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Henna...what THE ***.

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yuhlovevybz

Well-Known Member
Um...ladies...Why do you do this??

Okay, so let's start the story off as I've been meaning to do something with my hair, so I went to the new weave shop the sprouted in the mall by my home. Looking at it, I realized that I just really was not in the mood for it, I often dislike weave and take it out and miss my real hair, or feel insecure about it like I'm filling in a stereotype that WE can't have our own real hair, so after looking for awhile (at that, as well as my winter clothing budget :grin:) I decided nah, let's wait until I'm sure I wanna go through with the sew in thing. While looking, I discover boxes of henna and I think hmm lhcf talks about henna a lot, I've been trying to dye my hair and it comes out looking like a$$, I STILL have color patches going on, so let's do this.

So, I mix up the henna with the tiny pack of olive oil it comes with, water, lemon juice and coconut oil. First of all, when I poured the dry henna in the bowl, I almost stopped what I was doing and assumed crack-addict stance above the bowl; something about the smell reminded me of.....other things. :sekret: But once I added water, mixed it up, let it sit for two hours and revisited...it LOOKED and SMELLED like the bowel movements my dog used to make when she was sick. I almost chucked it, then remembered the sketch Asian lady telling me how good henna is for the hair. So I was like, whatev, put it in my hair, and immediately my hair becomes heavy and falls into straight pieces. Hopefully that part isn't permanent, or I'm going to start throwing things. Plus my hair is green right now. I'm just preserving faith and hoping everything turns out okay.

On the other hand, my henna is sitting underneath a plastic cap, satin cap, and tied up tee shirt. Can't smell a thing. I'll definitely update on how it turns out, but right now, I'm scurred. So ladies....WHY do you henna. Is it worth it, like really really worth it? And I just thought about this, but my hair is protien sensitive, so will following up with an intense moisture treatment be a good idea for this? Lastly, for sake of conversation, are some beauty techniques just NOT worth it? For all this I coulda just went mud diving in the Sandy aftermath. :drunk:
 
Question: Where did you say you bought this henna? I've been henna'ing for almost 2 years exactly, and it's *never* come with a "pack of olive oil"...
 
Did u use body art quality henna? If so everything should be fine. I have only used jamila henna and it didn't come with olive oil. I don't use henna consistantly but I have used it for the conditioning benefits and stronger thicker hair and it has worked. The smell isn't bad to me. When I do do henna I do henna glosses so rinsing out isn't so hard
 
Question: Where did you say you bought this henna? I've been henna'ing for almost 2 years exactly, and it's *never* come with a "pack of olive oil"...
Agree w/the bold.

yuhlovevybz
Is this BAQ henna? (body art quality). I use Jamila henna.

I've been hennaing for 2 years, too; sometimes weekly and henna has restored my hair's thickness after a bout with excessive shedding. I am also protein sensitive and always follow-up with a moisturizing conditioner. When I 1st started hennaing I would DC overnight to restore the moisture. But since I got a steamer I only have to steam for about 30 - 35 minutes with the conditioner.

One other thing I found out, I don't have to let my henna sit for hours to get the benefit and color of henna. I mix it and apply it immediately after mixing it.

HTH
 
I sure hope this turns out well for you. Your story is hilarious.

I personally hated henna and the whole experience. But that's just me and my hair.

You do want to use a moisturizing conditioner when you finish. :yep:
 
Question: Where did you say you bought this henna? I've been henna'ing for almost 2 years exactly, and it's *never* come with a "pack of olive oil"...

Uh oh. I bought it at a beauty store in the mall. They sold weave, wigs, lots of hair products and such, etc. Basically, a 'chinese store'.
 
Agree w/the bold.

@yuhlovevybz
Is this BAQ henna? (body art quality). I use Jamila henna.

I've been hennaing for 2 years, too; sometimes weekly and henna has restored my hair's thickness after a bout with excessive shedding. I am also protein sensitive and always follow-up with a moisturizing conditioner. When I 1st started hennaing I would DC overnight to restore the moisture. But since I got a steamer I only have to steam for about 30 - 35 minutes with the conditioner.

