This study examined the adsorption ability of henna extract as an environment-friendly and accessible sacrificial agent. In this study, the Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) was used to characterized henna extract and quartz sand. The adsorption of the henna extract on quartz sand was executed using the ultraviolet�visible spectroscopy (UV�Vis). The current study also assesses the effects of salinity on the henna extract adsorption on quartz sand, and the mechanisms of the adsorption process were interpreted. Apart from that, the ability of henna extract in reducing the adsorption of surfactant in the presence of salts were recorded. The outcome demonstrated that henna extract adsorption on quartz sand increased with the increase of salinity concentrations. Note that the adsorption value increased from 3.14 to 8.11 mg/g in 0 and 50,000 mg/L of salinity, respectively. The main mechanisms involved in the adsorption process were hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic attractions. A reduction of 46 of surfactant adsorption was observed. This was a profound decrease in the adsorption of surfactant in the presence of henna extract, suggesting a possibility to be utilized as a sacrificial agent in reducing surfactant adsorption. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.