Do ya'll henna?

[HoneyDew]

Question about the Rainbow Henna: I have read over and over that henna only colors the hair red. So how does rainbow henna color the hair so many different colors and not have any additives?

I have wondered the same thing. That is why I did not use it again and went with the cassia from HFH. But, whatever they do to it, it was better for my hair than the cassia has been.

I sent Rainbow research an email today asking about this. I will let you guys know when I hear something from them.

 

[LovelyLionessa]

Question about the Rainbow Henna: I have read over and over that henna only colors the hair red. So how does rainbow henna color the hair so many different colors and not have any additives?

The only conclusion I can draw from Rainbow Henna's choice of "shades" is this. They do give recipes of different teas and coffee that can be mixed with their henna to alter the shade. Also my guess is the "blond" shades probably have some Cassia in there, the Black Ebony Shade probably contains Indigo and the red shades are probably made up of just plain henna. They tend to call everything "henna" even the Cassia "Neutral Henna" states on its ingriedients that it's henna when we know its really Cassia.

I don't know for sure, it might just be a marketing tool, like how Pantene pretends to have so many different products for all hair types while its the same thing with different packaging.

 

[TwistNMx]

I'm a first time henna user. I used the Surya henna and left it on for 45 minutes...the recommended time. I love the results.

I notice that a lot of people here are doing it for 2 hours. Is there a limit, or can you leave it on all day.

 

[chocolatesis]

The only conclusion I can draw from Rainbow Henna's choice of "shades" is this. They do give recipes of different teas and coffee that can be mixed with their henna to alter the shade. Also my guess is the "blond" shades probably have some Cassia in there, the Black Ebony Shade probably contains Indigo and the red shades are probably made up of just plain henna. They tend to call everything "henna" even the Cassia "Neutral Henna" states on its ingriedients that it's henna when we know its really Cassia.

I don't know for sure, it might just be a marketing tool, like how Pantene pretends to have so many different products for all hair types while its the same thing with different packaging.

Thats what I think also, about the henna. I opened one of the jars of the Rainbow black henna and it looked more like indigo than anything else. You know how indigo tends to look more green than henna? It looked like that.
As far as Pantene goes, it's so funny you mentioned that. I was in CVS yesterday, looking for the Extra Liso line. I remembered that I used to use the Smooth N' Sleek line and that got my hair straight. So I compared the indredients on the conditioners--the same exact ingredients. They just changed the order of some of them. They are slick!

 

[ibelieve]

So I received my samples of Indigo and Henna yesterday. I ordered three samples of each but there doesn't appear to be enough to do an application. Is the purposes of the samples to only test on small amounts of harvested hair?

Anyone know?

Sonya

 

[HoneyDew]

The only conclusion I can draw from Rainbow Henna's choice of "shades" is this. They do give recipes of different teas and coffee that can be mixed with their henna to alter the shade. Also my guess is the "blond" shades probably have some Cassia in there, the Black Ebony Shade probably contains Indigo and the red shades are probably made up of just plain henna. They tend to call everything "henna" even the Cassia "Neutral Henna" states on its ingriedients that it's henna when we know its really Cassia.

I don't know for sure, it might just be a marketing tool, like how Pantene pretends to have so many different products for all hair types while its the same thing with different packaging.

This is the email I got today from Rainbow Research. It does not really answer my questin to them, though. I want to know how they get the different colors w/o additives.
But I agree with you, they must use different natural ingredients.

All I can say is that my hair responded much better to the Rainbow research neutral henna than itdid to the cassia that I bought from HFH.

=====================
From: ******@aol.com
Date: 2006/09/13 Wed AM 06:50:58 CDT
To: ******@verizon.net
Subject: Re: question about your henna

We have been blending henna without chemicals for 30 years. Henna does not work like chemical color and it is not for everyone. Most of the colors are a red or red/brown base. Thanks. RR

 

[fancypants007]

I have a question. I hennaed for the first time this past weekend and I got the stuff all over the d@mn place... ...how do ya'll keep from dripping it? I wore gloves and used my hands to apply it.

I wanted to talk about my henna experience but my home computer is acting up and I haven't brought the info about the henna brand that I used with me to work...

