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Did You Know These Harmful Chemicals Are Present In Henna?
Who doesn't like naturally shiny, smooth and lovely hair, that is devoid of any infection? Nowadays, when the market is full of artificial or chemical-based products for hair, any nature-based treatment is always welcome.
One of the plant-based products, as you may be aware, which has been used over centuries for naturally beautiful hair is - Henna, or as it is commonly called in India - Mehendi. It is a medium-sized shrub and may have multiple branches as well as fragrant flowers.
Historically, its leaves as well as flowers have been known to be used in the Indian subcontinent, Arabian peninsula, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, etc., owing to the multiple benefits they offer.
A point worth noting here is that we are referring to the natural form of henna with its many advantages.
Apart from beautifying the hair by adding a temporary colour to it, enhancing the hair health by conditioning it and also reducing hair loss to a great extent, henna is used for a variety of other purposes.
Some of the examples are mentioned below:
1.
Reduction
in
brittleness
of
nails.
2.
Treatment
of
skin
ailments
such
as
boils,
burns,
bruises,
leprosy
or
even
swelling
caused
by
inflammation,
prickly
heat,
etc.
3.
To
cure
burning
feet
sensation.
4.
Treating
headaches,
arthritis-related
pain,
etc.
5.
Treatment
of
dysentery,
liver-related
disorders
such
as
jaundice,
enlargement
of
the
liver,
etc.
Common Usage Of Henna:
•
As
a
natural
hair
dye:
To
colour
hair,
and
mostly
grey
hair,
black
henna
is
one
of
the
most
commonly
used
hair
dyes.
•
For
body
art:
Decorative
designs
are
created
on
a
person's
palm
or
any
other
part
of
the
body,
using
the
paste
of
henna
leaves.
In
India,
people,
especially
women,
use
henna
to
decorate
their
palms
during
festivals,
functions,
etc.
•
For
skin
care:
Henna-based
oil
is
useful
as
an
anti-ageing
product.
Also,
it
is
used
for
its
anti-bacterial
and
anti-fungal
properties
to
protect
the
skin
from
wounds,
scars,
infections,
etc.
•
As
a
temporary
tattoo:
Instead
of
permanently
marking
the
skin,
the
temporary
tattoos
using
henna
stay
on
the
skin
on
a
temporary
basis.
•
As
a
hair
conditioner
or
shampoo:
The
soothing
and
cleansing
properties
of
henna
make
it
a
wonderful
conditioner
as
well
as
shampoo
for
the
hair.
•
As
a
hair
tonic:
A
henna-based
hair
tonic
is
extremely
beneficial
for
the
hair
and
scalp
both,
since
it
keeps
the
dandruff
away,
cures
dry
scalp
off
any
infections,
treats
damaged
hair,
prevents
greying
of
hair,
and
encourages
natural
shine
and
softness
of
hair.
•
In
the
hair
oil
form:
The
essential
oil
prepared
with
henna
powder
helps
nourish
the
scalp
and
enhance
hair
growth.
Frequent
usage
of
this
henna-based
hair
oil
is
a
wonderful
remedy
for
loss
of
hair.
Is Henna Harmful?
The answer to this question is - Yes and No. Confused? Well, it is absolutely safe, only if it is used in its natural or pure form. It nourishes your hair by conditioning it and helps protect it from the harsh sun rays.
Now, how about the artificial henna from the market? Does it offer the similar kind of benefits? Well, not really! The presence of certain chemicals in it can cause gradual and permanent damage to the hair, skin or any area where it may be applied or used.
Let us first know more about these chemical ingredients in henna along with the adverse side effects that they cause.
Henna comprises a dye molecule called lawsone, i.e., 2-hydroxy-1 and 4-naphthoquinone in chemical terms. The presence of this dye molecule makes the henna a popular choice for dyeing the skin, nails, etc., and also for garments such as leather, wool and silk.
PPD, or para-phenylenediamine, is the chemical in henna that causes it to last longer and also dry quicker. Its chemical formula is C6H8N2.
For example, black henna, which is used to provide a dark black tint to the hair, especially grey hair, contains the PPD. Also, for dyeing of textiles or fur, dark-coloured cosmetics, temporary tattoos, etc., PPD is used extensively.
Harmful effects Of PPD In Henna Are Related To:
•
Skin:
PPD
can
lead
to
peeling
off
of
the
skin,
various
allergic
reactions
such
as
blisters,
rashes,
eczema,
inflammation,
itchiness,
redness,
etc.
•
Eyes:
The
usage
of
PPD-rich
henna
may
cause
adverse
effects
to
the
eyes
such
as
irritation,
swelling,
wateriness,
etc.
•
Mouth:
Swelling
of
tongue,
mouth,
throat,
etc.,
leading
to
difficulty
in
swallowing
or
even
breathing
can
be
another
negative
effect
of
PPD.
•
Stomach:
Exposure
to
PPD
may
result
in
stomach-ache,
nausea,
vomiting,
gastritis,
etc.
Apart
from
the
aforesaid,
certain
people
could
experience
miscellaneous
effects
such
as
trembling,
vertigo,
seizures,
lightheadedness,
wheezing,
etc.,
on
consistent
usage
of
artificial
henna
comprising
of
PPD.
How Can You Avoid These Harmful Effects?
It's simple! In case of a permanent or temporary hair dye, especially do a patch test to see how it affects your skin or hair. It means, simply dab a small amount of the dye on your elbow or behind your ear, and wait for upto 48 hours to check on any sort of allergic reactions. If you feel any allergic reaction after 48 hours, then simply don't use the product!
Additional Precautions To Be Taken
If
your
skin
doesn't
adversely
react
to
the
patch
test,
and
you
go
ahead
with
using
the
product,
then
be
sure
to
follow
the
instructions
included
in
the
product
packet.
For
example:
•
Use
gloves
while
applying
the
product
•
Do
not
leave
the
product
on
your
skin
or
hair
for
longer
than
what
is
the
recommended
duration.
•
Thoroughly
rinse
your
hair
or
skin
afterwards.
All these would help you avoid any harmful effects that could be caused by the wrong method of application of the product.
Always remember
If you are one of those who prefers using natural henna on your skin or hair, then you can be assured of only the advantages, devoid of any short-term or long-term problems. For instance, a natural mix or paste prepared by the leaves of henna and water, regularly applied on your hair can yield wonderful benefits by colouring, smoothening, cleansing and conditioning of the hair.
Using artificial, chemical-based henna products should be avoided at any cost. In case of any allergic reactions or ailments, as mentioned earlier, immediate medical intervention should be sought to cure them!
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