Do ya'll henna?
- Thread starter sareca
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I was feelin' all... Aaliyah in that last one. Anyway, I 
me some henna too. I can't wait to see what it looks like when it oxidizes. It only takes 24 hours for indigo to oxidize. 
JustKiya
Well-Known Member
Mestiza said:Yeah, this length is sneaking up on meand the increase in washes seems to be making it grow faster, too.
Thanks for the info! :wink2:
Hip length!!???!! Dang girl, how you gon have hair like that and not offer up no pictures???
I wanna see, I wanna see!!!!
Neroli
New Member
sareca said:
Yeah, you and Ms. Vixxen got this movement started again with the great info, photos and updates -- ya'll got me going and I thank the Good Lord for it. Folks who see me since I got hennaed can't figure out why I look much younger 'cause the grey is gone but the color looks so subtle, it doesn't appear like I colored.
I never even tried the chemical dyes 'cause I knew that would require high maintenanace and I already had my hands full with my relaxed hair. Henna is so simple, but so effective that I can't get over why more ladies don't henna, but resort to the damaging chemicals.
Knowledge is Power! More Power to the Henna Revolution!
fancypants007
Well-Known Member
sareca said:All done.
It's not that dramatic under the light. The before picture is more black cherry and the after is more coffee.
But, you can definitely see a difference in regular lighting. I secretly hoped for coffee highlights when I first started to henna. My original mixes had coffee, but it didn't give me coffee color. I'm pretty pleased although it's NO WHERE NEAR blue-black. But it is darker than the synthetic temp dye that cause my first set back in March. The picture's in my signature.
NE-way, ya'll will be happy to know indigo seems to condition hair just as well as henna. It feels very strong (but not hard or rough). But I'm sure the protein treatment earlier this week didn't hurt that.
So I used indigo and pectin (that I prepared using the recipe I gave Vixxen).
I left it on for 25 minutes w/o heat (I was on the phone) and 20 minutes w/ heat. I didn't poo this time, but rinsed and conditioned w/ my precious (Aveda).
I'll take some pics in the sun tomorrow.
ETA: There are more pics in my album.
Your hair color looks beautiful! I'm going to do another henna treatment tomorrow and this time I'm going to use 1 tsp. of vinegar and water opposed to adding orange juice. I also add honey to my mixture, (it makes it easier to apply and remove). I'm also going to do something different and sit under my hair dryer for 1 hour instead of waiting about 3 hours. I just gave myself a henna treatment about 2 weeks ago, and I'm going to do it again. I apply coconut oil the night before and wash it out the next day and then I apply my henna on damp hair. I'm looking for that reddish brown/auburny look. I hope I achieve it.
Mestiza
New Member
I bought some from Wal-mart, today. They overcharged me and I had to go to the Customer Service Department. The price on the shelf was $1.77 for a 1.75 oz. box, but I was charged $3.32.VWVixxen said:
The CSR told me that it has gone up to $3.32. Of course, she had to sell it to me for the posted price, although, Ms. Attitude didn't want to.
sareca
Well-Known Member
I've been talking to one of my co-workers about henna off and on for the last couple of months. Well about a month ago she decided she wanted to try henna. I explained to her that it only colored hair red or reddish and she "Oh," and looked very disappointed. She didn't mention it again. Well yesterday she did her first henna treatment. She used clear just to see if it would condition as well as she liked, but she ordered samples of indigo and henna and tested them on harvested hair. When I asked what made her change her mind about being a redhead she basically said my hair. She said watching my hair transform into super shiny and healthy made her rethink red. Did I mention she's Italian? A white girl has been coveting my henna'd hair. Why does that please me so much?
sareca
Well-Known Member
Here's my indigo/henna vs. indigo only comparison.
Both photos are about 90% dry. Don't worry, the indigo didn't take the curl out of my hair silica did. I'm gonna cut back. I texturized on purpose and now I have relaxed hair.
But extremely soft skin. 