One other thing I found out, I don't have to let my henna sit for hours to get the benefit and color of henna. I mix it and apply it immediately after mixing it.

HTH

I don't think so. The directions on the package were specifically for hair.
 
What brand of henna is it? I have purchased online and in Indian grocery stores and I have never seen a henna with an olive oil pac
 
You should use Body Art Quality (BAQ). It should come alone (straight up - no mixers).

Then you should either release the dye - I do personally with something acidic.

Some folks use: water, tea, conditioner, orange juice, lemon juice etc.. (I've never done it that way)

I use ACV. I make it into a smooth Yogurt-like consistency and allow to sit overnight.

And you're right about the way it looks. Hopefully you should have used gloves to apply.

Right before I apply, I squirt a bit of Oil in it. I then apply, wrap in Saran Wrap & 2 Plastic Caps and allow it to sit.

After several hours, I rinse with plain water, then I rinse with conditioner (lately I've been using Suave Tropical Coconut).

I also use other cheapies i.e. VO5 Moisture Milks, White Rain Coconut etc...and I use a bottle since it's cheap and I don't care, I only use it to rinse out the Henna (and/or Indigo).

Lastly I cowash with a better quality conditioner and then Deep Condition w/Moisture afterwards.
 
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Uh oh. I bought it at a beauty store in the mall. They sold weave, wigs, lots of hair products and such, etc. Basically, a 'chinese store'.

:ohwell: Ummm yeah...I'm pretty sure this was not BAQ henna, the only type that's recommended for use on your hair :nono:

You should always purchase your henna from a reputable online website that sells Body Art Quality henna (BAQ), or as I do, from your local Indian grocer. I use Jamila henna, and it comes in a box in a sealed plastic pouch.
 
I started henna'ing 2 years ago b/c I wanted thicker, stronger hair, and I'd seen so many examples of henna doing this for other naturals. It honestly is the best part of my regimen, and I credit it for much of my hair's health and strength in the 2+ years I've been natural. So for me, it's definitely been worth it. I henna once/month after I take down my monthly PS.

I mix mine with water, green tea, V05 MM condish, castor oil, olive oil, and a tbsp of amla powder. Now that my hair is longer, I have to use 1.5 boxes of henna for this mix.

I leave the henna in for 8-9 hours (wrapped in saran wrap and a hat :look:) then I thoroughly rinse with lots of water and the V05 MM condish. My normal regimen is to DC overnight (8-10 hours), so when I henna, I DC overnight for about 12 hours to make sure my hair is thoroughly moisturized. Honestly, if I get my mix formula right, my hair sometimes feels like I don't even need a long DC, but I do it anyway b/c I'm a creature of habit :)

HTH
 
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Crap I'm scared. K I'm going to go rinse it out STAT. Thanks for the heads up. I'll grab the box when I'm done and let you guys know what it is.

EDIT: Reshma henna
 
Question: Where did you say you bought this henna? I've been henna'ing for almost 2 years exactly, and it's *never* come with a "pack of olive oil"...

Exactly! I dont know what u bought?? henna smells like hay to me. Never seen olive oil with it. perplexed
 
yuhlovevybz I don't blame you for being scared. I have never tried henna and want to try it soon and have tried to read every thread on here pertaining to henna. I don't know about the product you purchased but I'm sure the ladies here will be a great help to you.

I hope you ladies don't mind a couple of questions. When you say you DC over night then do you rinse out your DC and dry your hair and then apply the henna? Does it have to be applied to dry hair? Also, I want to use henna to dye my greys so would I use indigo also?
 
yuhlovevybz said:
Crap I'm scared. K I'm going to go rinse it out STAT. Thanks for the heads up. I'll grab the box when I'm done and let you guys know what it is.

