Yeah, another henna thread

[jeamaria]

Jazzi- if you want to preserve your black color, you can do the double process with henna and indigo. This gives the deepest black, and it's longlasting. Immediately after rinsing the henna from your hair, you mix and apply the indigo. The henna helps the indigo hold onto the hair much better than if you use it by itself. A comparison I heard was that using indigo alone is like stacking bricks together, and using henna + indigo is like stacking those same bricks with mortar. Well, it was much more well-put than that, but I hope I got the point across.

Gypsycurls-It's good to hear that your hair is coming around after the bad experience you had with henna. This gives me hope! I really want the strength it brings but I was so scared of the side effects. Looking through the hennaforhair site, I noticed a lot of people saying that lemon and orange juice were way too harsh for their hair, and for some, even ACV. There is currently a thread where a poster just used strong-brewed chamomile tea instead. She got good dye release, and avoided the stiffness and tangles she had just accepted as part and parcel of the henna experience while using ACV.

@Wildchild453-How often are you hennaing these days?

[Wildchild453]

I henna once a month now, Jeamaria and I'm slowly but surely starting to notice the loosening especially in my crown. I don't know what to do(I don't have any alma) b/c besides that one flaw I love the henna

[jazzi]

Jazzi- if you want to preserve your black color, you can do the double process with henna and indigo. This gives the deepest black, and it's longlasting. Immediately after rinsing the henna from your hair, you mix and apply the indigo. The henna helps the indigo hold onto the hair much better than if you use it by itself. A comparison I heard was that using indigo alone is like stacking bricks together, and using henna + indigo is like stacking those same bricks with mortar. Well, it was much more well-put than that, but I hope I got the point across.

That's exactly what I'm gonna do

I just finished mixing the henna...it has the consistency of chocolate pudding...I think I added too much liquid b/c  isn't it supposed to be really thick (mashed potato like)?  Hope it still works 

[keepitmovin]

I thought that indigo alone was supposed to turn your hair green or something...let me know how well the indigo holds up over time.  I'm so sick of searching for the perfect longlasting thing that works for my coverage of grays.  Henna was great, but I don't like the color.

[jazzi]

KIM, I used it alone and didn't get green.  I think that's the rule for blondes.  It didn't last very long though.  I'd say after about 4 shampoos, it faded out.  That's why I'm doing the henna now.  Hopefully the indigo will last longer with this to bind to.

As I'm sitting here covered in henna, I'm wondering how folks do this all the time...plus, I have to add the indigo and wait on that.

No matter how the results are, I'll probably just stick w Bigen Oriental Black b/c this is way too time consuming.  I've been stuck in the house all day for some damn henna! LOL

ETA: This is the guide I'm using
You are not allowed to view links.Register or Login

[keepitmovin]

KIM, I used it alone and didn't get green.  I think that's the rule for blondes.  It didn't last very long though.  I'd say after about 4 shampoos, it faded out.  That's why I'm doing the henna now.  Hopefully the indigo will last longer with this to bind to.

As I'm sitting here covered in henna, I'm wondering how folks do this all the time...plus, I have to add the indigo and wait on that.

No matter how the results are, I'll probably just stick w Bigen Oriental Black b/c this is way too time consuming.  I've been stuck in the house all day for some damn henna! LOL

ETA: This is the guide I'm using
You are not allowed to view links.Register or Login

it's too much for all of that once a week stuff, imo.  that's one of those once every now and agains.


are you still here with me jazzi??? lol ...can't you tell I'm worrisome when I'm sick?

[jazzi]

Girl, I'm bored too!   

ETA: I finally finshed the henna and indigo process...My hair feels very soft and much lighter...but...this was WAY too deep a process for the results.  I could have gotten the same results w a shampoo and DT.  As for the color, it's darker. 

I was just expecting something so "WOW!"  you know?  You can't log on to any hair site and not be bombarded w the raves of henna.  MAYBE it takes a few applications...this is my first...but I'm not the least bit impressed. 

So much for the bandwagon! 

[GypsyCurls]

Jazzi, any time.  I had to make sure I tell you about the ACV and Lemon Juice.  It can make or break your experience. 

My hair did loosen in its curl pattern and I was dismayed a little bit.  But since I was not trying to use it on a weekly basis as a deep treatment, after about 1 month my hair returned to normal and all the benefits of henna remained.  I do believe that doing it too often is not as beneficial to certain curly hair.  For me, the frequency will be about every two months.  The effects are long lasting.  It has been about a month since the last time I did it and I am finally loving my hair again.