Anyway, where are the rest of y'alls photos? Hmmm? I KNOW ya'll have some.
Both photos are about 90% dry. Don't worry, the indigo didn't take the curl out of my hair silica did. I'm gonna cut back. I texturized on purpose and now I have relaxed hair.
But extremely soft skin. Anyway, where are the rest of y'alls photos? Hmmm? I KNOW ya'll have some.
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LaNecia
Well-Known Member
sareca said:
Awww, thank you!
You keep me inspired to stay with it...in fact...
sareca said:
I'll have photos tomorrow! I just did a relaxer retouch with the Infamous Silk Elements Mild Lye. I'm doing a henna treatment in a few minutes using the Cassia and water with a personal herb mix of Rosehips (2 tbs), Hisbiscus (3 tbs), Alfalfa (2 tbsp), Catnip (2 tbsp), Nettle (2 tbsp) and Horsetail Silica (2 tbsp). I'll add this to the Pectin...
The mad scientist is cooking in the kitchen...check out the water color from my herb mix!! This is a pic of my hair color pre-treatment.
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fancypants007
Well-Known Member
I did my henna treatment on saturday with success but I don't understand why it seem to turn my hair a richer black color. I was opting for the auburny/reddish brown color since I did a henna treatment 2 weeks ago. I did something different this time. I use hot water and about 1 1/2 tsp. of vinegar and I added honey and evoo to the mix and let it sit for about 17 hours. I applied to my hair and then sit under the hair dryer for about 1 hour. I deep conditioned after washing it out and my hair appears to be more black then red. I don't understand. Can one of you experts help me to understand. The few grays I have, it didn't turn them black, they are still reddish brown. I just thought the more you add henna to your hair that it builds up until you have this reddish brown hair. Sarcea, I love your hair when it's the reddish brown color. That is the color I am trying to achieve. I think the next time i henna, I will add cloves to my mix and stick with the orange juice for more dye release. I will cover my hair and wait it out for 3 hours or 4 to try to achieve the reddish brown look. Any other suggestions would be welcome.
Sarecasareca said:
If I understand correctly henna does not make your darker, it gives the hair a reddish hue? The only way to achieve dark or black hair is to do henna AND indigo? Henna can be purchased in "clear"? What is pectin?
Sorry for all those questions, but I'm at work & these crazy folk keep interrupting and I can't read thru the entire thread.
I just wanna cover these gray hairs and get that shine like you have. Please help.
Neroli
New Member
fancypants007 said:
Henna is a red. If your hair black, then henna makes it a richer black with very subtle red highlights but it will not turn black hair red. It will turn grey hair red and over time dark red, but it will not turn grey hair black. Henna is red.
If you want black hair, then you must use henna with indigo to darken the color either by mixing henna and indigo and applying in one step or by using two step process by applying henna only first, then applying indigo on top of the henna.
I'm sure the others will add their thoughts . . .
sareca
Well-Known Member
What she said.Neroli said:
I have a visual aid. This composite was originally take to show how my curl pattern has changed over the last 6 months, but it also shows various stages of henna.
The last one (right) was after silica and my first indigo only treatment, but my hair was straight like that before I indigo'd. Anyway, you can see in the After Henna photo it is darker than before.
My hair didn't start out this red. It actually 'faded' to red over a few weeks.
HTH
If you haven't been to hennaforhair.com/mixes then check it out too. I used to add paprika to mine to get a warmer red.
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sareca
Well-Known Member
Neroli said:
Thanks
I'm kinda annoyed about the curls. My favorite thing about my hair was I had the best of both worlds. Curls when I want curls and straight w/o direct heat. Not anymore. My skin feels like butta tho. So I'm on kinda on the fence. N-E-way, I take it internally. Here's my brand...
The box says 6 drops/day. I drop it in to my Acai/MSM/Crystal Light concoction. I've taken the pills too. They work about the same.
