Henna became a star in the quest to hide gray hair as early as 3400 B.C., according to Minnesota State University. Paintings from Egypt's 18th Dynasty depict Queen Hunutmehet with red hair, which historians believe was the result of a natural henna dye job. Henna is a plant dye that darkens your gray hair without damaging the hair that has not lost its natural color. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that it is safe to use henna to dye your hair, but strongly discourages using it on your eyelashes and eyebrows.
Identification
Henna dye comes from Lawsonia inermis, a perennial plant native to parts of Africa, Australia and Asia. Purdue University states that Asians used it to dye nails, hair and skin since the beginning of recorded history. The plant spread beyond its natural habitat and now grows in tropical areas throughout the world, including the Americas.
Features
Plant Cultures, a project of the British Royal Botanic Garden, notes that the leaves of the henna plant contain a 1 percent concentration of lawsone. This is the main chemical that gives henna its dye properties. Lawsone bonds with the keratin protein in hair to add color to the hair shaft.
The natural dye from ground leaves of the lawsonia plant is normally orange, brown or red. Organic henna dye producers add indigo---a natural plant dye---to produce black henna. Mixing henna with other plant products, including coffee, tea, the nut of the betel palm and lemon juice, produces additional colors.
Benefits
Henna thickens and softens your hair, according to folklore that dates to Cleopatra's time. Carefair notes that henna coats the cuticle of your hair and seals in moisture. It covers gray without altering the protein structure of your hair.
You do not have to wait long for henna to fade if you decide you prefer having gray hair. Since it is semi-permanent: The color lasts through only six to eight shampoos.
Considerations
Some commercial producers mix natural henna with p-phenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical dye, according to Plant Cultures. These henna dyes often cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Buy certified organic henna dyes that contain only plant materials to minimize reactions.
Applications
Alive recommends that you do an allergy patch test by applying prepared henna paste to your skin before using it on your hair. You can customize your henna dye to fit your hair type. For dry hair, mix the henna paste with an egg or olive oil. Add coffee or rosemary tea to intensify the final color. If your hair is dye-resistant, Alive suggests combining your prepared henna with apple cider vinegar.
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