Do ya'll henna?

[goldensensation]

to be really honest, I have yet to hear about henna loosing the texture. Maybe that was just a special side effect for you I have no idea.

I personally know of people who said that it defined the curls more or loosened them. But like you said, maybe it depends on hair type.

 

[sareca]

ok I am ready to try but I have a couple of questions:

1. I have dk brown hair, do I need to add indigo to get a dk brown color or can I use the henna alone?

That's a good question. I'm not sure, but I think the general consensus is that indigo adds a "blue" black color. Henna and coffee make my hair very dark, (esp. after the 2nd application) but I still have a lot of red in the sun. The great thing about henna is it's a conditioner. If you want more color wait a few days and do it again.

2. will brewed coffee really help darken the gray? I'm thinking starbucks is around the corner, I'll go grab a double espresso and add that

That'd work. I just used made a typical cup of coffee and then boiled it until a lot of the water evaporated. blech!

3. Is the alma necessary? should I purchase that for use as just a conditioner.

My hair LOVES amla. My hair must think it has Indian (from Indonesian) in my family. But you do not need it. I didn't have any left for my second henna. My hair still feels wonderfully conditioned.

4. how much henna will I need for almost bsl in back and apl in front?

100g will dye short hair.
200g will dye collar length straight hair.
300g will dye shoulder length straight hair.
500g will dye waist length hair.
I use 500 g and my hair goes to my fingertips.


Or at least that's what the site I brought it from said. But my hair is almost APL and I only used 100g each time.

5. finally, how do I keep the leftovers? How do I store it?

YES! That's my other favorite part about henna. But it in an airtight container (I use those disposable plastic ones) and put it in the frig. I think they said it'd keep for 3 months (longer in the freezer). You can also mix your henna leave it out long enough for the dye to release then put it in the frig until you're ready to use it.

 

[sareca]

SARECA

I just ordered Henna and Indigo for me and my mom. Cant wait!

I will probably add jojoba oil to mine and olive oil to hers. My hair doesnt like olive oil.

I was pretty excited too. The hardest part for me was waiting for it to release. Jojoba oil's a good one. I said I might try coconut oil next time.

Do I put the brewed coffee in the mix while I let it sit or do I rinse my hair with it afterward?

I brewed the coffee. Added it to the henna with the oil, spices, lemon, left it to release and applied it straight out of the container.

 

[goldensensation]

I was pretty excited too. The hardest part for me was waiting for it to release. Jojoba oil's a good one. I said I might try coconut oil next time.
I brewed the coffee. Added it to the henna with the oil, spices, lemon, left it to release and applied it straight out of the container.

Oh, ok. One more question: how long did it take for your order to arrive?

 

[sareca]

Oh, ok. One more question: how long did it take for your order to arrive?

3 business days? Maybe 4.

 

[LaNecia]

Hey Sareca, now that you've inspired us all to use the henna, I've decided to do mine today! =) It's been about 3 weeks so I'll take some photos of my hair when I'm done.

I just wanted to add to the ladies who are thinking about using the indigo in their hair...IT DOESN'T WASH OUT, YOU HAVE TO GROW IT OUT so make sure you want your hair that dark BEFORE you do it!!

 

[grnidmonster]

Thank you so much. I ordered from the same site you did and my henna should be on it's way. I did not order the alma but, I will do that next. Again, thank you, I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Mestiza]

Your hair looks great!

I've used henna mixed w/ other Indian Powders, hot water and oil, to condition my hair (didn't let the dye release). I had great results, too! I'm not sure about it loosening my new growth or not b/c my hair is wavy and the degree of waviness varies, sometimes.

The one thing that is a royal pain is trying to rinse all of that stuff out of my hair. It seems as though it takes forever! The next time that I do it, I'm just going to use Henna, Amla Powder, EVOO and Coconut Oil.

BTW, my vote was: Yes, I henna and love it!

 

[sareca]

Yay! I'm glad ya'll are excited about henna. My last henna (which I still haven't taken pics of) made my hair red enough to see in bright indoor light. Before I could only see it in the sun.

Oh and thanks for the warning about indigo, Vixxen. I should probably quit while I'm ahead, but I'm planning to add just a bit of indigo to my next henna mix. I've heard at adds a bit more shine than henna alone.

