Color & Protein ?....PLEASE HELP!

[HairPleezeGrow]

So I just recently did a big chop on my hair and I want to color my hair. I have like 40-50% grays all through out my head @ the young age of 30 I actually started getting grays when I was a teen anywho I want to cover the grays up and was wondering about protein. Whats a good treatment I can use and do I color my hair first & then protein or vice versa? How long do I have to wait if I do have to wait to do one or the other? What brand of dyes are really good @ covering grays? Also when I have to do a retouch on the color do i just color my new growth or I have to color the whole head again? TIA ladies and I know I sound dumb but I'm learning & I hope someone responds.

 

[Transformer]

Like you I greyed early.

Here is what I do. I wash hair, use color (never a permanent color--some kind of rinse), I use a restructurer next which is a light protein, followed by a moisturizing conditioner.

I really can't give you a preference on brand, but I've tried them all.

 

[HairPleezeGrow]

Transformer- thank you for your response. I tend to get alot of read n runs haha. I've been also reading alot about henna on here. What is your opinion on this or have you used it?

Anybody have any advice on henna...such as how often are you suppose to use (when you do reapply do you reapply to the entire head?) & do you need protein with it as well? Does it cover the grays? Any good henna out there and where I can get it? What do you use to cond your hair afterwards. I have creame of nature argon oil cond treatment so would that be okay? Come on ladies I know I'm new but there has to be some people that are willing to help

 

[Pompous Blue]

I'm tagging IDareT'sHair. She's relaxed and has an excellent henna-indigo routine that covers her grays and conditions her hair.

I posted this in another thread on "moisturizing after henna". But, instead of retyping it all, I'll quote myself:

My henna mix: Jamila henna, cocoa powder, Bhringraj Powder, lemon juice. coconut milk, and marshmallow root tea.

I wash and clarify my hair 1st with shampoo, then do a rhassoul or bentonite clay treatment. (clay + marshmallow root tea).
Mix henna and immediately apply to hair. Steam for two hours.

Co-wash it out with either Hairveda's Amala Cream Rinse, SSI's Conditioning rinse, Oyin's Honey Hemp or Bee Mine's Avocado Cream Conditioner.

I always add pumpkin seed oil AND meadowfoam seed oil to either of the following DC's: KBB Hair Mask, Hairveda's Sitrinillah or SSI's Banana brulee. Steam for 1 hour. Yields very moisturized hair.

Style hair with a leave-in, butter and gel (twists). Hair is very moisturized 'til I shampoo it 3 days later.

I henna every 10 days - 2 weeks. Never had problem with dryness using this method.

Been doing this for over a year and the results are always the same (very moisturized hair). I get the color I want and my hair is very strengthened.

I only do light protein treatments maybe twice a year.

I'm natural with very fine, medium density hair.

Hope this helps some.

 

[HairPleezeGrow]

Thank you it does help. Now I just gotta find where to get all the things listed lol

 

[ericajoy]

Hi OP, I cover my grays with henna and indigo. I did my whole head of hair a few times and now I do my roots once a month. I have about 5-10% gray at this point. You don't need protein w/ henna b/c the dye in henna is a protein itself. I find it very strengthening and thickening, and it helps my hair hold moisture better.

I have a very simple routine:

I order from mehandi.com and get whatever henna has the highest lawsone (dye) content. Right now it's called Rajasthani Twilight. I also order indigo from the same website. They have great quality products.

I mix 100g of henna with enough fresh-brewed, slightly cooled green tea to make the consistency of thick yogurt or mashed potatoes, and let it sit on the countertop 8-12 hours to let the dye release. About 15 minutes before I'm ready to do my hair, I mix 25g of indigo with warm water to thick yogurt consistency and let it sit about 15 minutes, then I mix the indigo into the henna and apply to my hair in sections (like you would apply a relaxer, but lay it on thicker). Or if your hair is short and natural, just squish it in really thoroughly. I wrap up my hair with saran wrap and some scotch tape and either sleep on it or sit under the dryer for 2 hours (just depending on when I do it). Then I rinse it out, co-wash, and condition and style.

The resulting color is what you see in my avatar. You can also dye it darker with more indigo, or pure black with a 2-step henna / indigo process (see mehandi.com for instructions).

Hth! Be aware that if you use indigo you can't bleach your hair after that or it'll turn green. Also, henna / indigo is permanent color.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Pompous Blue

Thanks Girl. I'm Hendigo-ing as we speak.

First I clarified. Then I Cowashed with Hairveda MoistPRO

Since I have Grey, So I use more Indigo/Less Henna.

Mixed the Henna with ACV which I let sit overnight added a Splash of Oil right before applying (with Rubber Gloves).

Wrapped Hair Tightly in Saran Wrap, Cover with 2 Plastic Caps.

Will sit 2-3 hours.

Will Rinse out First with Clear Water then with Cheapie Conditioner.

Mix Indigo with a Dash of Salt and Warm (not boiling) Water.

Allow to sit at least 5-10 minutes.

Apply and Wrap in Saran Wrap. 2 Plastic Caps for 3 hours.

Completely Covers Grey.

I also order from Mehandi.com

 

[HairPleezeGrow]

Ooh thank you ladies so much. Very informative and great info on henna. I have alot of thinking to do on if I'm going to henna or just do a color. I'm so torn between the two on what I want I could always do a color first and see how I like it and then do henna later on down the line? Thank you again and I appreciate the info