I'm getting ready to henna for the first time...any suggestions

[so so chic]

I'm soooooooooo nervous! I plan to use Jamilia Henna, water, and oil (maybe evoo and coconut oil). I want to just keep it simple for this first time around. I also bought some shakaki and amla powder. Would anyone suggest I add some of this to my mix today, or just stick with keeping it simple for now? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd just hate to come in here after the fact to learn what I should or could have done differently. Also, I plan to apply it to my dry hair. The last time I washed it was last week and I have been moisturizing and sealing daily. Should I wash it first, or should I be fine adding it to my hair the way it is? Sorry for the long post. TIA

 

[♦K.O♦]

You should get some pectin to add to your mix. It will make the Henna easier to apply/rinse out.

If you use oil, I would use VERY little.

CON (green bottle) is great for washing the henna out. Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.

 

[destiny616]

co wash the henna out with a cheap watery conditioner like VO5. It helps to remove the particles.

 

[so so chic]

MizzEsq: Thanks . Now I have another question. If I don't use the pectin, will I still get the same results other than it being easier to apply and rinse out? I started to get some, but I didn't. Is the pectin worth me getting me and my son dressed and going to the store . I really don't feel like it, but if it'll help a great deal then I'll do it.

destiny616: I think I will go with cw'ing the henna out. Will this help with moisture better than using a poo. Thanks .

 

[HERicane10]

ITA with K.I.S.S.! I'm sitting with my henna on now! I used the pectin once in the beginning; it didn't make a major difference for me so I dropped it! I strictly use henna, hot water, and honey. I do an oil pre-treat on dry hair or overnight. Good luck! I hope you love it. I just got some more Karishma herbal henna and am back to weekly treatments!

 

[Mocha5]

ITA with K.I.S.S.! I'm sitting with my henna on now! I used the pectin once in the beginning; it didn't make a major difference for me so I dropped it! I strictly use henna, hot water, and honey. I do an oil pre-treat on dry hair or overnight. Good luck! I hope you love it. I just got some more Karishma herbal henna and am back to weekly treatments!

-I would def do some kind of pre-poo with one of your oils.
-I would add a cheapy conditioner, hot water, and oil to the henna until it is creamy like yogurt.
-I would not add any other powders. They may give you even more of a drying effect. Since this is your first time keep it simple. Find out if your hair likes plain ol' henna first.
-Unless you have a really good moisturizing shampoo, I would cowash it out. Shampoos can add to the dryness.
-Use a good moisturizing conditioner afterwards add some coconut oil
-Afterwards moisturize with coconut oil

ETA: Your hair is sooo gorgeous. Take your time. If you have trouble detangling or it feels too hard, oil is the answer.

 

[♦K.O♦]

MizzEsq: Thanks . Now I have another question. If I don't use the pectin, will I still get the same results other than it being easier to apply and rinse out? I started to get some, but I didn't. Is the pectin worth me getting me and my son dressed and going to the store . I really don't feel like it, but if it'll help a great deal then I'll do it.

destiny616: I think I will go with cw'ing the henna out. Will this help with moisture better than using a poo. Thanks .

I can DEFINITELY tell the difference between henna with pectin and henna without. Henna is already difficult to rinse out and just a little pectin makes the job SO much easier. I definitely agree with keeping henna mixes simple (I use henna, pectin, and water).
Pectin wont change the results of the coloring or conditioning, so if you didnt feel like getting dressed, you could skip it this time. But make sure you get some for the next time.

As far as mixing henna with conditioner, that doesnt work for me. I had a horrible experience when I tried that for the first AND LAST time (two weeks ago.) I say stick with water.

 

[so so chic]

Thank you all so much. I think I'm going to wait until in the morning to do the henna. Taking the advice I've been given, I'm going to do a pre-poo with coconut oil, then in the morning. I'll skip the amla and shakaki this time, and just use the henna, water, and oil. I want to use the pectin so that it can possibly make things easier, but I'm going to do this first henna without it just to see how the process goes without it, then the next time I'll use it if I have an extremely hard time rinsing. Question: when I do the pre-poo, once I've rinsed the oil out should I apply the henna to my wet hair, or let it airdry completely first? This should be my last question. If I'm not mistaking, on hennaforhair it mentions to apply it to dry or damp hair I think, but I believe I read that some apply it to wet hair, so I just want to be sure. Thanks.

ETA: Thanks Mocha5!

 

[*Muffin*]

Yes. I like to mix my henna in with my deep conditioner or any conditioner to make it less drying. Also, make sure you rinse the henna out thoroughly. And (this may not need to be said) but DON'T mix your henna with any protein. It doesn't like protein . Other than that, you should be fine.

 

[HERicane10]

Thank you all so much. I think I'm going to wait until in the morning to do the henna. Taking the advice I've been given, I'm going to do a pre-poo with coconut oil, then in the morning. I'll skip the amla and shakaki this time, and just use the henna, water, and oil. I want to use the pectin so that it can possibly make things easier, but I'm going to do this first henna without it just to see how the process goes without it, then the next time I'll use it if I have an extremely hard time rinsing. Question: when I do the pre-poo, once I've rinsed the oil out should I apply the henna to my wet hair, or let it airdry completely first? This should be my last question. If I'm not mistaking, on hennaforhair it mentions to apply it to dry or damp hair I think, but I believe I read that some apply it to wet hair, so I just want to be sure. Thanks.

ETA: Thanks Mocha5!

I've put my henna on dry hair (without rinsing oil) and on damp hair (when I wanted to stretch my henna). I prefer the dry hair with oil version. NEVER DRY OR HARD!

 

[so so chic]

I've put my henna on dry hair (without rinsing oil) and on damp hair (when I wanted to stretch my henna). I prefer the dry hair with oil version. NEVER DRY OR HARD!

Thanks a million . So, I'll leave the oil in my hair when I put the henna in. Thank you, and everyone else for all the help.

 

[carameldiva]

I henna on dry hair. I add honey, yogurt, acv, other herbs(fo-ti powder, shikakai, aritha, tulsi, neem. amla- whatever i have on hand). Add a lil water. Mix and then leave it out for a while.

 

[sareca]

My hair is prone to dryness so I'm super careful with henna. I don't henna without DC'g dry hair with moisture for at least 20 minutes first. I follow by henna'g my damp hair and oil rinsing afterwards. I never have dryness problems anymore.

My simple mix includes: henna, hot water, oil

 

[ChocoLatte]

Have you done it yet, if so how did it work out?