 

[MizaniMami]

VWVixxen, Seraca and other Henna'ers...

How log before/after you relax do you henna? Is it safe to use the week before or following a relaxer?

 

[LaNecia]

Oh and thanks for the warning about indigo, Vixxen. I should probably quit while I'm ahead, but I'm planning to add just a bit of indigo to my next henna mix. I've heard at adds a bit more shine than henna alone.

Great minds MUST think alike because ...I'm going to order some indigo myself. My roots that weren't colored with the Bigen Black are just as reddish as they want to be. My natural color is almost a 2 so it grabs red tones like no-bodies business!

MizaniMami, I've done a henna treatment within a week on either side of relaxing (before/after) without experiencing any problems whatsoever. In fact, I did this just recently. I relaxed on 5/14 and used henna on 5/21. The pic in my siggy was taken right after finishing my hair.

Once I even did it on the same day, just to see...again, no problems. HTH!

 

[sareca]

VWVixxen, Seraca and other Henna'ers...

How log before/after you relax do you henna? Is it safe to use the week before or following a relaxer?

Hey, Mami. I'd say a week was fine. I'm not scheduled for another relaxer until Nov 06 and my last one was Nov 05 so I don't have any first hand experience. But, if it were me I'd wait at least 3 days after I henna'd. It takes that long to get your final color. But you can probably henna 48 hours after a relaxer. Most relaxers say to wait that long before washing. Remember henna is used as a conditioner too.

Make sure you test w/ some hair from your brush (or braids takedown) and use only body art quality henna.

 

[Mestiza]

VWVixxen, Seraca and other Henna'ers...

How log before/after you relax do you henna? Is it safe to use the week before or following a relaxer?

I need to check my journal.

ETA: I did my first henna treatment a little over 2 weeks after my relaxer.

 

[Mestiza]

Great minds MUST think alike because ...I'm going to order some indigo myself. My roots that weren't colored with the Bigen Black are just as reddish as they want to be. My natural color is almost a 2 so it grabs red tones like no-bodies business!

MizaniMami, I've done a henna treatment within a week on either side of relaxing (before/after) without experiencing any problems whatsoever. In fact, I did this just recently. I relaxed on 5/14 and used henna on 5/21. The pic in my siggy was taken right after finishing my hair.

Once I even did it on the same day, just to see...again, no problems. HTH!

Once again, your hair looks awesome!

 

[MizaniMami]

I hope I don't highjack the thread by asking this, but will anybody be willing to help walk me through the steps of henna'ing through PM?

I am already a light black and I want to go to the deepest black possible. I was thinking of just using henna and indigo, nothing else unless it would help me achieve a darker black.

Anyone?

 

[Aalize]

Here's a thread on Henna from a couple of years back:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=4201

 

[sareca]

Henna #2 pics...

Not that ya'll were holding your breath or anything.

 

[sareca]

I hope I don't highjack the thread by asking this, but will anybody be willing to help walk me through the steps of henna'ing through PM?

I am already a light black and I want to go to the deepest black possible. I was thinking of just using henna and indigo, nothing else unless it would help me achieve a darker black.

Anyone?

I'd help, but I haven't indigo'd yet and the process it different. I just ordered some tho. I think it releases much faster than henna. Yep, I found it (http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/gwynindigo.html). Although a lot of people mix (http://www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/tanya/) theirs with henna instead of applying the indigo after henna'ing. If mine gets here before Friday I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes.

 

[MizaniMami]

I'd help, but I haven't indigo'd yet and the process it different. I just ordered some tho. I think it releases much faster than henna. Yep, I found it (http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/gwynindigo.html). Although a lot of people mix (http://www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/tanya/) theirs with henna instead of applying the indigo after henna'ing. If mine gets here before Friday I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes.

Thank you! Girl your hair is so fudging thick and shiny! Lovely! I can't wait to try henna!

Don't forget to let me know.

 

[sareca]

Thank you! Girl your hair is so fudging thick and shiny! Lovely! I can't wait to try henna!

Don't forget to let me know.

Thanks girl. A lot of that shine is from henna. My hair was shiny before, but now it has a kind of wet shine.

