Neutral henna (or cassia obovata) is useful against dry and frizzy hair, strengthening it and repairing damaged ends. It is used to prepare to regenerate packs alone or combined with other ingredients. Here are its benefits: how to prepare and apply it correctly. Neutral henna is a commercially common name to indicate the powder derived from the drying and grinding of Cassia Obovata.
The name of neutral henna indicates precisely the Cassia powder, which is why both terms are indicated on most of the products on the market: they are, in any case, the same composition. But why is neutral henna so beneficial for hair? What are its properties? This product, widely used in Eastern countries for its reinforcing characteristics, is a real elixir for all hair types, especially dry, thin and brittle bones.
Furthermore, its effectiveness also acts on growth; the constant use of neutral henna (alone or associated with other Ayurvedic herbs), as we will see, helps to make hair grow faster and, above all, to make it grow healthy and robust. But that’s not all: cassia obovata is also excellent for fighting dandruff and absorbing excess sebum in case of oily hair. But let’s see the properties of neutral henna in detail, how to prepare it correctly and how to use it by associating it with other ingredients.
Neutral Henna: Why Is It Good For Hair?
Before seeing the properties of neutral henna, it is necessary to specify its dyeing effects on the hair. The name henna could deceive and make you think of a coloring product. It is not so. Neutral henna has no dyeing power and can be used on any hair, light or dark. Those with very light hair (natural and undyed) will notice a slight change in the reflections that will go to the golden one but only if it is allowed to oxidize for 12 hours with lemon or yogurt. On dark hair, on the other hand, it has no dyeing effect. Here then are the main benefits of this plant:
- It gives volume to thin and flat hair
- Strengthens the hair
- It has polishing properties
- It makes the hair soft and silky
- Fights frizz
- Cures tips damaged by hair dryers and chemical treatments
- Strengthens thin hair
- Calms scalp irritations
- It has anti-dandruff action
- Regulates excess sebum
As seen, neutral henna is a product with a thousand benefits for the hair, especially when it is thin and fragile or damaged by chemical dyes and the excessive use of plates and hairdryers at high temperatures. Even those who want to accelerate hair growth can find benefits in the use of cassia, especially if you associate its use with that natural reinforcing product such as castor oil or amla powder, as we will see in the recipes below.
Neutral Henna: How To Prepare It Correctly
The preparation and application of neutral henna are within everyone’s reach and do not require any special tools other than a large bowl, hot water, and a spoon (wooden or steel) to mix. To the basic pack, made with hot water and cassia only, other herbs or ingredients such as sugar (to increase the moisturizing effect) or essential oils can be added depending on the hair type. The amount of neutral henna depends on the length of the hair. Long hair to the back can take up to 80 grams of powder.
- Mix the neutral henna with a sufficient amount of heat (not hot!) Water until you get a nice spreadable paste.
- Distribute it on the hair, taking small locks, starting from the root and covering all the lengths; it is unnecessary to use gloves as it does not dye.
- Wrap the hair in cling film and possibly cover it with a wool hat to keep the head warm.
- Leave on for a couple of hours and rinse with water only. This treatment must be done when the hair is already clean, then post shampoo and repeated even once a week.
How To Use Neutral Henna In Hair Packs
Cassia can be a basic ingredient to create many hair packs to stimulate growth, volumize them and make them thicker and stronger. Let’s see some recipes and other ingredients we can add to the neutral henna pack.
Coloring Pack
Although neutral henna itself does not color, it can be combined with coloring packs based on red henna, indigo, katam, or other dyeing herbs to dilute the shades and prevent the mixture from coloring the hair too much. In this case, add a few tablespoons to the coloring mix according to the desired effect. However, we do not recommend using oils or butter in this case, as they make the dyeing effect disappear even more. The processing times, in this case, are longer (even 4-5 hours if not more) to allow the dyeing herbs to bind to the hair.
Ayurvedic Herbal Pack
Ad hoc packs can be created by associating them with other Ayurvedic herbs with different effects to increase the benefits of neutral henna on the hair. If you want to increase the strengthening capacity, combine it with amla, fenugreek (methi), bhringaraj, or Brahmi. Mix it with neem or kalpi tone powder to treat dandruff and irritation problems.
Neutral Henna: How To Increase The Benefits
In making the wraps based on neutral henna, we can indulge our imagination and add many beneficial ingredients for the hair, depending on the type. Among the most recommended products are:
Yogurt
It is a moisturizing ingredient added to the pack to obtain soft and disciplined hair. It is to be avoided if you suffer from dandruff because it worsens the conditions.
Honey Or Sugar
These are also two ingredients that moisturize the hair, leaving it silky and easier to comb. A spoonful combined with the mixture is enough.
Essential Oils
These are very useful in treating scalp problems but should be used with caution as they can irritate. In the case of oily hair, a few drops of essential oil of rosemary, lemon, or tea tree oil can be mixed with neutral henna.
Damask Rose Powder
This highly fragrant powder is used to make the hair softer and give a pleasant scent to the pack since the smell of neutral henna may not even please. Let’s just add a few teaspoons.
Lemon
It is especially useful in the case of light hair because, combined with neutral henna, it accentuates the reflections and lightens them slightly. For this use, it must be oxidized for 12 hours before application.
Rosemary Infusion
Excellent in the case of oily hair and dandruff. The rosemary infusion is also indicated to stimulate growth and darken the hair even if the effect is very mild and should be used consistently.
Black Tea
It is Another ingredient used for dark hair as it accentuates the highlights. It is added to neutral henna along with water or in its place and is not recommended on light hair.
Egg
Restructuring and softening, the egg is great for giving a new life to dry and dull hair as it makes it more shiny, silky, and easier to detangle.
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