Jazzi, please let me know how it works for you.  I am so curious.  We may not be exact hair twins, but when I look at your pics, our hair is very similar in curl pattern and texture.

[keepitmovin]

I had to admit it myself, it's overrated, IMO.  It does strengthen your hair and I believe the shine factor is increased, but uhm, I still have to DT behind it.

You said it's darker...do you like how dark it came out? As much as I like black hair, I don't ever want to make the mistake of going so dark people think I'm goth again (long story and I had the nerve to have long hair too....not pretty, I was so pale).

[GypsyCurls]

KIM and Jazzi, Henna definitely did not knock me off my feet when I first used it and the next two times afterwards.  The lasting benefits that I liked from the henna was the color. It is and can be overrated.  And I jumped on it too. I thought I was an oddball or had some "special" hair because I did not get those glorious results that everyone else did.

The process is a bugga bear, do you hear me?  And I am not sure how some people can do it on a regular basis.  Maybe the the pros for them far outweighs the inconvenience and lengthy process.  But I did not get enough of the pros to endure that regularly.

Jeamaria~Thanks for the kind words.  I am happy that my hair did return to normal.  And normal means better than the first 3 processes.  It feels very soft now, but I can no longer compare it to how my soft my hair was before the henna.  So easy to forget.  Knowing what I found out after my first experience, I could really have done without it.

[Tanisha]

I did a henna treatment for the 1st time 2 weeks ago and kept it in for about 3-4 hours. It was uh....
Well, I used henna,ACV, and molasses. OMG, the smell was just wrong, but I had to go with it cuz henna ain't cheap. My daughter left the house because it just lingered & lingered...anyway, I got that recipe from someone's fotki who had awesome hair.

Anyway, as far as the results go, my hair felt fine afterwards and yes my crown was noticeably looser and I still don't think it's snapped back yet so now I have to order some amla. My gray's are orange which is kinda funny to me(I don't have many so it's not a problem). I used the molasses bcuz they said it would tone down the red a bit-I don't think so.

So, will I henna again? Yeah. I have too much left not to. It wasn't as messy as I thought and after rinsing galore, I didn't leave too much behind. I'd scratch and have orange under my nail but the next wash got it all out.

I know people say it strengthens hair, but what if you already have strong hair?? In other words, I can't tell that it's done anything-my hair is healthy. Maybe after a few more uses I'll see a diff.

[keepitmovin]

Not sure if it's the henna, the molasses or what, but my grays turned more of a bright red and then toned down after a couple of days to look like auburn highlights.  I actually like the grays but hate the color of the rest of my hair (dirty reddish brown is what it's look like).  I haven't ordered more since running out because I haven't decided what route to go with coloring.  I don't want to permanently commit to black hair but I'm not ready to color just yet...what to do...damn semi permanents.

[GypsyCurls]

I went to Henna for the color.  I had been wanted to add some oomph to my look and I wanted to either color my hair or add highlights.  Since, I know that color and my hair does not mix well, it really dries it out.  Then I decided on highlights, but got nervous about those too.  I probably should have just gone that route.  But since henna was more natural I decided on it after 6 months of just talking and wondering about coloring my hair.

Henna won out and I like the color it gave me, but I wanted something a little lighter than what Henna can do for me.  I will have to see what will happen.  I am like you in that regard KIM.  But my hair is already dark and I want to go just a little lighter in brown.

[jazzi]

I just typed out my whole experience and the page expired!   


Anyway, I'll just sum it up w some pics:
You are not allowed to view links.Register or Login

My hair is alot shinier, feels stronger, and is much more elastic...no curl loosening, but I didn't expect it w my shrinkage.  The indigo took better with the henna than it did alone...it is nice and black like I wanted.  Overall, the results are OK, but I was expecting so much more given the raves.  I also wasn't expecting to have to DT afterwards b/c I thought the henna was the DT.  For me, the process is too involved for the results. and like Tanisha mentioned, my hair is already healthy, so it's hard to gauge the results.

Gypsy, I agree that out hair is very similar.

KIM, I wanted the deep black results so it's ok for me, but I agree that it may be a bit much for your complexion. 


Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased w the results, but I just don't think they are that much better than your average clarify and DT.  The color, I think, is where the raving comes from.