 

[Mestiza]

I hope I don't highjack the thread by asking this, but will anybody be willing to help walk me through the steps of henna'ing through PM?

I am already a light black and I want to go to the deepest black possible. I was thinking of just using henna and indigo, nothing else unless it would help me achieve a darker black.

Anyone?

I haven't used indigo. Good luck w/ your henna and indigo treatment.

 

[sareca]

Does this mean, nobody's had a bad experience with henna?

 

[LaNecia]

The most negative experience I've had with henna was once when I left it in for two or three hours, I forget how long, my hair was exceptionally hard. Prior to that experience I had done treatments, weekly, for 45 minutes to an hour with beautiful results. I think it was a combination of how long I left it in my hair combined with the frequency.

Aside from that though, my hair has only gotten better since I've started using it.

 

[Mestiza]

Does this mean, nobody's had a bad experience with henna?

My hair got really hard and stiff, a couple of times, but I think that it was from the aritha, neem or shikakai that I used. In addition, I left the treatment on my hair for hours.

 

[LaNecia]

My hair got really hard and stiff, a couple of times, but I think that it was from the aritha, neem or shikakai that I used. In addition, I left the treatment on my hair for hours.

Mestiza,

I've read that the Aritha is largely responsible for the hair hardness. In going through my notes, I noticed coincidently, I used it the last time I had that problem too. It's a really good astringent though. I've not had that problem from using the Neem (also an astringent/disfecting henna) or Shikakai either together or separately.

There's another thread here on LHCF where LaLa posts about using it and having hard hair too. I'll see if I can find the thread.

 

[goldensensation]

Hmmm. So the Henna itself doesnt make the hair hard?

When I do it this friday or tomorrow, I plan on leaving it in for 2 hours. But then again, I am not conditioning, I am coloring.

 

[LaNecia]

Golden,

The conditioning effects of the henna are a by product/same as is the coloring aspect. They kinda go hand in hand if you will. I just did a treatment this past Saturday for coloring, I left it in my hair for two hours under a plastic cap and towel. It is just as sconditioned as when I leave it in for 45 - 1 hour. Only difference is the color is more intense because of giving the terp (Tea Trea Oil) a chance to help the color release.

I didn't use the Neem or Aritha this time and had no hair hardness. I used 100 grams of the Amla, 100 grams of the Henna, 3 tbs of the Skikakai (only cause I ran out ). I did have enough left over for another full treatment, I stored it in a food saver vaccuum sealed bag for next time.

My mom NEVER uses the Neem or Aritha, only the Henna and Amla and has never complained of hard hair.

Also, go give my hair color a chance to 'set', I do NOT shampoo my hair for the first week after treating. I rinse out the henna using DDTA to help loosen the henna from the hair and then do CO Washes the first week as needed (because of perspiration). I read about this on the Henna for Hair Forum. I'll look for it and post back when I find it.

ETA: I did a search in the forum, I couldn't find the original post but it seems that most of the users shampoo their hair immediately without any color loss so I guess It's personal preference.

I did also read on the indigo henna, that you have to level up to the black color if that is what you are going for. Translated: it will take a few applications before your hair is truly BLACK.

HTH.

 

[Mestiza]

Mestiza,

I've read that the Aritha is largely responsible for the hair hardness. In going through my notes, I noticed coincidently, I used it the last time I had that problem too. It's a really good astringent though. I've not had that problem from using the Neem (also an astringent/disfecting henna) or Shikakai either together or separately.

There's another thread here on LHCF where LaLa posts about using it and having hard hair too. I'll see if I can find the thread.

My hair got really hard and stiff, a couple of times, but I think that it was from the aritha, neem or shikakai that I used. In addition, I left the treatment on my hair for hours.

Thanks, VWVixxen! It must've been the Aritha! I'm going to do another treatment w/o using it.

 

[LaNecia]

I just uploaded some photos of the color of my hair now, depending on the lighting. Believe it or not, this the same hair, photos taken at different times of the day which resulted in different lighting (but natural lighting in both photos).

 

[LaNecia]

Henna #2 pics...

Ooooooh! Pretty! My hair wants to be like yours when it grows up!