EDIT: Reshma henna

I've used Reshma henna before but I purchased it from an Indian grocery store. The one I used is BAQ and didn't come with an olive oil pack. Hopefully yours is BAQ as well. In the future, I suggest that you purchase from a reputable online vendor or an Indian grocery store. Nupur and Jamila are good brands. Stay away from "colored" henna, the kind with added colors, they're not Body Art Quality.

Sent from the 18 wheeler that delivers your hair products, computer, and smart phone.
 
I hope it all turns out well! The ladies have given you some great advice.

I've also had success just adding henna into my normal condish and using it during my showers as a cowash or rinse out. I've even left it in a few times.

If I decide to make a paste mix, I only use hot water and a little bit of cheapie condish to make it easier to rinse out.
 
I have never used henna in my hair but I do use baq henna for tattoos and it has an earthy smell, not poo poo smell =/ I think you got some laced stuff lol

Glad you rinsed it out but honestly most useless henna is just sand so it won't do any harm lol
 
OP, I hope everything works out for you and that this doesn't deter you from trying henna again. I'm relaxed and I've used henna for almost 2 years. I won't speak for anyone else but once I found a brand/routine that worked for me, I started to look forward to doing the process. My hair is protein-sensitive, so I like henna makes my hair stronger without potential overload.

Btw, I use Godrej Nupur (bought from an Indian store) and it smells "earthy" or like steamed spinach - definitely not BM :-)

Please, please make sure you moisture DC your hair well tonight (and at least one more time within the next few days). Good luck!
 
Ok, thanks for all the help guys. I rinsed the stuff out and it doesn't seem to have done any harm. My texture feels a bit more defined and my hair is HUGE but that's about it. Doesn't feel dry at all but since I was adviced to DC I'll definitely do it anyways; rather be safe than sorry. No change in hair color though :/ Ugh. Next time I will order online just to be safe, unless they have it in the African store but I doubt they will. Thanks for all the advice!

EDIT: Actually, I do have some curls hangin low in the back. :/ I def wanna henna again (with real henna lol) and try to get some color but I def don't wanna jack my texture up. How long should I wait?
 
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I've been using henna (on natural hair) since 2005.

I've always purchased my henna from hennaforhair.com / mehandi.com (same owner).

I mix with yogurt or apple cider vinegar, and add oils like olive or castor.

Hennaforhair.com has great information on how/why you should by quality body art henna.
 
yuhlovevybz I don't blame you for being scared. I have never tried henna and want to try it soon and have tried to read every thread on here pertaining to henna. I don't know about the product you purchased but I'm sure the ladies here will be a great help to you.

I hope you ladies don't mind a couple of questions. When you say you DC over night then do you rinse out your DC and dry your hair and then apply the henna? Does it have to be applied to dry hair? Also, I want to use henna to dye my greys so would I use indigo also?

deedoswell - I always apply the henna to freshly washed hair (with shampoo or cleansing conditioner), then DC after rinsing it out. Always henna before DC.

Ok, thanks for all the help guys. I rinsed the stuff out and it doesn't seem to have done any harm. My texture feels a bit more defined and my hair is HUGE but that's about it. Doesn't feel dry at all but since I was adviced to DC I'll definitely do it anyways; rather be safe than sorry. No change in hair color though :/ Ugh. Next time I will order online just to be safe, unless they have it in the African store but I doubt they will. Thanks for all the advice!

EDIT: Actually, I do have some curls hangin low in the back. :/ I def wanna henna again (with real henna lol) and try to get some color but I def don't wanna jack my texture up. How long should I wait?

yuhlovevybz - I would wait a few weeks before doing it again. I henna to strengthen my hair. It acts like a protein without being protein. For some people it can loosen your curl pattern so I would be careful if you don't want that to happen. I personally would lay off the acid (lemon juice) because it can be drying. If its not BAQ henna, didn't let it sit after mixing it with hot water for several hours and leave it on your hair for at least 4 hours (many of us leave it on longer), you're less likely to see any color from it.

There is a really good henna thread here:

A New Henna Thread

and

Any Henna Heads?

