I thought I heard my name.
I just indigo'd last night.
I keep my mixes very simple. If it's your first time using henna, use the sample from hennaforhair.com to strand test on hair harvested from your comb or brush. They don't give you enough to actually do your whole head.
If the strand test goes as expected there's the henna procedure:
- I start by adding almost boiling water to my henna. I like mine thick so it doesn't drip.
- While you're waiting for that to cool off I put a moisturizing conditioner on my dry hair, bag it, and sit under the dryer (or a hot towel).
- When the henna has cooled enough to handle I rinse the conditioner, towel dry, and apply the henna.
- Wrap your head in plastic wrap for 30 minutes (with or without heat)
- Mix the indigo (just hot water and indigo) and let it sit for 10-15 minutes
- Rinse the henna and apply the indigo (you don't worry about rinsing all of the henna and don't bother poo'g)
- Wrap your head again and sit for 30 minutes (with or without heat)
- Rinse well, apply conditioner, rinse again, repeat, poo, apply conditioner (this time leave it for a while), rinse, style
- With all that rinsing, poo'g, and conditioner you'd think it would be all out. It's not! You will see indigo in the rinse water for the next few washes.
A few things to remember:
- Use dark colored towel
- Wear gloves. Henna is used for body art too.
- Try leaning over the sink (or trash can) while applying henna.
- Don't rinse in the shower always rinse in the sink
- Henna can be drying so skip the protein conditioner for a few days before and after and ALWAYS follow henna with a moisturizing conditioner
- Oil rinses help me control the dryness as does conditioning before applying the henna
Ummm... that's all I can think of... feel free to PM w/ questions.
The benefits are many... all natural, strong, shiny, black hair are my favorites.