Yeah, another henna thread

[jazzi]

Ok girls...

Honestly, for those of you that use henna regularly, are you really seeing/feeling a difference in your hair?  Is it really worth all the hype?  Are the results immediate or over time?  I just wanna know b/c I'm gonna use it sometime soon and would like to know what to expect.  I know lots of things are blown waaaaay out of proportion, just for the sheer exoticness of it,but I know you'll keep it real

[nappy_crown]

I've used henna TWICE and honestly, other than the color (which I REALLY liked)....i didn't notice anything worth shouting over.  For me, it was the whole "spa/pampering" myself thing that I liked, I put the henna on, gave myself a facial, did my nails, and took a nice long bubble bath before rinsing it out.  I've been considering doing it more often, since the effects are SUPPOSED to be cumulative...but I dunno...lol.

I know that Spiral is a henna user, and she loves the stuff!

[Amber]

I'm still not sure what this stuff is supposed to do for you. 

[keepitmovin]

I've done it 4 times in the last 6 months.  I have noticed my hair is shinier.  I have noticed the color change.  My hair does feel stronger, but honestly, it felt stronger when I did protein treatments too (like the Elucence one that you used to use jazzi, I forgot the name). 

Because my hair doesn't tend to be as shiny naturally, I like that added shine.  I don't have anymore or any less frizz than I had before if I use the same methods (for example, don't comb vs. comb). 

My main reason for using it at all continuously is the shine factor (well, the color too, but I'm not feeling it, so, I'm thinking about trying cassia). Other than that, once I rinse the stuff out really well (and it does take some work), I don't see a difference.

[mistytee]

I've did henna a lot in the past and my hair was left
shinier and moisturized with a hint of color...I was pleased with
all the colors I've ever tried...LOL

The only brand I was pleased with was Light Mountain..
I would mix oils and a egg with the henna and leave it on all day
and I never experience any texture change.

[Imla]

Henna helps tremendously with detangling and it thickens my fine hair.  Extra bonus is my copper highlights (gray hair).  No texture changes and no need for protein treatments.

[Kinkerbelle]

But is the prep, messiness and time involved really worth it?  It seems like an all day/2 day project.

Would you say it is good enough to replace your protein treatments altogether (if you do/did them)?

[AllieCat0817]

I totally love it because it 100% covers my gray and makes them a beautiful bright copper!  I also notice major shine and what appears to be more thickness to the strands.  I will continue to use it, but never any boxed henna's (they usually hav metallic dyes etc).  I say educate yourself before you use it.  I got body art quality (BAQ) henna (pure 100% henna) from You are not allowed to view links.Register or Login

www.mehandi.com

.

[Imla]

Kinkerbelle, it is messy, but so worth it.  I know some leave their henna in overnight, but dye uptake has always been quick on my hair, so I only need 3 hours.  For me, the longest part of the process is waiting for dye release before applying.

So far, I haven't needed a protein treatment (2 mos.)

[curly4life]

I like it for the colour.  I have not done it enough to determine if it will thicken my fine hair and it has no impact on detangling (neither better nor worse).

As for the mess, I don't have a big problem. I always mix the night before, apply it the next day, leave it on a couple of hours.  Do all the major rinsing in the kitchen sink and then do the rest in the shower.

It is not something that I would do monthly just because of the time factor but at least every quarter.

[gmw]

I am still sitting on the fence with henna. 
The reason I bought it was for the manageability factor. I haven't really noticed that it did anything in that dept. However my hair is really strong after the treatment. However my hair also feels hard. It usually takes a few days of co-washing to get it back to feeling normal.

I buy BAQ from Mehandi and I mix it up and put it on my head. I don't always wait for the dye to release. It still does what I want it to do, which is just condition it. My last treatment was in May 07.

It does give my daughter's hair major bling. Beautiful shine!

However I have some in the freezer right now waiting to be mixed, and I am in no rush. I just don't want to get caught up in the henna hype. I do pretty good with my own homade dt and protective styling. 

[jazzi]

Thanks you guys

[GypsyCurls]

I have used it four times and the first time I did....I was so disappointed.  My hair didn't seem to get thoroughly wet or accept my products like it used to.  That bothered me.  My hair shines very well on its own, so I didn't notice any difference in the shine department either.  My hair was not soft, it was actually very dry.  So, it took about a week to get it back moisturized. 

I tried it again, because I thought I might have done something wrong.  And the results were like the first.  And my hair seemed drier than before.

The third time was better.  My hair now feels like doll hair.  I am not sure I like it feeling like that.  My hair is much thicker than before and that is not a good thing to me.  It does have that burgundy color cast to it when seeing it in the light.  I do like the color.  It does feel a little stronger, but not by much.  But the crown of my head that was always prone to dryness, is more dry now.  And I have lost some curl definition in areas that are more wavy and has s-curls.  That is the worse part about it.  My hair isn't super curly to begin with.  I am hoping that it will come back, but it has been about two months now and it has not returned.

I prefer the feel of my own hair before the henna treatments.  But I am glad that I did it four times.  It is in a state now, that is better than the first couple times.  If you don't like it, you'll have to transition your hair.  That is what I am doing.  The color and the strength factors does not outweigh the feel, dryness of my trouble patch, thicker strands, or the loss of curl definition in my looser curl areas.

And I really did not have any mess.  I mixed it in a freezer bag and kept it thick.  I had no splattering or mess to clean up.  It was not all over my clothes or anything.  I cut a small hole in the corner of the bag and squeezed it out for each section of my hair.  I did stain my hands slightly.  Wear gloves for the whole process to include washing and conditioning your hair.

It is a gamble.  Some people have had great results and that is what I went on.  I crapped out, but my hair is not destroyed or terrible.  I am disappointed because it is not better.  For me it was not worth the hype.

[jazzi]

Thank you so much for the detail Gypsy! 

[curly4life]

I mixed it in a freezer bag and kept it thick.  I had no splattering or mess to clean up.  It was not all over my clothes or anything.  I cut a small hole in the corner of the bag and squeezed it out for each section of my hair. 

That is a great tip!  If/when I do it again, I will do it this way!

Thanks Gypsy!!!