Do as much research as you can before taking the plunge.
 
I've used henna for most of my live. You can henna as much as you want - when I'm in a henna "mood" I do it weekly.

As state up thread, only use BAQ Henna. My personal favorite is Nupur - they have a great blend of other herbs included. I add plain full fat yogurt, black tea, coconut cream, and coconut oil. Everyone has their own personal blend that they swear by. ;) Do as much trial and error until you find your own favorite personal blend - you can henna as much as you want without worry about harming your hair. It's all natural and won't do any damage.

Experiment as much as you want and have fun. Just remember to wear gloves and ear covers (Sally's sells them).
 
I've been using henna (on natural hair) since 2005.

I've always purchased my henna from hennaforhair.com / mehandi.com (same owner).

I mix with yogurt or apple cider vinegar, and add oils like olive or castor.

Hennaforhair.com has great information on how/why you should by quality body art henna.

This is where I get my henna from too!

Good price and great quality! I usually just get the henna again for tattoos but next purchase I make will be with indigo so I can cover mah greys!
 
Oh and mehandi.com has great e books that are free so you get some awesome tips from different cultures. I have several of their mehandi design books to henna my hands and arms
 
If the henna smelt very verdant, it was probably good stuff. Sometimes it does smell like weed. It does turn brown when the dye is released. You don't have to add acid for the dye to release.
I have not added acid to my henna in 3 years, dried out my hair terribly. I leave mine on for 12+. I just use herb tea to mix. No oil or condish. On dirty hair.

Sounds like you had some good henna. I usually purchase henna from Indian no name shops. So alot of the time I have to go by the smell and look of it. But the bags do always say for hair/skin/ayurvedic use.
 
You should use Body Art Quality (BAQ). It should come alone (straight up - no mixers).

Then you should either release the dye - I do personally with something acidic.

Some folks use: water, tea, conditioner, orange juice, lemon juice etc.. (I've never done it that way)

I use ACV. I make it into a smooth Yogurt-like consistency and allow to sit overnight.

And you're right about the way it looks. Hopefully you should have used gloves to apply.

Right before I apply, I squirt a bit of Oil in it. I then apply, wrap in Saran Wrap & 2 Plastic Caps and allow it to sit.

After several hours, I rinse with plain water, then I rinse with conditioner (lately I've been using Suave Tropical Coconut).

I also use other cheapies i.e. VO5 Moisture Milks, White Rain Coconut etc...and I use a bottle since it's cheap and I don't care, I only use it to rinse out the Henna (and/or Indigo).

Lastly I cowash with a better quality conditioner and then Deep Condition w/Moisture afterwards.

I agree with everything posted here.

I would add that you can mix your henna with chamomile or hibiscus tea (soak 3 bags for 20 minutes) if your hair tends to be on the dry side.

If you have dry hair, do not mix with green tea, coffee or citrius of any kind which will contribute to driness. Also I have read that apple cider vinegar could impede the uptake of the henna color on gray hairs. Henna can be mixed with a touch of Aloe Vera Juice or AVJ powder which will help with the dry hair issues. I always add about 3 tablespoons of olive oil to my BAQ henna batches. My fine, dry hair is thriving due to this mixture. I order my BAQ henna from HennaSooq.com

It is a mistake, IMO to use non-BAQ henna on your hair.

ETA: Post Questions to this blog, http://hennablogspot.com/ they are very very informative! And she sells the best products on the internet IMHO. HennaSooq offers a 10% discount for LHCH members. The coupon info is somewhere on this site. I can find it if someone reminds me later :look: I am about to get busy with my day here at work :lol:
 
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Let me single out what some have already said, henna should smell like hay or earth/dirt. It shouldn't be repulsive at all.
 
Maybe it did smell like earth/dirt but she was sensitive to the smell. Some people liken anything that doesn't smell like roses to smelling repulsive, it may just be that she has a sensitive nose, not that she's using some fake product! lol
 
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