If you want to achieve a chic and impeccable appearance, hair is another key topic. Soft, luscious hair not only will make you look (and feel) more sophisticated, they will also make you feel more beautiful and attractive.
Though, having an impeccable head is not always a stress-free job. Wind, pollution, and humidity can turn the most stylish girl into a wild, messy creature in a jiffy.
Furthermore, many tools frequently used to achieve a faultless appearance in the short run – such as hair straightener, super-powerful hairdryer, silicone-based products – are not totally risk-free. They can slightly abrade your shiny, voluminous hair little by little, and you realize that you’ve overdone with them when it’s too late – and your hair is irremediably damaged. Don’t forget that, unlike skin, which immediately show the consequences of inappropriate care, hair can show the sign of inappropriate care after years (I learned this lesson the hard way).
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© Filitova/Shutterstock.com
Therefore, it’s essential to make use of really strengthening products that will allow you to diminish the damage of more aggressive treatments – and talking by personal experience, the most effective way to achieve this result is henna, along with other herbal masks.
Contrarily to what you may think, henna (whose botanical name is Lawsonia Inermis, a herb that will make your hair reddish or orange, if applied alone) is not just for red-heads. Henna can be added to a mixture of other dying herbs, so you can (1) obtain countless nuances to change your hair color, (2) cover your white hair, (3) achieve an exceptional brightness or (4) take care of your chemically-dyed hair, giving them a boost of health and a powerful nourishing treatment.
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If you add henna to a blend of other dying plants (such as Indigo, Curcuma, Rhubarb, Chamomile, and countless others) you can indeed obtain endless tonalities. My co-author (and cousin) Benedetta uses a blend specifically selected to achieve a nearly black hue. I use a mixture that gives my hair golden-blond reflections, while the percentage of white hair is entirely golden. The color is mostly perceivable under light, as you can see in the pictures (which means that if you want to achieve a super-light, platinum blonde, you can’t’ get it through herbal dying).
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A mixture of Henna, Rhubarb, Curcuma, and Cassia will give your hair golden reflections
If you don’t want to change your hair color, you can make use of the so-called neutral-henna (botanical name: Cassia Obovata): it won’t add any hue to your color, but it will result in a super-shiny, healthier-looking hair. In the picture above you can see the “before” and “after” of a 100% cassia mask I did a couple of years ago.
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Before and after a 100% Cassia mask
Plus, as herbs stick to every single hair, a herbal mask will make your hair thicker, thus achieving a more polished, cared-for look.
As for the preparing instructions, I suggest that you search on the Internet in order to find the most appropriate for your hair. For me, a mixture of 40% Cassia Obovata, 20% Lawsonia, 25% Rhubarb, 15% Curcuma, will do the job and give me lovely golden reflections (while covering my white hair).
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Rhubarb and Curcuma provide golden reflections (more visible under direct light)
Adding a 30% Henna assures perfect coverage of white hair
To mix up the selected herbs, I use a mixture of chamomile tea, lemon, and honey, until I get a creamy consistency. I leave the mask on my hair for about 1-2 hours, then carefully wash it away with warm water.
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© Filitova/Shutterstock.com
A warning: be sure that the product you’re buying is 100% pure. Some low-quality products may contain chemical additives – such as sodium picramate – that can make your hair turn to a dreadful tone. Therefore, always use top-quality herbs – carefully check the reviews before making your purchase, as there are poor-quality ones that are practically impossible to use.
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Another natural miracle worker for stressed, ultra-dry hair is a coconut oil mask (to apply before your usual shampoo). It only costs a fraction of the most widespread beauty-salon hair treatments, and it’s incredibly powerful. Plus, it smells delicious, and you can make use of it in countless ways (for face, body, and also for shoe-care and for preparing super-yummy, healthy meals!). If you have never used it yet, try it – you’ll love it!
