What's the deal with relaxing henna'd hair?

[Kiowa]

I spent nearly an hour commute to go to salon, when I got there, was already getting some vibes from the stylist..(she's not my regular) - bottom line she would not relax my hair since I had some henna (from months ago just really covering the the gray) in it. She then said I'd need to sign a waiver, but couldn't find it. I left her talking to herself, and got up out of that chair and thought when I get home I would ask the LHCF experts?

 

[faithVA]

I don't know about the henna and the relaxer. I am glad that she didn't want to do your hair though because she was probably going to mess your hair up. And glad you left her talking to herself

 

[H0tPinkButtafly]

I think its fine to relax it. The henna was months ago. Im relaxed and I do henna with no problem. I just don't do them around the same time but for no particular reason.

 

[Duff]

there are many many henna'd relaxed heads here

 

[Kiowa]

I don't know about the henna and the relaxer. I am glad that she didn't want to do your hair though because she was probably going to mess your hair up. And glad you left her talking to herself

I had to leave...It's was already Hot outside, and I had steam coming out of my ears, and I hadn't been anywhere near the dryer, and I loathe being in rush hour traffic if I don't have too..

 

[Evolving78]

you are not suppose to use other chemicals with hair that has been exposed to henna. henna can act as a barrier or a coating making it harder for the relaxer to penetrate. she did right. if you are comfortable, i would just take the risk and do it on your own.

 

[classoohfive]

Did you use body art quality henna? There's henna, then there's "henna", lol. There are some products that are nothing but chemicals with henna mixed in, which can damage the hair and in that case I would understand not wanting to relax hair. If you used the right kind of henna, then you should be okay. In fact, the reason I use henna for my grays is because I relax/texlax. It would be easier for me to grab a box of dye but since I already use chemicals to weaken my hair (to break down the curl) I avoid it when it comes to coloring my grays. Plus, henna can help give hair strength which chemically treated hair needs.

So long story short, lol, if you used quality henna then you should be okay to relax. There are many relaxed henna heads around here! I'm going to touch up my henna next weekend

Sorry you spent all that time for nothing. Even if she was afraid to do your hair, I'm reading this as her coming off rude about it.

 

[NIN4eva]

If you're determined to do it, you'd have to treat it with same caution that you'd use with lightened hair....Relax, then lighten--Stretch--relax, then lighten (or in your case "henna")--Stretch--, etc. If that makes any sense. And any overlapping that happens will be the end of those hairs. You'll be hard-pressed to find someone with a license willing to do it.

 

[classoohfive]

This is one of many henna threads. This link should bring up posts within that thread with the word "relax", if not just click "search this thread" at the top of the thread and type in relax or any other search times you'd like.

 

[Kiowa]

This is one of many henna threads. This link should bring up posts within that thread with the word "relax", if not just click "search this thread" at the top of the thread and type in relax or any other search times you'd like.

Thanks! I didn't mean to be lazy, I was so angry I just couldn't see straight..

 

[Kiowa]

Did you use body art quality henna? There's henna, then there's "henna", lol. There are some products that are nothing but chemicals with henna mixed in, which can damage the hair and in that case I would understand not wanting to relax hair. If you used the right kind of henna, then you should be okay. In fact, the reason I use henna for my grays is because I relax/texlax. It would be easier for me to grab a box of dye but since I already use chemicals to weaken my hair (to break down the curl) I avoid it when it comes to coloring my grays. Plus, henna can help give hair strength which chemically treated hair needs.

So long story short, lol, if you used quality henna then you should be okay to relax. There are many relaxed henna heads around here! I'm going to touch up my henna next weekend

Sorry you spent all that time for nothing. Even if she was afraid to do your hair, I'm reading this as her coming off rude about it.

I only use the body art quality henna...I'm thinking either she musta been sued before, or something before...I asked her for waiver paper for me to sign..

 

[crazytrish75]

I am relaxed and henna all the time with no problems. I only use BAQ Henna. I do stretch my relaxers to 12-16 weeks at at time. If you henna then relax, you will notice a lot of orange when you go to neutralize, but it has never hurt my head. I just wait a couple of weeks post and henna again! HTH!

I am also a total d-i-y girl, relaxers and all....

 

[Lymegreen]

My old stylist did not like when I used henna. She would always blame any hair issue I was having on the fact that I used henna. I eventually stopped going to her and my hair is just fine.

Some stylist just get alarmed when we do things at home that they are not familiar with. Truth is that most stylist to not study up on henna other than the non baq kind that we all know to stay away from.

 

[charmtreese]

Many stylist are taught not to relax hair that has been treated with henna, there is even a section about this in my cosmetology book. However, this only holds true for henna that is chemically derived (containing metals), not for BAQ henna. It was probably best that you left if she did not give you a thorough enough consultation to find out what type of henna was used. But then again it is quite possible she doesn't have a clear understanding of henna anyway.

 

[Onhergrind09]

With body art quality henna, you should wait 2 weeks after applying it to relax or wait 2 weeks after applying a relaxer to henna. That has been my rule of thumb. The henna acts as a barrier and therefore relaxer doesn't process your hair in the same way so it's best to give it some time in between.

 

[classoohfive]

Thanks! I didn't mean to be lazy, I was so angry I just couldn't see straight..

I didn't think you were being lazy and I understand. I was the one being lazy because I didn't feel like going into detail so I just linked to people who already did lol

Since you're using BAQ henna you should be okay, a lot of complaints I've heard about henna and relaxers/other chemicals usually had to do with people using non-BAQ which had chemicals in it. I get why she was scared but it sounds like she was rude about it and probably lying about not locating the wavier because she really didn't want to do it. Too bad you didn't know before you went all that way. Probably best not to have someone work on your hair that doesn't want to.

I don't do my henna applications right around the time I plan to relax, only because it tends to temporarily loosen my hair curl pattern and I telax, so I wouldn't be able to tell how much of the loosened curl is from permanent relaxer or temporary from henna. That shouldn't be an issue for you since your henna was months ago. In the future, if you do henna and relax around the same time you might want to up your deep conditioning since both can be drying, especially if you do indigo. Also, since your hair is stronger it may be a little more resistant to relaxing so you might want to do a strand test.

Good luck with your hair.

 

[yaya24]

My stylist when I was relaxed used to say the same thing.
I switched stylists and never heard the issue again.

Like others have said BAQ henna is fine.

 

[baddison]

I've been henna'ing my relaxed hair for 4 years now. I have no issues whatsoever. I henna with NUPUR henna every single month - whole head & overnite!! I relax 3 times per year (every 4 months). No problems for me...