Paging the Hennaphilic Gals...

[Guest]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Hello Everyone

I wanted to let my "hennaphilic" team know that I won't be here at the boards anytime soon. I need to get alot done in so little time. It's been wonderful seeing how everyone is progressing with their henna journey. I am very inspired by it all. Keep up the great work and God bless you all.

-Iris

[/ QUOTE ]

Take care Iris. Your presence will be missed. You have contributed alot to this thread and thank you for answering the many questions thatI had

 

[sweetcocoa]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
CynamonKis said:
Lucia thanks for the link to Longhaircommunity.com. Did you read Fia/Britta's recipe for henna gel posted there? If I had to go thru all that to do a henna treatment, its HIGHLY UNLIKELY that'd I do it!! LOL!

[/ QUOTE ]
I was thinking the same thing. I got tired just reading it! Somehere in the middle of her recipe I got brain fog and blocked the rest out.

 

[sweetcocoa]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
SeaMist said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Hello Everyone

I wanted to let my "hennaphilic" team know that I won't be here at the boards anytime soon. I need to get alot done in so little time. It's been wonderful seeing how everyone is progressing with their henna journey. I am very inspired by it all. Keep up the great work and God bless you all.

-Iris

[/ QUOTE ]

Take care Iris. Your presence will be missed. You have contributed alot to this thread and thank you for answering the many questions thatI had

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto Iris! Hurry back!

 

[BabyCurls]

Re: Applying Henna

That's a great point you've made there. Relaxers uses chemicals to change the structure of the hair to make it lay flat, whereas with the henna, it loosens the curl and makes it stronger, healthier and shinier. Overtime with more treatments, the more curl you have, the looser it gets each time. Great info, HennaJoy.

BTW, I just got through with my henna treatment for the first time. I did the warm herbal water/lime juice and a few drops of carrot oil mix with the neutral henna powder. After applying the mixture to my hair, I kept it on for about 4 hours. Then thoroughly rinsed the paste from the hair. I shampooed my hair to get every last trace of herbal particles from my hair and scalp. Rinsed and followed with a light conditioner. Finally, I applied a few drops of carrot oil to the hair, and combed it through. My hair feels so soft, shiny and healthy, with gradual release of tight curl. Right now, my hair is tied up in a silk scarf with a satin turbin over it. I'm going to wear a ponytail style until I do another henna treatment next week. All I can say is I really LOVE it. Count me in this club!

 

[hada]

Re: growing hair

Thanks Nita4!

Yes you are able to use heat on henned hair. Henna for the most part protects hair from the heat because each hair strand is coated. Henna in Africa is used as a "sunscreen" for hair too. Put it this way you won't get as much damage from heat relative to not having hennaed hair.

hada

 

[CynamonKis]

Re: 2nd application (Henna gel recipe)

LOLOL! Meee tooo!!

 

[UmSumayyah]

My 1st Henna

I used the Rainbow Light Henna in Persian Black yesterday. I followed the instructions and used boiling water, along with their suggestion for additions for dry hair: 1 egg and 4 tbsp oil. They listed olive, I used 2 of coconut oil and 2 of castor. Left it on about 1.5 hours, 30min+ with heat.
I rinsedrinsedrinsed...shampooed it out with creme of nature, then used suave humectress, and rinsed some more, using 2 tubes of Aphogee hot oil at the end. I sprayed S-curl and applied coconut oil.
I was hoping to achieve jet black hair but that didn't happen. My hair also seems a little hard.
I plan to use the hennalucent in another week or so and use lukewarm water instead. I am counting on my 2nd application producing better results.
Where do you all get your Hennalucent online? Any particular store you recommend?

 

[CynamonKis]

Re: My 1st Henna

UmSumayyah, if you don't have to get it online, you can get Hennalucent at Sally's. The henna recipe I used did not leave my hair dry. The details are in my previous post of my own 1st henna.

Also I would suggest using lemon juice or ACV to make the color take better.

What dryed my hair something AWFUL was the use of a blow dryer w/ION Anti-frizz straightening lotion -- yikes! If I do this again after a henna I'll use KMS Flat-out straightening balm it is much more moisturizing.

