If you are passionate about henna and have been doing it on your hair for some time now.
You may have gone from a warm color to a darker , cooler color - due to layering - that you may not like, or you simply mixed it hoping for a color and it didn't come out the color you wanted !
So what to do? The henna must be discharged more quickly by depigmenting and destratifying !
How it works
The shaft of our hair is protected by a thin layer of cells, the cuticle , which protects it from external aggressions and stress.
When you use a chemical dye on your hair, it works mainly thanks to two main ingredients, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which make the hair swell by opening its cuticles and depriving it of its original color, destroying the melanin inside it to "replace" it with new colored molecules that will be in all respects the result of the chosen dye.
Hair coloring with henna, on the other hand, has a different process: lawsonia is deposited on the hair.
The color slowly migrates inside the cortex of the hair, where it binds with the keratin naturally contained within it.
Henna continues to oxidize for approximately 3 days after treatment and during this time the color will change slightly before settling permanently.
As the treatments continue, the hair will become thicker, stronger and more voluminous, but with many applications you will experience a process of color stratification , which will make the hair turn darker.
To maintain lighter and brighter tones, we recommend alternating henna dyeing with highlighting treatments such as sherazade ; apply pure henna only on the roots to cover regrowth and treat the lengths only every two months. Another method is to use a different mix for the lengths, with a high percentage of cassia to dampen the dyeing power of the henna.
If you want to remove henna by destratifying, then continue reading!
Methods for destratifying and discharging color
The more layered and dark the henna color is, the longer it will take. With these natural methods, the hair will gradually and delicately release the color, depigmenting the lawsonia!
1. Pack with vegetable oils and butters to lighten henna
Get some shea butter , coconut oil , or other plant-based oils or butters.
Apply generously to damp hair, cover with a cap or towel and leave on for at least an hour!
Rinse and shampoo gently.
2. Methi Hair Mask to Destratify Henna
A slightly destratifying mask is prepared with:
- 125 ml coconut milk
- methi powder
Add the powder to the coconut milk, mixing until it has the consistency of yogurt.
Apply it on scalp and hair and leave it on for at least 60 minutes.
Rinse and shampoo gently.
3. Acidified Cassia Compress to Discharge Henna
You will need:
- 100 grams of cassia
- juice of half a lemon
- warm water
Combine the cassia , lemon and warm water until you have a yogurt-like batter.
Let it rest overnight, say between eight and twelve hours.
Now apply to the hair you want to depigment, all over or just the lengths, for 45-60 minutes.
Rinse and shampoo.
4. Henna depigmentation and lightening process with BurroBirra
Here's what you'll need, the doses indicated are for long hair
- 1 33cl light beer
- 1 generous knob of shea butter
- juice of half a lemon
Boil the beer to evaporate the alcohol that would damage the hair, now let it cool and then put the shea butter knob in the beer and add the lemon. Mix well!
Now prepare a bowl and pour the ButterBeer on your hair, which will drip into the bowl.
Take the poured ButterBeer collected in the bowl and repeat a few times until the hair is completely soaked and the remaining liquid is red/cloudy.
Wrap in cling film and leave to rest for at least a couple of hours
Now shampoo!
Correcting reflections
If you just want to correct unwanted hair highlights , there are very simple solutions that you can put into practice, without any preparation, perfect for use on natural hair, dyed with henna or dyes.
These are the anti-reflection mousses by Yuniwa Cosmetics , specifically designed to solve this very common need for those who use henna and dyeing herbs at home.
Thanks to their mousse formula , they are easy and evenly applied and are able to deposit even more pigment on the hair, for a more intense neutralizing effect.
If you have brown or black hair and want to neutralize warm, copper and red highlights , use the Anti-Red Mousse ,
If you have white, grey or blonde hair and want to neutralise unwanted yellow and warm tones, obtaining a cool and luminous shade, use the Anti-Yellow Mousse .
If you have any doubts or questions about henna, don't miss all our answers to the henna FAQs .
If you want to continue experimenting in the world of natural hair dyes, don't miss all our guides to henna and plant-based dyes !
