Henna is an ancient rite of passage, that has grown in popularity, in the West too. Many western customers recognize henna as a way to create trending art on the body during music festivals. However, henna has been a part of the South-West and Middle East’s culture, for more centuries than we have a record for.
But, when it comes to purity, nature has its way of busting the imposter. So here we list some tips to identify quality henna, along with recommendations of the best henna powders in India.
Natural and Organic henna powder is often adulterated with filler ingredients like sand and sometimes even harsh chemicals.
Here is a quick rundown of the best henna powders in India.
How to pick the best henna powders in India?
There are some tips to be vigilant with when you are purchasing your henna powder.
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Check its Smell:
The moment you open your henna, you will instantly smell it.
Either it will be smelling acidic, metallic or camphor-y. If so, then that henna just screams that there has been an addition of harmful hair dyes in that powder.
If you notice an earthy, almost clay-like and muddy smell of the henna powder, then that indicates that this henna has been manufactured carefully, from real henna leaves.
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Check its Texture:
Henna naturally lasts longer when it is in powdered form.
This is why powdered henna is better than other pre-mixed formulas on the market.
Henna powder, once opened, can be used for up to 2 years.
Other than that, henna in a pre-mixed form will always require some preservatives to carry the longevity of the henna mix.
Henna cannot exist preserved in a paste form, without preservatives like Sodium benzoate.
There could also be some conditioning and texture-enhancing ingredients that form a thick layer of the hair strands.
Your henna should be in powdered form, as a sticky paste form could bring down the efficacy of your henna while causing damage to your hair cuticle.
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Check its Ingredients:
You must look into the ingredient list before your henna powder purchase.
If it mentions anything other than Henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis) then it is not a safe henna for you to use.
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Check its Colour:
Real henna should look a nice warm, light green colour. It can look a little greenish-yellowish too.
The best henna powders in India are of varying colours, depending on where they are sourced from (rajasthan, morocco, etc)
Your henna should NOT look dark, brownish-blackish green, because that just screams that there has been an addition of chemical hair dye.
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Do a patch test:
Apply a small amount of the paste to the skin and leave it on for a few minutes.
Pure henna will leave a dark orange stain on the skin when removed. If the stain is red or brown, it may contain chemicals that can be harmful.
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Now that you know what all qualities a good henna powder should have, your search for the best henna powders in India would be more concise.
After applying Henna, you will need to wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo that will allow you to retain and strengthen the henna you just marinated in your hair follicles.
These are the best sulfate-free shampoos you must check out to lock in your henna.
Here we present you the list of 5 Best Henna Powders in India.
5 Best Henna Powders in India
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Satthwa Organic Henna Powder
Designed for a safe and natural hair colouring experience, Satthwa’s Organic Henna Powder provides a semi-permanent, deep and rich brown colouration for hair.
This 100% pure and organic henna powder is suitable for all scalp and hair types and ideal for those facing age-related or premature hair greying.
The great thing about this Henna powder is that it is HACCP-certified while being given the Halal-India Grade. This ensures that this henna powder has been created safely, using organic and halal ingredients.
These certificates are a symbol of good manufacturing practices by the brand.
While dyeing your hair a nice deep brown, also deeply conditions your hair and is a great line of defence against premature greying.
Colour Bright Green Texture Powdered Henna Cost Rs. 118 Quantity 100g Ingredients 100% Pure and Natural Henna Leaves (Lawsonia Inermis) Prep time Set it for 30 mins to enable dye release, and Apply for 30 mins/ 2-3 hrs.
2. Godrej Nupur Henna Powder
The Godrej Nupur henna Powder has been a staple in the market for some time, and those who repeatedly purchase it have noted its strong conditioning abilities that persist for an extended period.
Its coverage is minimal and subtle and it does the job of covering light greys, so people looking for black hair will need to add Indigo or coffee powder, to customize the henna according to their desired darkness.
Other than that, it is made of pure henna leaves, as it claims.
