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Why does henna cause serious matting?
- Thread starter Lebiya
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NappyNelle
Kinky Coily 4A, Fine Strands, WSL
Henna removes a lot of moisture from the hair and acts like a protein. Are you following up with a pure moisture deep conditioner?
newgrowth15
Well-Known Member
Lebiya, I have a couple of questions for you. How are you putting the henna in your hair? What are you mixing into your henna? How are you rinsing the henna out of your hair?
When I apply henna to my hair, I use the Nupur brand that I get from the Indian grocery store. I no longer wash my hair before applying henna (too drying with all the washing and rinsing after) and I mix 1 cup of V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner into my mix before applying. I find the best application for me is to put my hair in braids and then apply the henna. I get better coverage of my grays and no matting. I fill the kitchen sink with warm water, stick my head in it and rinse as much henna out as possible in the sink. I rinse any remaining residue out in the shower. I then wash and deep condition my hair. Since my hair is in braids the whole time, I don't experience any matting and the henna rinses out very easily. Sorry for the novel, but I hope it helps you.
When I apply henna to my hair, I use the Nupur brand that I get from the Indian grocery store. I no longer wash my hair before applying henna (too drying with all the washing and rinsing after) and I mix 1 cup of V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner into my mix before applying. I find the best application for me is to put my hair in braids and then apply the henna. I get better coverage of my grays and no matting. I fill the kitchen sink with warm water, stick my head in it and rinse as much henna out as possible in the sink. I rinse any remaining residue out in the shower. I then wash and deep condition my hair. Since my hair is in braids the whole time, I don't experience any matting and the henna rinses out very easily. Sorry for the novel, but I hope it helps you.
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
I had drying/matting only once when I tried to mix coffee in my henna to release the dye. Did you mix stuff in it? Lots of people do, then complain that it's drying and causes mattes when they never even tried the powder just with water alone. 
I only mix it with water now and have no issues.
People mix protein conditioners or regular conditioners and all manner of stuff that doesn't need to go into a henna mix. An overnight DC can be done any other time. Henna in itself can be a little acidic, so why add stuff that will make it moreso (like tea, coffee, protein DCs, etc).
If you did mix stuff, next time try it with distilled water only and see what happens...
I only mix it with water now and have no issues.
People mix protein conditioners or regular conditioners and all manner of stuff that doesn't need to go into a henna mix. An overnight DC can be done any other time. Henna in itself can be a little acidic, so why add stuff that will make it moreso (like tea, coffee, protein DCs, etc).
If you did mix stuff, next time try it with distilled water only and see what happens...
Onhergrind09
Well-Known Member
I've never had problems with matting as a result of doing henna and I've been doing it every 6 weeks for more than a year now. A few suggestions that I would make would be
1) Don't wash henna out, co-wash it out. After stepping into the shower with henna it my hair I put my head under the running water for about a minute but I don't ouch my hair at all. I then put a glob of conditioner (any cheapie will do) in my hand and massage it into my hair, that way it loosens up the henna and allows it to simply rinse out with little extra manipulation aside from the act of me massaging in the conditioner.
2) I don't know if this applies to you but I will no longer go to sleep with henna in my hair, I'm too wild a sleeper and I find that it gives me unnecessary breakage.
3) Then only thing I mix into my henna besides distilled water is oils in order to make it more moisturizing. I find that with henna, adding anything else i.e what DarkJoy said is not only unnecessary but makes it more drying on the hair.
I hope this helps.
1) Don't wash henna out, co-wash it out. After stepping into the shower with henna it my hair I put my head under the running water for about a minute but I don't ouch my hair at all. I then put a glob of conditioner (any cheapie will do) in my hand and massage it into my hair, that way it loosens up the henna and allows it to simply rinse out with little extra manipulation aside from the act of me massaging in the conditioner.
2) I don't know if this applies to you but I will no longer go to sleep with henna in my hair, I'm too wild a sleeper and I find that it gives me unnecessary breakage.
3) Then only thing I mix into my henna besides distilled water is oils in order to make it more moisturizing. I find that with henna, adding anything else i.e what DarkJoy said is not only unnecessary but makes it more drying on the hair.
I hope this helps.
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
Oooo Onhergrind09! Think I'll steal that co-washing out idea...! Thanks!
NappyNelle
Kinky Coily 4A, Fine Strands, WSL
And did you apply your henna on previously oiled hair, OP?
