How to Remove Henna from Hands and Hair?

By Deepika Sharma On Dec 31, 2020

Table of Contents

Henna is a natural dye that is derived from the leaves of a plant called Lawsonia Inermis (commonly known as a henna plant). It has been used for years by people for dyeing their hair and adorning their hands with beautiful designs. In its organic state, henna is in leaf form. It is then converted into powder which is used to make a thick paste.

It is mainly used for dyeing your hair and applying intricate designs to your hands and feet. Usually, the hair dye lasts for a month before it starts to fade away and the henna tattoo will start to fade away in about a week. Whether you wish to change your hair color or get rid of that leftover design on your hands and feet, we are here to help you.

How to Remove Henna from Hair?

First things first, it is not easy to get rid of henna from your hair. As healthy as it is, it will not leave your hair even after bleaching and hair lightening treatments at the salon.

It can stick on to your hair strands for months to come. The good news is, you do not need to visit the salon to get rid of henna hair dye. You can remove henna from your hair by opting for a few DIY techniques.

Oil Pulling Method

We have all heard of the oil pulling method for getting rid of germs in your mouth. Right? This time, we are going to use the same technique to get rid of henna from your locks. If you have been wondering about how to remove henna from hair, you need a jar of organic coconut oil, olive oil, a bit of argan oil, and a clarifying shampoo.

How to use ?

Start the henna removal by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo. It will remove excess dirt, oils, and styling products which can forbid the oils from working their magic.
Let your hair air dry. Try not to use any heating products at this point.
Create an oil mix. Use olive oil and coconut oil in equal parts and add a dash of argan oil into the concoction.
Slip-on a pair of gloves and start coating your hair strands with oils. You can apply the oil mixture to your scalp for added nourishment but it is not needed. (Hint: Where a T-shirt that you don’t mind ruining because it will get messy)
Once every one of your hair strands is coated in oil. Tie your hair up and secure it with a shower cap.
Leave it on overnight or as long as possible. Blast your head with a blow-dryer a few times.
In the morning, gather your supplies again; clarifying shampoo and hair conditioner. Wash off your hair with a clarifying shampoo, followed by a conditioner, and see the magic of oils.
Repeat after a few days if needed.

This method will not only get rid of henna from your hair but also will improve the condition of your hair dramatically. You will be left with lustrous and hydrated locks. A win-win situation!

The Alcohol Strip Out

The answer to your question; how to get rid of henna from hair lies in alcohol. It is the easiest and the cheapest way to do so. Here are the supplies you need; clarifying shampoo, hard water shampoo, conditioner, and vodka.

How to use ?

Use a clarifying shampoo to wash your hair.
With the help of a sponge, apply vodka to your hair till it is completely soaked in alcohol. It is not the best smell in the world but it will break the bonds of henna dye and makes it ready for your new coloring experiment.
Leave alcohol in your hair for about 15 minutes.
Use hard water shampoo to wash off your hair. Keep the shampoo in your hair for about 5 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
Use a deep conditioner afterward to restore the moisture of your hair.

Now that your hair is henna free, you can move on to new hair color ventures.

How to Remove Henna from Hands?

We all love adorning our hands and feet with beautiful henna designs. They look fabulous, are impermanent, and an essential part of festivities. However, once the henna starts to fade away, your hands look quite ugly. Here is how to remove a henna tattoo quickly and effectively:

Baby Oil to the Rescue

Baby oil is one of the best ways to get rid of leftover henna pigment. Here is how to remove henna with the help of baby oil:

Add warm water to a bowl. Now add three cups of baby oil into warm water and mix well.
Soak in your hands and feet for about 20 minutes and scrub off the dead skin cells with a natural exfoliant.
An alternative way is to directly apply oil on your skin with the help of a cotton bowl. Keep the oil on for 10 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water.

Lemonade Mix

Lemon is nature’s bleaching agent. Its natural skin lightening properties will get rid of that leftover henna stain. Simply follow these steps:

Simply cut a lemon in half or four quarters.
Add a bit of salt to the lemon and rub it on your hands. The lemon will act like bleach and the salt will act as a natural exfoliant.
Leave the mixture for about 20 minutes and wash it off with warm water.
Pat the skin dry with a towel and use a good quality moisturizer to prevent dryness.

I hope you found this article helpful. Let us know how these methods worked for you. If you have any tips of your own; leave them down in the comments section below so we can all help each other out.