to prepare henna hair masks to target different hair-related concerns.

Best Ways to Prepare Henna for Hair

Mixing henna with other ingredients is an easy and convenient way of preparing a DIY hair mask. You can mix henna powder with water or other ingredients (such as coconut oil, amla powder, neem, hibiscus, camphor, and fenugreek seeds) for added benefits, and the mixture is ready to apply.

Here are some ways you can prepare a henna mask for your hair.

1. Pure henna powder for hair conditioning

Henna leaves can be ground to fine powder and mixed with water to create a paste. Applying this paste to your hair conditions and colors it. (5)

2. Henna and amla powder hair mask for hair growth

Henna balances the scalp pH and prevents the graying of hair, preventing premature hair fall (6) and boosting hair growth.

The rich content of minerals (like iron, phosphorus, calcium, and amino acids) and tannins in amla makes it an excellent addition to henna powder. Moreover, amla’s fruit extract and its antioxidant and antibacterial properties reduce hair loss, promote hair growth, and add healthy shine and luster to the hair. (6)

Coconut oil is the best natural ingredient for the hair. It adds shine to hair and induces healthy growth. (7) 

Applying a henna and amla powder hair mask reduces hair fall and boosts hair growth.

How to use:

1. Mix 2 tbsp of amla powder, 1/2 cup of henna powder, and 1/2 cup of warm water in a bowl to get a smooth, thick paste with a spreadable consistency.
2. Pat coconut oil on your hairline, neck, and ears to prevent the color from sticking to your skin.
3. Wear gloves, and apply the mixture to your hair from roots to tips using your fingers or an applicator brush.
4. Cover your head with a shower cap for a couple of hours.
5. Wash off the henna using shampoo. Skip conditioning.
6. Let your hair air-dry.  

3. Henna and fenugreek seed hair mask for combating dandruff

Henna is traditionally used to fight dandruff. (8) Meanwhile, fenugreek seeds have antidandruff properties, (9) enhancing the role of henna in the fight against dandruff.

Mustard oil has antimicrobial properties and prevents damage against UV rays. (10) 

Applying a henna and fenugreek seed hair mask fights dandruff (hair flakes).

How to use:

1. Heat 250 ml of mustard oil in a pan. Switch off the heat when it gets to a smoking point.
2. Add 1 tbsp of fenugreek seeds and two handfuls of fresh henna leaves after the oil has cooled down.
3. Leave it overnight, allowing the oil to change its color.
4. Filter it the next day into an air-tight jar.
5. Massage this oil on your scalp and hair, and leave it on for an hour.
6. Shampoo your hair.

4. Henna and hibiscus hair mask for darker shine

Henna leaves contain lawsone, which gives a red-orange pigment to your hair. (11) Hibiscus delays hair graying and enhances hair shine. (3) 

How to use:

1. Blend a handful of henna leaves, hibiscus leaves, and petals into a smooth paste.
2. Squeeze half or one whole lemon into this paste. (Lemon pacifies any vata dosha.)
3. Apply the mixture to your hair strands from roots to tips, and let it sit for an hour.
4. Wash it off with cold water, and then give your hair an herbal bath.
5. Repeat the process 1-3 times monthly. (3) 

5. Henna and neem hair mask for eliminating head lice

Henna has been used traditionally to fight lice. (8) Neem seeds and seed oil contain bitter limonoids, such as nimbibin, nimbin, and salanin. Many commercial shampoos contain neem oil to fight lice, fleas, and ticks on the hair. (12)

An effective hair loss treatment is camphorcan. It is mixed with mustard, coconut, or any skin-friendly oils and massaged over the scalp to treat itchy scalp, head lice, and dandruff. (13)

How to use:

1. Mix 2 tbsp of henna with 1 tbsp of neem seed powder.
2. Add 2 tbsp of coconut oil and 2 crushed camphor cubes.
3. Mix all these ingredients well.
4. Apply the mixture evenly to your hair and scalp, put your hair in a bun, and cover it with a shower cap or towel.
5. Let it sit on your hair overnight.
6. Wash it off with a mild, herbal shampoo thoroughly the following day.

Additional Tips That Work Best for Your Hair

Try these tips when using henna on your hair:

• Apply henna on damp hair to help it spread more quickly.
• Sugar makes henna paste smoother.
• Oil your hair if you want to avoid damping it with water before applying henna. It will give your scalp and hair a much-needed moisture boost. It also prevents the paste from dripping. Coconut oil, camellia oil, olive oil, and argan oil are some hair oils you can use.
• Use fresh henna powder such as Yemeni henna if you want a rich-red hair color. The color gets more profound after 2–3 applications.
• Wash out henna or any other herbal treatment thoroughly, as any leftovers can make your scalp gritty and itchy. Use your conditioner in this process.
• Be open minded and creative. You can improvise the recipe based on your hair needs and keep it simple. Experiment with different ingredients.

Note: People allergic to henna must stay away from it. (1) Moreover, G6PD-deficient people must not use henna. (1) G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency is an inherited disorder where an individual doesn’t have an adequate amount of enzyme called G6PD. G6PD helps in the operation of red blood cells. (14) Topical application of henna in children with G6PD deficiency can lead to life-threatening hemolysis. (15) 

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Final Word

Pure henna has numerous hair benefits. Along with giving your hair a salon-like makeover, it promotes healthy hair growth.

Its growing popularity has led to the production of many cheap and adulterated versions with chemicals promising long-lasting, darker colors that could harm the hair.

Choose your henna cautiously, and use the one that suits your hair type.