Skin and Hair
Henna for Grey Hair and Beards: Pure Henna, Indigo Blends, and Black Henna Dangers
Is henna a good way to cover grey hair or color a beard? Henna is a dye made from the leaves of a plant. People have used it on hair for a very long time. It is popular again with people who want a plant based option instead of boxed chemical dye. Here is a fair look.
What supporters say online
Many people online say henna:
- Covers grey with a warm red or auburn tone
- Makes hair feel thicker and shinier
- Is gentler than boxed dye
- Works well on beards
- Is cheap and lasts a long time
Pure henna vs indigo blends
Pure henna only makes one color: orange, red, or reddish brown. On grey hair, it often turns bright orange or copper. The FDA notes that henna gives a brown, orange brown, or reddish brown tint, so other ingredients have to be added to get other colors.
To get brown or black, many people use henna together with indigo, another plant dye. This is often sold as a two step process or a premixed blend. Results can be uneven, and getting the shade right can take practice.
The danger of "black henna"
This is the most important part. Real henna is never truly black. The FDA warns that products called "black henna" often contain PPD, a hair dye chemical that can cause serious skin reactions. PPD is not allowed in products meant for the skin.
Black henna is most often used for temporary tattoos, but some hair and beard products sold as "henna" also contain PPD or other added dyes. DermNet explains that PPD allergy can cause severe rashes and blisters, and that a black henna tattoo can make someone allergic to hair dye for life.
Positives
- Plant based option. Pure henna is approved by the FDA for coloring hair.
- Can cover grey with a warm tone.
- Often adds shine and body.
Negatives
- Limited colors. Pure henna is orange to red.
- Hard to remove. It is very hard to dye over or lighten later.
- Messy and slow. It takes time to apply and can stain skin and towels.
- Hidden ingredients. Some "henna" products contain PPD or metallic salts.
- Allergies are still possible.
Safety tips
- Read the ingredient list and avoid products with PPD if you want true henna
- Be very wary of anything called black henna
- Do a skin test first, even with natural products
- If you get a rash, swelling, or blisters, stop right away
Bottom line
Pure henna can be a nice plant based way to color grey hair or a beard, as long as you are fine with warm tones and a long commitment. Avoid black henna, and skip it if you have reacted to hair dye before. If you want to see how a new hair color looks in photos, The Face They See lets people of the opposite gender rank your photos for free.