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sareca
Well-Known Member
VWVixxen said:Finished up with the Cassia Mix last night...this morning there is no discernable color change as a result of the liquid mix added...the lighting is hard to tell, will update this evening.
My hair feels good though.
Were you trying to modify the color or just conditioning?
Neroli
New Member
VWVixxen said:It was mostly just curiousity to see if the other ingredients would affect the coloring of the hair when used in conjunction with the Cassia. If they're mixed with the henna they do (the hisbiscus anyway) so I was just wonderin'.
I just ordered cassia obovata and hibiscus powder for conditioning, not coloring. And am so glad you're already there! Good to know the hibiscus added to cassia did not change your hair color (thanks for being the lab experiment on that one!). I have a few questions:
Did the hibiscus make the application and rinsing out the cassia easier?
Did the hibiscus provide significant extra conditioning than if cassia by itself?
How significant is the color change when hibiscus is added to henna?
Did the hibiscus make application and rrinsing out the henna easier?
Also, can you share your cassia/hibiscus recipe?
TIA for your answers!
LaNecia
Well-Known Member
Neroli said:
Doing a
by post before the IS team comes up to confiscate my 'puter 
I haven't checked my hair in the full light so I won't know if there was any color impact from the Hibiscus....I didn't use powder but boiled the herbs, the powder when applied with the Cassia may yield a different coloring result? I do not believe that Hisbiscus has any conditioning properties (but I've never researched that either) :scratchch
Rinse out easier? I've never used the Cassia before though I've had it a long time (3 months). It rinsed a little easier but I used the pectin (thank you SARECA!!) so that may have been why. Basically it was just like the henna except it didn't smell as strong which is good because both my guys can't stand the smell of henna.
The application was the same. One thing that is WONDERFUL is that the Cassia is truly neutral! I took a picture of my gloves after I put the Cassia in my hair (will post later) and they were still white, no staining whatsoever, not even from the Hibiscus. There was no staining on the counter top or flooring in the bathroom.
I used ElderBerry Juice in my mom's henna mixture and her hair came out the darkest we've seen it yet on an initial application (she has grey/whites) so it was easy to see the coloring on her new growth. I used the same mix I always use for her:
100 Grams Mehandi Henna
50 Grams Amla Powder
1/4 cup ACV
25 drops of Tea Tree Oil
3 Tbsp of ElderBerry (boiled in water to release color from herbs).
Enough water to make the consistency she likes
My mix was:
200 Grams Cassia
2 tbsp Amla Powder
2 tbsp RoseHips
3 tbsp Hisbiscus Herbs
Alfalfa, Nettle, Horstetail silica, catnip (that's call I can remember right now).
I boiled the herbs from 6 cups of water down to 3.5 cups...it was the color of Cranberry juice when finished.
I mixed that w/the Pectin (1.5 tbsp), then mixed that with the Cassia Powder. One complaint is that the Cassia stayed a bit lumpy though I mixed it for a while w/my spatula. I wish I could use a wire wisk, it would make it so much easier but you're not supposed to use metal w/henna (though I don't know why).
I have enough of my mix left for two more application...so in the freezer it goes until next time.
Sarafina
New Member
I'm thinking of joining this henna revolution. Is it possible to get henna that already has all the ingredients needed for the treatment, or do I have to buy all of it separetely?
If so, my revolution might have to wait till December. School is starting and I'm on a tight budget.
If so, my revolution might have to wait till December. School is starting and I'm on a tight budget.
LaNecia
Well-Known Member
Henna itself is not expensive. Locally, I can purchase 100 grams of Mehandi for $2.49 and 200 Grams for $3.49, depends on the brand. 100 grams is plenty for a thick application on my hair). Body quality henna from the web costs more, I think you get what you pay for but I haven't used that kind yet so I'm speculating but Body Quality henna is supposed to provide a better stain.