Thanks for sharing your tips newgrowth15, DarkJoy and Onhergrind09. I haven't used henna myself, but I researched the Ayurveda threads for a couple weeks.
Thanks for sharing your tips newgrowth15, DarkJoy and Onhergrind09. I haven't used henna myself, but I researched the Ayurveda threads for a couple weeks.
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
YW NappyNelle--just ignore YTers who mix half their kitchen in their henna..wth?! Too much drama. Keep it simple. It ain't all that.
There's a "New Henna Thread" floating around here too, btw...
Onhergrind09
Well-Known Member
.IDareT'sHair
PJ Rehabilitation Center
Never had Mats/Tangles.
I squirt a little oil in my Henna after the dye releases right before Application.
Upon Rinsing as everyone else has said: I rinse with a Cheapie Conditioner i.e. VO5, Suave etc....
I use about 1 bottle of the cheapie and after cowashing it all out, I steam with something Moisturizing.
I squirt a little oil in my Henna after the dye releases right before Application.
Upon Rinsing as everyone else has said: I rinse with a Cheapie Conditioner i.e. VO5, Suave etc....
I use about 1 bottle of the cheapie and after cowashing it all out, I steam with something Moisturizing.
~*~ShopAholic~*~
Well-Known Member
Make sure you detangle well to remove any shed hairs before applying the henna. I add a moisturizing conditioner and oil to my mix after the dye release. So rinsing is much easier. Then I use a cheap but moisture conditioner to help remove any henna that's left. I shampoo with a moisture rich shampoo, then DC with a moisture rich DC. I also don't manipulate my hair much when rinsing the henna out.
I've been using henna consistently for about 8 years and inconsistently longer than that. It's never caused matting for me. I add a little bit of oil to the henna mix. I don't conditioner wash afterwards but many people who post here do and that should take care of your problem.
WendellaWoody
New Member
My question is, are you using BAQ henna? Maybe a finer sift like Jamila would be best for your hair?
Like many of the previous ladies mentioned, I have NEVER experienced matting after a henna treatment, and I've been using it off and on since 2009. I'm relaxed, so that may be why my hair has never matted.
I'd say incorporate an oil like EVOO into your mix immediately prior to applying it, co-wash it out during your rinsing step, and DC like a mug (either under steam or hood dryer). HTH!!
Like many of the previous ladies mentioned, I have NEVER experienced matting after a henna treatment, and I've been using it off and on since 2009. I'm relaxed, so that may be why my hair has never matted.
I'd say incorporate an oil like EVOO into your mix immediately prior to applying it, co-wash it out during your rinsing step, and DC like a mug (either under steam or hood dryer). HTH!!
greenandchic
Well-Known Member
What I do to prevent matting (and drying):
BAQ henna only - Or at least henna that has a fine shift: Jamila, Reshma, Nupur, etc. Henna that has twigs and such matts my hair up.
Cake batter consistency - When its stiff like brownie batter, it seems to fuse my hair together more.
Henna gloss - I mix conditioners, melted butter and oils in my henna after dye release. Melted cocoa butter and coconut oil always keeps my hair soft. I apply the henna immediately after adding the melted oils/butters to to keep it from solidifying. I also keep plastic caps on my hair so that the henna wont turn into cement.
Cowash - Like Onhergrind09 stated, cowash it out. I never use shampoo after henna treatment.
DC - Extra moisturizing, no protein, high fat DC for a least an hour always does the trick.
BAQ henna only - Or at least henna that has a fine shift: Jamila, Reshma, Nupur, etc. Henna that has twigs and such matts my hair up.
Cake batter consistency - When its stiff like brownie batter, it seems to fuse my hair together more.
Henna gloss - I mix conditioners, melted butter and oils in my henna after dye release. Melted cocoa butter and coconut oil always keeps my hair soft. I apply the henna immediately after adding the melted oils/butters to to keep it from solidifying. I also keep plastic caps on my hair so that the henna wont turn into cement.
Cowash - Like Onhergrind09 stated, cowash it out. I never use shampoo after henna treatment.
DC - Extra moisturizing, no protein, high fat DC for a least an hour always does the trick.
auparavant
New Member
Some people get it. Depends upon the individual. Apply it for one hour only and then deep condition with a good, oily conditioner. Add olive oil to it or so. Some people can't go hours with henna on or else they get dry, matted hair.
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