Anyone ever Use Henna on their hair,,,,Update!!!! - Page 2

[Ammaarah]

Definitely give it a few days before you attack it - it will get browner (I hope!)

[Hera]

Originally Posted by thismama

also check out www.hennaforhair.com

Henna does no damage to your hair at all, so you can put more henna on whenever you want, but it might make the colour crazier so I dont know if I would do that. It is permanent. I found that when I used chemical dye over henna the dye just fell out of my hair, literally within a week. It can also have crazy colour reactions so I wouldn't recommend it, especially not over fresh henna.

It is very true that the colour calms down in a few days. Good luck!

What she said.

Don't ask stylists or Sally's, because they are familiar with coloring agents that work very differently.

Last time I henna'ed, wow. I used straight henna from henna for hair. I thought I knew what to expect because I've been using rainbow henna for years, but this was so much MORE than I've ever experienced . It did calm down in a few days, and was a really nice color after about a week.

Next time, sometime this week probably, I'm going to mix a bit of indigo in with the henna to brown it up a little.

[captain crunchy]

I'm a natural red head and wanted to vamp up my color a bit not look like Strawberry Shortcake on acid.

Thanks for the laugh!

[joy2bmom]

Originally Posted by Ammaarah

Definitely give it a few days before you attack it - it will get browner (I hope!)

I hope too

[joy2bmom]

Originally Posted by Hera

Next time, sometime this week probably, I'm going to mix a bit of indigo in with the henna to brown it up a little.

I just read about this so i ordered some indigo to go with the other henna i just ordered yesterday so i hope to come up with a brownish color

[sugarlumpkin]

Wow, so sorry to hear that you hate your hair. I use henna and I have never had the problems described in this thread. I also have never experienced it as being permanent (mine washes out in about 4 weeks) and I've never experienced what one PP described as "dog stink issues."

I do have a bad hair cut, though, so I can understand the pain of your hair not looking good!!!

[joy2bmom]

Originally Posted by sugarlumpkin

Wow, so sorry to hear that you hate your hair. I use henna and I have never had the problems described in this thread. I also have never experienced it as being permanent (mine washes out in about 4 weeks) and I've never experienced what one PP described as "dog stink issues."

I do have a bad hair cut, though, so I can understand the pain of your hair not looking good!!!

I'm not experiencing the stink issues myself, i mean i can still smell the henna stuff but i don't think it stinks but thats just me

[Smokering]

Yeah, I don't mind the henna smell--like new-mown grass. Strong at first, but dealable.

Any news on the oxidation process? Adding more henna WILL, eventually, make it darker--enough applications and you'll get to a kind of mahogany/burgundy colour. Eventually. But watch your hair--henna is basically a protein treatment. If your hair likes protein, it'll do it a world of good, but some hair (mine, for one) likes moisture, not protein. So between hennaings I have to baby my hair a bit with jojoba oil, otherwise it can go kinda dry and breaky. I certainly wouldn't henna twice in a week, or anything like that. But right now I pretty much have the colour I want, so I just retouch the roots every so often (which reminds me, I should do that tonight). Anyway, yes--if you notice your hair feeling brittle, breaky or dry, give yourself a moisture treatment. Yoghurt, honey, jojoba, mayo, fancy condish or whatever.

And YES, use BAQ henna. It'll look far more virulent to begin with, but it'll oxidise better. I used to use 'hair' henna from a health food store that the man swore black and blue was pure henna... but it SO wasn't. Lawsonia inermis is the correct species, so that's all good. I use cheap mehndi henna from my Indian fruit and veggie store these days--not glamorous, but it works a treat.

I haven't used indigo myself, but I've seen some lovely results from it. Bear in mind it isn't as permanent as henna--it'll fade, and you'll have to retouch it if you don't want the henna to come back after a few months. But that's okay.

I'm sorry you had a traumatic experience! My roots still scare me sometimes after I retouch--day-glo orange indeed! After oxidation, my henna has never faded (on waist-length hair, this is), but I love that it's preserved the natural variation in my hair colour. Underneath, my darker hair is almost burgundy red, and my canopy hair has copper and orange and even a faintly pinkish tinge, on occasion, which I love. I would NEVER use an evil, synthetic dye on hair this long, so henna makes me happy.