This is a great chemical-free dye for people looking for a mild colour, conditioning, and a budget-friendly price for henna.
| Colour | Earthy-green |
| Texture | Powdered |
| Cost | Rs. 45 |
| Quantity | 100g |
| Ingredients | Contains 100 % natural henna |
| Prep Instructions | Make in the night in an iron vessel and let it sit overnight, Can be supplemented with other nourishing ingredients like curd, black tea and egg whites. |
3. Shahnaz Husain Henna Precious Herb Mix
The Shehnaaz Hussain Henna Powder has been in the game for a while now, and the customers that come back to this powder, report its high conditioning qualities that are long-lasting.
Colour-wise, it adds a nice brown shade to the hair, so people looking for black hair will need to add Indigo or coffee powder, to customize the henna according to their desired darkness.
What’s more? It’s made of henna leaves and a herb mix of Amla, Neem, Shikakai and Babul Gond which are the nourishing, hydrating and conditioning ingredients in this henna paste.
This is a luxurious chemical-free dye for people looking for great conditioning while paying a slightly higher price.
| Colour | Deep Brown, muddy colour |
| Texture | Powdered Henna with Herb Mix |
| Cost | Rs. 160 |
| Quantity | 100g |
| Ingredients | Amla, Neem, Shikakai, Mehndi, Babul Gond |
| Extra | Anti-microbial so prevents dandruff and promotes hair growth. |
| Prep time | Set for 30 mins + apply for 30 mins/ 2-3 hrs |
4. Indus Valley Bio Organic Henna Powder
This henna powder has been sourced from Rajasthan’s (Soja) henna leaves. The colour of this henna powder would thus be muddy, brown and subtly green. This pack comes with plastic gloves.
The ingredient profile of this henna powder is quite the mix. Along with traditional henna, this powder is a blend of 9 organic ingredients like amla, shikakai, tulsi, brahmi, fenugreek, reetha, cassia and bhringraj.
This brand offers a range of herb powders that can be used in various hair masks and hair conditioning pastes.
Indus valley’s henna powder also claims to lock in moisture, recover the hair cuticles from dryness, and promote hair health while dying the hair a soft, shiny deep brown.
Even though it is not a cheaper option, the customers who have spent on this henna powder have reported having a glossy and shiny finish to their hair.
The longevity of this henna powder varies from person to person, however, you can always add a strengthening agent like cloves and black tea to this mixture.
| Colour | Greenish-Brown |
| Texture | Powdered Henna with Herb Mix |
| Cost | Rs. 100 |
| Quantity | 100g |
| Ingredients | Amla, shikakai, tulsi, brahmi, fenugreek, reetha, cassia and bhringraj |
| Prep time | Let it sit for 30 mins for conditioning, and overnight for hair colouring. Apply for 30-45 mins / 2-3 hrs. |
5. VLCC Ayurvedic Henna Powder
The VLCC Natural & Herbal Henna claims to supply natural shine and lustres to your hair while also darkening its colour and allowing the hair to grow healthily.
It is enriched with natural proteins, vitamin C, and musk root that nourish the hair roots and boost growth.
Additionally, the presence of margosa helps combat scalp infections while Indian Gooseberry adds extra shine and lustre.
A powdered formulation with a herbal mix improves the conditioning quality of this henna powder. This powder adds manageability and shine to the hair while subtly adding a smooth brown colour to the hair.
| Colour | Muddy Green |
| Texture | Powdered Henna with Herb Mix |
| Cost | Rs. 65 |
| Quantity | 100g |
| Ingredients | Amla, shikakai, tulsi, brahmi, fenugreek, reetha, cassia and bhringraj |
| Prep time | Let it sit for 30 mins for conditioning, and overnight for hair colouring. Apply for 30-45 mins / 2-3 hrs. |
These are some of the best henna powders in India that we have tried, tested and approved. We hope this list can narrow down your search for the same and help you get a suitable henna powder for your hair needs.
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