Overall, it was interesting. I got mine from a health food store that said 100% natural only henna and the plant derivative that they used for the color (mohagony). I mixed it with an egg, fresh squeezed lemon juice, once ounce of evoo, and enough hot water to get the right consistency. I will say this. The box that I got was a 4 oz box. They said for shorter hair, to use half the package so that's what I did and, after letting it sit all day before applying it, I found out that I did not have enough to do my whole head from roots to end so I went back and mixed up the second half quickly and applied it immediately. The instructions that came with my package did not say that the henna had to sit for the color to release. So, I guess you could say that I used 2 eggs, juice from two lemons, 2 ounces of evoo... but it turned out pretty well. I did follow up with a DC afterwards (I used patchouli and wheatgerm from Bath and Body Works). I think I'm the only one that can tell the subtle difference in color. I had some very light colored hair that had grown from my head here in recent months and the ends were very dark. Now, it looks all the same color with some slight bronzy looking highlights..

I'm going to go by an Indian store this weekend and see what they have. I'd like to make this part of my weekly routine. I can definitely see the benefits from the conditioning alone. Next time I'll know to use 4 ounces....until I get longer hair...

Kimberly glad to hear that you took the plunge. Yahoooooo! So happy that you had a good experience. Doing henna can be a challenge because of trying to get the "muck" in your hair and not creating a mess at the same time. I tend to do it now with relative ease and I have very little clean up afterwards. I did a henna treatment last saturday and I too ran out of mixture. I use 100g but I think I need more. Did you notice the strength in your hair when you were rinsing the henna out? Henna is cumulative so it will just get better. I ordered some jamila henna which is suppose to be top quality. I can't wait to get it. But just wanted to say congratulations on your success and welcome to the henna club.

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

This is the color I wanted to try w/the either the Rainbow henna or this other one but I was still a little scared to try it. Do you have any pics of your hair so I can see the color?

Also, am I suppose to have little bits of henna in my hair or did I not rinse it out good? I poo'd and con'd this morning for the first time this morning (my directions said to wait at least 3 days even though I DC'd right after) and it feels a lot silkier today than it did the first day and not so "grainy".

 

[Kimberly]

Kimberly glad to hear that you took the plunge. Yahoooooo! So happy that you had a good experience. Doing henna can be a challenge because of trying to get the "muck" in your hair and not creating a mess at the same time. I tend to do it now with relative ease and I have very little clean up afterwards. I did a henna treatment last saturday and I too ran out of mixture. I use 100g but I think I need more. Did you notice the strength in your hair when you were rinsing the henna out? Henna is cumulative so it will just get better. I ordered some jamila henna which is suppose to be top quality. I can't wait to get it. But just wanted to say congratulations on your success and welcome to the henna club.

Thank you so much!

Yes, I did immediately notice that my hair felt stronger...so much so that I want to do it every week. I'll be at a training camp for approximately 12 weeks and I'm trying to figure out how I can work it in that environment. Can bottled water be used or does it HAVE to be distilled water? I'm not sure if I'll have access to distilled water but I know that bottled water will be available in the vending machines. I really want to put myself on my own little "grow out" challenge during those weeks and growing doesn't matter if my hair is not strong and healthy to help maintain the length, right?

Anyway, afterwards, I felt like I had done something really amazing with my hair! I just wonder how the women with BSL and longer keep from getting the "muck" all down their backs and all over their shoulders? And I had globs of it drip a couple of times but I was standing on a towel.

 

[Cichelle]

Well folks, I'm sitting here with henna all over my head. I finally found the time to do it. I used 200 g of henna (had leftovers to which I added some conditioner and put in the freezer). I sifted the henna before I used it. My mixture contained hot water, a teaspoon of pectin and a squeeze or two of my fav conditioner mostly for the smell. I got dye release in an hour. I also used a hand mixer and my mixture came out very smooth, like a pudding mix. Easy application, no drips. I have to say, applying it brought me back to my relaxer days. I kept having to remind myself that yes, I can and want to get henna on my ends!

I'll probably leave this in about 4 hours or so. I'll report back with results. Thanks to eveyone for all the info!

 

[JustKiya]

Anyway, afterwards, I felt like I had done something really amazing with my hair! I just wonder how the women with BSL and longer keep from getting the "muck" all down their backs and all over their shoulders? And I had globs of it drip a couple of times but I was standing on a towel.

*grins* my hair isn't quite as long as yours (no where near, actually ) but this is my routine - I'm sure with the use of clips, you could pull off the same thing.

1) Split head four ways - one part from front to back, one part from ear to ear.
2) Put the henna in an applicator bottle - I mix conditioner and honey in with my henna to help it rinse out easier, and I mix in enough to make it a good 'goopy' texture.
3) Take one section of hair, using the applicator, part, henna, part, henna, part henna, until the roots are all done in that section.
4) Goop the henna into my 'length', twist it up, and clip it (I actually smush it into a little lump - but like I said, mah hair is short!) so it stays outta my way.
5) Do the same for all of the other sections.