[texasmommatotwo]

hey y'all, gotta chime in hear...i'm a pro and while henna is not bad for your hair, you ABSOLUTELY cannot use any other kind of dye over it, EVER!!! maybe bleach, do not go near a perm, it will break off at the point of dye line (like wherever the dye has touched the hair...we called it a chemical haircut in beauty school). i wasn't taught anything about henna, and it intrigues me...but i wouldn't use any commercial dye or stripper on it. the baby shampoo is a great idea to fade, though, super high ph, same as your eyes, that's why it doesn't sting baby when he gets his hair washed.

as for what to do, i know a fellow stylist i used to work with mixed her henna with strong, hot coffee and developer (do you use developer?) and her client loved it...it always turned out a deep shade of chocolate and no grey, which i thought was cool. maybe the coffee helped with the smell too? don't know which brand.

anyways, i have never used henna, but thought i would put in my two cents about what i have heard. hth.

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by texasmommatotwo

hey y'all, gotta chime in hear...i'm a pro and while henna is not bad for your hair, you ABSOLUTELY cannot use any other kind of dye over it, EVER!!! maybe bleach, do not go near a perm, it will break off at the point of dye line (like wherever the dye has touched the hair...we called it a chemical haircut in beauty school).

Pure body art henna should be fine even over chemical dye. The problem is most henna in stores and online is adulterated with yucky chemicals. But the pure stuff shouldn't interact with metallic dye or perm stuff. Henna for Hair website has the info on that. I've done pure henna over chemically dyed hair without problems.

OP, I am glad the tea helped! Yay!

[Hera]

Originally Posted by joy2bmom

Y'all know how frustrated i was about this whole henna disaster thing, so here's what i did, I decided to look in my cupboards for anything that would stain skin and what did i find?,,,,,,,,Black tea!! I brewed a bunch really thick and put it in my hair, wrapped my head in plastic and a towel then left it on all day, i just rinsed it out and it has toned it down ALOT,,,YAY!! i'm sure its just temporary but at least i can deal with it for now, Thanks for all the support and advice I know this isn't something world changing or nothing but i'm happy now
Also i just thought those of you thats had henna disasters would like to know just incase

Interesting! I wonder if the tannins sped up the oxidation somehow? That's great!

I'm trying to gear up to do it again...the biggest problem I have with the good henna is that my hair is really thin, so my scalp shows. Henna stains skin, so for a few days after I henna my hair, I have an orange scalp. I need to be able to wear a hat at all times, lol. Maybe I should go find a nice headscarf to wear first...

[mk12]

joy2bmom - I'm glad your hair is becoming more manageable for you! Please keep us updated.

I read a lot about body art quality henna at Henna For Hair and the longhaircommunity this past summer. When I read the opening post, I thought, hmm, she should use Indigo to turn it brown instead of red. But then I wondered if that would turn it black.

Usually when a person wants a brown shade, they have to use the body art quality henna, let the dye release and mix it with a certain ratio of indigo (and possibly amla) and apply it together.

If I'm not mistaken, I think some people use a two step process to get jet black hair - using henna first by itself, and then using indigo by itself.

After reading a lot about it and looking at pictures, I totally chickened out and used Cassia on my hair instead. Cassia is what is commonly referred to as colorless henna, although it does add a golden color to really light/white blond hair or grey hair, and is a nice conditioner. I mixed it with chamomile, and it seemed to darken my hair somehow even though it's not supposed to. My light brown, mousy haircolor looks richer after I use Cassia and chamomile, and the few grays I have look golden and just blend in like highlights.

I have also read a lot of positive reviews of something called a Henna Gloss, which is a much less scary way of getting the positive effects of henna without the red color or commitment because it's very subtle. Has anyone here tried it?

For the Henna Gloss, I think you mix 1 tsp. of BAQ henna and 1 tsp. of Indigo with some conditioner (no dye release) and apply it immediately for about 30 minutes. It's supposed to be nice for brunettes who are going gray, because it makes the brown hair a nice glossy brown, and blends in the greys which supposedly turn a nice golden shade.

I was looking into this because my mom wanted something natural to cover her gray hair, but then decided she didn't want to bother with it.

I may try it someday if I become dissatisfied with the Cassia treatments. The henna gloss is supposed to be nice and subtle with no obvious root/grow out problem that you get with the henna. (You don't get the red shades though which may be a big negative for some people.)

I have a link to a thread about the henna gloss somewhere - I can't find it right now. It was discussed either at Henna for Hair or the longhaircommunity or both, if anyone is interested.

[Siennaflower]

I use a 60/40 henna/indigo combo to get a rich, chocolate brown color. No worries, it will all turn out alright And I'm sure you know by now you can henna again immediately, it's not like chemical dyes, no damage.

And FTR I started out with henna red too, and although I was expecting it I didn't like the color on me at all so I switched to the brown that I currently use