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Know Your Herb
Maruthani (மருதாணி) is the Tamil name for henna, the same plant known as mehndi in the north. In English, maruthani powder is simply henna powder.
If your mother or grandmother used it, you probably know the smell and the wait. The plant is Lawsonia inermis, and the powder is just its dried leaves, ground fine. What people usually want to know is what it will actually do to their hair, so let us start there.
What colour will maruthani give you?
- On black hair: a soft red or brown tint, mostly visible in sunlight. It will not lighten black hair.
- On grey hair: copper-red or orange-red. It deepens over a few applications.
- On brown or black as the goal: henna alone will not get you there. That takes a second step with indigo, which we do not sell at the moment.
This is the part that surprises people. Henna is one dye with one colour. Anything sold as black or brown henna has something else in it, so read that label closely.
What else it does
Henna coats the hair, which is why many people feel their hair is thicker and shinier after using it. That is a conditioning effect on the strand. It will not grow new hair or change what your scalp is doing, and we would rather say so plainly.
How to apply maruthani powder
Mix
Stir the powder with warm water or tea into a thick paste, like curd.
Rest
Cover and leave it for 4 to 6 hours so the colour releases.
Apply
Section clean hair and coat from root to tip. Greys first if you have them.
Wait
Leave it for 1 to 2 hours, then rinse well with plain water.
Let it deepen
The colour keeps changing for 24 to 48 hours, so judge it after two days.
Repeat
For greys, repeat as new growth shows. Colour builds with each round.
Doing this for the first time? Try a small strand first, especially if your hair has been coloured or chemically treated before.
Fresh leaves or powder?
It is the same plant. Fresh leaves ground at home are lovely if you have a tree nearby, but the strength changes with the leaf and the grinding takes time. Powder is easier to mix smoothly and to keep in a cupboard. Ours is triple-sifted so it does not go gritty.
What to watch out for
Be careful with anything called black henna. Some of these products contain PPD, a chemical dye that can cause allergic reactions. Pure henna does not need it. Check the ingredient list, and do a patch test before first use whatever you buy.
Want recipes for different shades? Read our henna hair colour recipes. If greys are your main worry, our grey hair guide explains what each herb can and cannot do. Thinning hair is a different job, and karisalankanni is the herb people reach for there.
Questions people ask
What is maruthani called in English?
Henna. Maruthani, mehndi and henna are all Lawsonia inermis.
Will maruthani turn my grey hair black?
No. On greys it gives copper-red. Brown or black needs indigo as a second step.
Does maruthani make hair dry?
It can feel a little dry straight after, since henna coats the strand. Oiling your hair a day or two later usually sorts it out.
Can I use it over chemically coloured hair?
Test a small strand first. Results on treated hair are hard to predict.
Can I use the same powder on my hands?
Ours is sold for hair. Designs on skin usually use a finer mix, so we would not promise the same result.