If you want to add ACV, I don't think that's expensive (I don't remember, I have a gallon) Or just use Lemon or Orange Juice as a terp. Keep in mind that you don't have to use a terp but it will help the color to release faster. You can also go to stores like Whole Foods that even have Citric Acid in the bulk herb isle that you can buy, that's cheap and won't spoil like Lemons or Orange Juice. In fact, if some of the Whole Foods even have the Henna in the bulk herb section as well (the one by my house does), I'm just not sure on the freshness because I don't know how often they rotate the herbs if they aren't a frequently purchased item. To keep the henna fresh, it should be in an air tight container, their containers are not.
Really that's all you need for your henna application. If you want to use it as a conditioner and not a color release, you don't even need to let it terp or bother with the additives for color release.
ETA: Before I knew of the terps, I was using it after mixing it with just water, waiting about 30 minutes (just however long it took to get towels, gloves and stuff together). While I didn't get much color, the conditioning was still superb.
HTH.
If you want to add ACV, I don't think that's expensive (I don't remember, I have a gallon) Or just use Lemon or Orange Juice as a terp. Keep in mind that you don't have to use a terp but it will help the color to release faster. You can also go to stores like Whole Foods that even have Citric Acid in the bulk herb isle that you can buy, that's cheap and won't spoil like Lemons or Orange Juice. In fact, if some of the Whole Foods even have the Henna in the bulk herb section as well (the one by my house does), I'm just not sure on the freshness because I don't know how often they rotate the herbs if they aren't a frequently purchased item. To keep the henna fresh, it should be in an air tight container, their containers are not.
Really that's all you need for your henna application. If you want to use it as a conditioner and not a color release, you don't even need to let it terp or bother with the additives for color release.
ETA: Before I knew of the terps, I was using it after mixing it with just water, waiting about 30 minutes (just however long it took to get towels, gloves and stuff together). While I didn't get much color, the conditioning was still superb.
HTH.
sareca
Well-Known Member
The revolution doesn't wait.Sarafina said:I'm thinking of joining this henna revolution. Is it possible to get henna that already has all the ingredients needed for the treatment, or do I have to buy all of it separetely?
If so, my revolution might have to wait till December. School is starting and I'm on a tight budget.
I know what you mean. My pjisms have been totally out of control. I've made my last hair related purchase for the rest of the month. 
N-e-way, the only thing you need is the ACV and henna. Everything else is just to modify the color or for extra conditioning. My henna mixes used to have a lot of stuff, but now I just use ACV and pectin. The pectin is optional.
Sarafina
New Member
Thanks VWVixen and Sareca. The revolution can no loger wait .
So let me get this straight. I can just use the henna and and ACV or citric stuff, and I'm good to go? I did want a little color too
. I can definitely afford some ACV or citric ??? from Whole Foods. I wanted to get the henna from hennaforhair.com.
Which brand of ACV and the citric stuff are ya'll using? I've heard ACV and citric acid can strip the hair.
Muchas Gracias
.So let me get this straight. I can just use the henna and and ACV or citric stuff, and I'm good to go? I did want a little color too
. I can definitely afford some ACV or citric ??? from Whole Foods. I wanted to get the henna from hennaforhair.com.Which brand of ACV and the citric stuff are ya'll using? I've heard ACV and citric acid can strip the hair.
Muchas Gracias
LaNecia
Well-Known Member
Sarafina said:Thanks VWVixen and Sareca. The revolution can no loger wait
DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!!!!
Sarafina said:So let me get this straight. I can just use the henna and and ACV or citric stuff, and I'm good to go? I did want a little color too
Yes that's all you need, unless your hair is VERY dark to start, you should see some color change, the more you use it, the more it deposits color (it's a gradual thing so the color you see the first time, won't be the same color you see the next time, until your hair reaches it's 'henna receiving capacity'.
Hennaforhair sells citric acid too so it can be a one stop shop!
Sarafina said:
If you're concerned about that, use less, say 1/4 cup, you just may have to let it sit longer, say 12-24 hours to get good color release and you can always add oil to it WHEN apply it to your hair (not in the mix until you ready to use it).
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