Now - that covers the actual application - the next steps are to keep it from dripping EVERYWHERE. I prep this stuff before hand - it takes me barely 1/2 an hour to do my hair once everything is set up.

6) Clip (I smush, but my hair is still short and kinky enough to stay where I smush it) hair up (or wrap it - one of my long haired friends wraps her hair after applying all the henna), and then wrap your head with a length of saran wrap.

7) Take a strip of paper towels long enough to wrap around your head (I need three), fold it into thirds longways, and wrap that around the base of the saran wrap - this is the important, drippy catching part! I secure it in the front with two bobby pins - one over the top edge of the paper towels, the other on the bottom edge.

8) Slap a showercap over the whole thing, and I'm done!!

I go through so much trouble because I USUALLY leave my henna in overnight - sleeping on it and all (I put on a scarf before I go to sleep as extra drippie protection, and sleep on a black pillowcase) - so I need to be sure that the henna ain't going nowhere! If you only leave it on two hours or so, it might not be worth it for you.

 

[Cayenne0622]

Vixxen and Sareca. You ladies are too much! I kept skipping over this thread because I had never considered henna. Vixxen mentioned it to me in PM because I was experiencing so much shedding. I still just put it in the back of my mind. Finally, I kept seeing this thread having so many postings so I decided to start reading (from page 1) yesterday. I only got to page 54 before I gave up. There is so much detailed information in this thread that I am now deciding that I will try henna within the next month. Just wanted to thank you guys for being so diligent in providing everyone with so much information.

I believe you both got married through the duration of this thread, right? So, congrats. And to everyone else that has provided additional information THANK YOU TOO!

I'm a convert but I won't put Ihenna in my siggy until I use it. I want to be legit! lol I couldn't find the smiley with the hearts so I had to use the licker. lol

 

[HoneyDew]

Ok ladies. Another email from Rainbow research:

=====================
From: ***@aol.com
Date: 2006/09/13 Wed AM 09:18:33 CDT
To: ***@verizon.net
Subject: Re: question about your henna

Neutral henna is a bleached leaf of the henna plant. It is colorless. Sometimes it has a beige green look and other times it has a sandy beige look. I have not tried the cassia.


I am not sure about this, but I am doign some reasearch now.

I am reading that the leaves of the henna plant is what dyes red, the stems and stalkes are colorless and the roots are dark.

:scratchch

What do you guys think? Anyone one help me find some good facts on this?

Also, this is what Light Mountain has to say about their henna:

The Versatile Henna Plant
Three species of the Lawsonia plant are used as henna: Inermis, Alba and Spinoza; we know these three as red henna, neutral henna and black henna, based on the characteristic color that each plant produces. These ornamental shrubs, six feet in height, are indigenous to Arabia, Persia, India, Egypt and Australia. They are also cultivated throughout North Africa, Pakistan and China. The deepest shades of red henna have traditionally come from Persia; however, premium grades in other shades often come from other countries. (For example, henna from Lebanon is lighter than henna from Persia.) A wide range of henna colors is necessary to create natural hair colors in deep, true shades.

The henna plant produces a small, fragrant flower which varies in color from white to red. However, when being used commercially, henna is harvested before the plant blooms. The leaves are gathered, the veins are removed and the remaining material is pulverized into a very fine greenish-colored powder. The main constituents of the henna plant are fats, resin, mannitol, volatile oil, fixed oil, lawsone (a natural pigment) and hennatannic acid (a natural protein).

THE LIGHT MOUNTAIN DIFFERENCE Although the primary plant species yields shades of red, the use of neutral and black henna has allowed the development of a wide range of available shades of henna hair coloring, from pure neutral (a natural conditioning and highlighting agent with no coloring agent) to a range of reds, rich browns, dark chestnuts and gleaming black.

 

[Kimberly]

*grins* my hair isn't quite as long as yours (no where near, actually ) but this is my routine - I'm sure with the use of clips, you could pull off the same thing.

1) Split head four ways - one part from front to back, one part from ear to ear.
2) Put the henna in an applicator bottle - I mix conditioner and honey in with my henna to help it rinse out easier, and I mix in enough to make it a good 'goopy' texture.
3) Take one section of hair, using the applicator, part, henna, part, henna, part henna, until the roots are all done in that section.
4) Goop the henna into my 'length', twist it up, and clip it (I actually smush it into a little lump - but like I said, mah hair is short!) so it stays outta my way.
5) Do the same for all of the other sections.

Now - that covers the actual application - the next steps are to keep it from dripping EVERYWHERE. I prep this stuff before hand - it takes me barely 1/2 an hour to do my hair once everything is set up.

