Another one of the most famous methods to cheat in Henna products is the addition of Ammonia. Ammonia is a popular chemical in all the hair dyes. It is an alkaline chemical that aims to increase the pH in the hair to levels higher than 10, which allows the dye to show its color on the hair. It also lightens the original hair color so that it can be re-colored. Some Henna brands use this chemical in their products to strengthen the color of the Henna dye on the hair.
Why is ammonia dangerous? Ammonia is an aggressive chemical which has a bad scent. Ammonia-based hair dyes can trigger allergic reactions or fainting, as well as dull, straggly, fragile, and tangled hair.
References:
1- Ahmed S., A. Rahman, A. Alam, M. Saleem, M. Athar and S. Sultana (2000).
Evaluation of the efficacy of Lawsonia alba in the alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress. J. Ethnopharm., 69: 157-164.
2- Ahmadian, S. and Fakhree, M. A., Henna (Lawsonia inermis) might be used to prevent mycotic infection. Med Hypotheses. 2009; 73: 629-30.
3- Ali, N. A., Julich, W. D., Kusnick, C. and Lindequist, U., Screening of Yemeni medicinal plants for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. J. Ethnopharmacol 2001; 74: 173-179.
4- Ali, B. H., Bashir, A.K. and Tanira, M. O., Antiinflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects of Lawsonia inermis L. (Henna) in rats. Pharmacology.1995; 51(6): 356-63.
5- A.O.A.C. (1984). Official Methods of Analysis. 14th (ed.), Association of Official Analytical Chemists, INC. Virginia 22209, USA.
6- Cowan, M. M., Plant Products as Antimicrobial Agents. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999; 12: 564-582.
7- Crombie, L., W.M.L. Crombie and D. A. Whiting, 1990. Alkaloids of Khat (Catha edulis). Alkaloids, 39:139-164.
8- Fessenden, R. J. and Fessenden, J. S. Organic Chemistry.6th ed. California (USA): Brooks/Cole Publishing Company; 1998.
9- H. S. Muhammad and S. Muhammad, 2005. The use of Lawsonia inermis Linn. (Henna) in the management of burn wound infections. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (9), pp. 934-937.
10- Hamden, CT. Herbs: An indexed bibliography. Simon, J.E., A.F. Chadwick and L.E. Craker, 1984. The scientific Literature on selected herbs, Aromatic and Medicinal plants of the Temperate Zone. Archon Books, p 770.
11- Jiny Varghese K., Silvipriya KS., Resmi S. and Jolly CI., 2010. Lawsonia Inermis (Henna): A Natural Dye of Various Therapeutic Uses – A Review. Inventi Rapid: Cosmeceuticals Vol. 1, Issue 1.
12- National Committee Clinical Laboratory Standard ,NCCLS. (1988) . Control limit for monitoring Antimicrobial disease Susceptibility tests Zone diameter .
13- Okpekon, T., Yolou, S., Gleye, C., Roblot, F., Loiseau, P. and Bories, C.,
Antiparasitic activities of medicinal plants used in Ivory Coast. J.
Ethnopharmacol 2004; 90: 91-97.
14- Saadabi, M. A. Abdulmoneim, (2007). Evaluation of Lawsonia inermis Linn. (Sudanese Henna) Leaf Extracts as an Antimicrobial Agent. Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2 (4): 419-423.
15- SASMO (1995), Cosmetics: Henna, SNS 1502/1995, Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization, Ministry of industry, Syria (in Arabic Language).16- YSMO (2003), Henna Powder, YS 577/2003, Yemen Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Organization, Republic of Yemen (in Arabic Language).