Henna Experts HELP :) Re: non coloring henna for shine

[LaLa]

I have this packet of neutral non coloring henna to use for shine. I was planning on adding some chamomile for slight lightening.

My question is, for the purpose of just shine and conditioning, how long do you leave it on?
5 minutes, 50, over night?!
I have no clue and the box doesn't indicate?!

HELP

oh and I am probalby not going to do a strand test becasue if I actually make time to do anything with my hair once, that will be a miracle in and of itself!
:

[girlndocs]

Hm, depends on what's in it.

When I did my henna gloss (with regular, coloring "red" henna, Lawsonia inermis) I found out that all the conditioning benefits from henna occur roughly in the first 30 minutes. But "non-coloring henna" doesn't actually contain henna, because if it did, it wouldn't be non-coloring So I don't know if that's any help.

Cassia obovata, which is one kind of "neutral henna," is left on for 30 minutes to an hour. Lotus powder is another hennalike herb and that's left on a minimum of 30 minutes. So I'd say 30-60 minutes?

Or have you already done it by now? How did it turn out?

[LaLa]

I used it and left it on for an hour. I noticed no difference. I used chamomile tea as the base to mix it with and MAYBE there is a bit of lightening, but not much if any.

Mostly my hair just stinks like cut spinach STILL!
And I've washed it three times since then!
LOL

[girlndocs]

If you don't mind unsolicited advice, I would say, if you decide to try it again to buy something that you *know* what it is, and one that has directions provided. I have never has any luck with those neutral-henna "mystery mixes" either.

Catherine Cartwright at www.hennaforhair.com has a page on Cassia obovata & also sells it; Everyday Mehndi (sorry don't remember the url) carries it too, and also a Lotus Powder herbal mix. (A site called Persiangrocery.com sells lotus powder cheaper, but their shipping might be higher).

Sorry it didn't work out better!