6) Clip (I smush, but my hair is still short and kinky enough to stay where I smush it) hair up (or wrap it - one of my long haired friends wraps her hair after applying all the henna), and then wrap your head with a length of saran wrap.

7) Take a strip of paper towels long enough to wrap around your head (I need three), fold it into thirds longways, and wrap that around the base of the saran wrap - this is the important, drippy catching part! I secure it in the front with two bobby pins - one over the top edge of the paper towels, the other on the bottom edge.

8) Slap a showercap over the whole thing, and I'm done!!

I go through so much trouble because I USUALLY leave my henna in overnight - sleeping on it and all (I put on a scarf before I go to sleep as extra drippie protection, and sleep on a black pillowcase) - so I need to be sure that the henna ain't going nowhere! If you only leave it on two hours or so, it might not be worth it for you.

Okay. Your application steps sound great especially the part about putting paper towels on around my big head! I definitely had it drip down my neck from under my plastic the last time....and I used the clips when I parted into my four sections but I did not think to use them after I had applied my henna mix....silly me.

Thanks so much for helping me out on this!

 

[fancypants007]

Thank you so much!

Yes, I did immediately notice that my hair felt stronger...so much so that I want to do it every week. I'll be at a training camp for approximately 12 weeks and I'm trying to figure out how I can work it in that environment. Can bottled water be used or does it HAVE to be distilled water? I'm not sure if I'll have access to distilled water but I know that bottled water will be available in the vending machines. I really want to put myself on my own little "grow out" challenge during those weeks and growing doesn't matter if my hair is not strong and healthy to help maintain the length, right?

Anyway, afterwards, I felt like I had done something really amazing with my hair! I just wonder how the women with BSL and longer keep from getting the "muck" all down their backs and all over their shoulders? And I had globs of it drip a couple of times but I was standing on a towel.

I don't see why bottled water could not work. My hair is almost brastrap and I just wrap the towel around my neck and just section my hair starting in the back and apply it. I do get it on my neck and my ears, but never down my back. I place old sheets on the floor and around my bathroom sink covering up everything. I sit my bowl of henna in the middle and proceed to apply to my hair. One time I made my mixture so thin, that when I moved my turbie twist that was wrapped around my hair, the henna started pouring down my forehead. It was not pretty. I realized I probably used too much oil and honey so I try to get the texture like pancake batter. I too will be doing henna treatments every other week. I just found out that my jamila henna is here that I ordered from the site that sareca recommended. I now have 30 boxes of 100g jamila henna. Yippeeeeee!

 

[Kimberly]

I don't see why bottled water could not work. My hair is almost brastrap and I just wrap the towel around my neck and just section my hair starting in the back and apply it. I do get it on my neck and my ears, but never down my back. I place old sheets on the floor and around my bathroom sink covering up everything. I sit my bowl of henna in the middle and proceed to apply to my hair. One time I made my mixture so thin, that when I moved my turbie twist that was wrapped around my hair, the henna started pouring down my forehead. It was not pretty. I realized I probably used too much oil and honey so I try to get the texture like pancake batter. I too will be doing henna treatments every other week. I just found out that my jamila henna is here that I ordered from the site that sareca recommended. I now have 30 boxes of 100g jamila henna. Yippeeeeee!

That's funny. For some reason, I can not ever manage to keep a towel wrapped around my shoulders.

If I can do this with bottled water, I hope to come back with a new head of hair!

 

[Cichelle]

I use a hair clip (one of those plastic claws) to keep the towel on my shoulders. I just clip the two sides together in front.

 

[alexstin]

I use a little shoulder cape I bought from Sallys. It closes with velcro and works like a charm.

 

[fancypants007]

I use a hair clip (one of those plastic claws) to keep the towel on my shoulders. I just clip the two sides together in front.

Thanks, thanks, thanks, because I was battling with that towel. I will use clips to try to keep together so I can concentrate on putting henna in my hair.

 

[Cichelle]

I can now officially say, "I henna!"

I am so happy with the way my hair looks and feels! And the whole mixing and applying was so much easier and faster than I imagined! Rinsing was not difficult either. I got some tips from another board that made clean up a snap. The whole experience was very positive. And my grays are gone!

I will definitely be doing this regularly.

I think I said my mix before, but here it is:

200 grams of FNWL henna, sifted
1 tsp pectin
hot water
a couple of squeezes of conditioner

Dye release in an hour. I left it on my hair for 4 hours.

I am so happy!

 

[alexstin]

I can now officially say, "I henna!"

I am so happy with the way my hair looks and feels! And the whole mixing and applying was so much easier and faster than I imagined! Rinsing was not difficult either. I got some tips from another board that made clean up a snap. The whole experience was very positive. And my grays are gone!

I will definitely be doing this regularly.

I think I said my mix before, but here it is:

200 grams of FNWL henna, sifted
1 tsp pectin
hot water
a couple of squeezes of conditioner

Dye release in an hour. I left it on my hair for 4 hours.

I am so happy!

Girl, you know you need to share your tips and did you sift with a regular metal sifter?

 

[LovelyLionessa]

Thats what I think also, about the henna. I opened one of the jars of the Rainbow black henna and it looked more like indigo than anything else. You know how indigo tends to look more green than henna? It looked like that.
As far as Pantene goes, it's so funny you mentioned that. I was in CVS yesterday, looking for the Extra Liso line. I remembered that I used to use the Smooth N' Sleek line and that got my hair straight. So I compared the indredients on the conditioners--the same exact ingredients. They just changed the order of some of them. They are slick!

Oh, did you use you you use your Rainbow "black" henna yet? I have that too but haven't tried it yet. Let me know how it works for you.

That's funny about the Pantene Extra Liso line. I read some threads on it and it peaked my pj curiosity but SUPRISE! Low and behold its like the rest of their products... erplexed

 

[Cichelle]

Girl, you know you need to share your tips and did you sift with a regular metal sifter?

I actually sifted with a mesh colander. I tried to find one of those flour sifters at the store the other day, but the one they had was too big...and broken. So I put my henna in the mesh colander and tapped on the side of it with a knife.

 

[Mestiza]

Yeah! I just got my Jamila today. I also got amla and lavendar, sage, and rosemary to terp. Does anyone use any amla in their henna? The package says it actually darkens the hair. My daughter will also be doing her hair, but she wants hers bright red. She wants to use red wine but I refuse to go in the liquor store. What's a mommy to do?

I use amla in my henna mix, sometimes. It makes my hair very, very dark. I used more of that than henna my first time and my SO thought that I had dyed my hair black.

 

[Mestiza]

I have a question. I hennaed for the first time this past weekend and I got the stuff all over the d@mn place... ...how do ya'll keep from dripping it? I wore gloves and used my hands to apply it.

I learned the hard way to use more henna to keep it from being too thin and running down my neck and making a huge mess. You should've seen me when I first started. Now, I make it pretty thick. I use gloves and apply it w/ my hands, too. I use gloves when it's to time to wash it out of my hair, also.

 

[Mestiza]

I'm a first time henna user. I used the Surya henna and left it on for 45 minutes...the recommended time. I love the results.

I notice that a lot of people here are doing it for 2 hours. Is there a limit, or can you leave it on all day.

There isn't a set time limit. I've slept w/ henna on my hair overnight.

 

[alexstin]

I use amla in my henna mix, sometimes. It makes my hair very, very dark. I used more of that than henna my first time and my SO thought that I had dyed my hair black.

That sounds great and amla is cheaper than indigo.

 

[Mestiza]

Thank you so much!

Yes, I did immediately notice that my hair felt stronger...so much so that I want to do it every week. I'll be at a training camp for approximately 12 weeks and I'm trying to figure out how I can work it in that environment. Can bottled water be used or does it HAVE to be distilled water? I'm not sure if I'll have access to distilled water but I know that bottled water will be available in the vending machines. I really want to put myself on my own little "grow out" challenge during those weeks and growing doesn't matter if my hair is not strong and healthy to help maintain the length, right?

Anyway, afterwards, I felt like I had done something really amazing with my hair! I just wonder how the women with BSL and longer keep from getting the "muck" all down their backs and all over their shoulders? And I had globs of it drip a couple of times but I was standing on a towel.

Welcome to the wondeful world of henna!

I don't see why bottled wouldn't work.

I have a t-shirt that I wear only when I henna my hair. It has been stained by the henna, but that's okay. I wear a shampoo cape, but it's not long enough in the back, which, is why the t-shirt is a necessity for me.

 

[Mestiza]

That sounds great and amla is cheaper than indigo.

It sure is! I do want to use indigo b/c I love blue-black hair! I'm still waiting for it to arrive at the store. I have to check back in a week, or so.

 

[Mestiza]

I hennaed my hair overnight last week using henna, tumeric and hot water w/ lemon juice. The henna mix was sooooo heavy on my head and my scalp was kinda sore. The lady at the Indian store told me that b/c I have a lot of hair that's to be expected. I'll probably leave the henna on my hair for a few hours the next time.