 

[Lucia]

Re: 2nd application (oils)

Hi Cymonkis,
I prefer the avocado oil personally b/c the cator oil is so light I don't think it does anything for me. I always use thick oils for treatments, then I'll use Haitian/Indian castor oil (it's red), to dilute of Wild Growth hair oil sometimes.
I got a brain freeze reading that henna redipe myself.

hth

 

[sweetcocoa]

Re: My 1st Henna

I think Hennajoy and someone else said to use the henna warm and not hot(let it cool off). I also didn't use heat.
The first time I used it I left it on my hair 4 hours....the 2nd time I fell asleep and it was hard(and my scalp itched). I think I'll go back to 4 hours. Also use more oils, plus if you get the Hennalucent also pick up Hask Henna and Placenta conditioner. I mixed a little in my henna mix and then conditioned with it afterwards.

 

[HennaJoy]

Re: Applying Henna

Hi BabyCurls,

Congratulation!!! Sounds like you got the combination right..

If you are using the neutral henna powder, you can actually eliminate the addition of critus acid (lemon or lime juice). That is primarily to improve the dye release of natural henna. So that is one less ingredient to use. I think the fewer additional things that are added to the henna the better and the better the results are. Sounds like you used the henna, carrot oil...then rinse/shampoo...and applied more carrot oil. That allowed the henna to deep condition/the carrot oil to help moisturize...the shampoo/rinse to get any residual paste from the hair and scalp...and the carrot oil to help seal and moisturize your hair. That is the process and I find the fewer products used in this process allows you to keep track of what is doing what and reduces the risk of other products and ingredients to work counter to what you are trying to achieve from the henna. Glad this worked for you. It is pretty much what I do...only I use a different oil and then plait and roll my hair while wet.

One thing that seems to be happening is that people who are experiencing dryness have a long list of products or ingredients used along with the henna. It might help for them to try to determine if there is something in those other products that cause hardness or is interfering with the effect of the henna.

I love that you are loving it...

HennaJoy

 

[Guest]

Re: Applying Henna

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
One thing that seems to be happening is that people who are experiencing dryness have a long list of products or ingredients used along with the henna. It might help for them to try to determine if there is something in those other products that cause hardness or is interfering with the effect of the henna.

[/ QUOTE ]

I tried for the first time using hennalucent with a tad bit of olive oil and it made my scalp very itchy. This never happened when I applied my oil mix. It was a lesson learned for me. From now on, I will always add my oil blend to my henna batch

 

[sweetcocoa]

Re: Applying Henna

I also added less oils the 2nd time, and I got an itchy scalp. When I do it again, I plan on adding more of my oils like I did the first time...

 

[HennaJoy]

Re: 2nd application (oils)

Hi Cynthia and Lucia,

Just chiding in to add my ditto to these two.

With regard to heat, I plait and roll my hair and then allow it to air dry. I found a long time ago that if I would blow dry my hair or sit under a drier, it didn't seem to matter what else I was doing or using on my hair, that dry blowing heat made my hair hard, brittle and dry. So I stay away from it. I have no explanation for it, but know that has been my experience too.

Regarding the oils used...it really is important to find the right one for your individual hair. Some will be too heavy, some will be too light and some will be just right. The trick is to find the one that does lovely things to our individual hair. Olive hair leaves my hair not feeling right. I can use and get excellent results from coconut oil, avocado oil, baobob oil and cocoa butter either individually or in some combination as a moisturizer that I rub in while my hair is wet. I typically will dampen my hair and rub some of these through my hair after deep conditioning and daily. But if I use some other oils, I get results that leave something to be desired. Determining exactly how your hair is responding to the individual oils is so important when you are expecting a particular oil to do a specific job on the hair. So pointing out how specific oils are working or not working on individual's hair...identifying the oils as light, medium or heavy...and identifying alternatives is really useful...imo. My hair slurps up and laughs off any oil that is too light. And a too too heavy oil is like suspending my hair is wax...not good.

HennaJoy

 

[LuvableLady]

Re: 2nd application (oils)

I am still loving Henna. I will do another treatment at the end of the month. Good stuff.

 

[hada]

Re: My 1st Henna

Umsummayyah,

Try to limit the products in your hair afterwards too as they can lead to dryness. Maybe just add coconut oil to your hair. I think HennaJoy mentioned something about this. Check her posts out. Henna may make your hair hard the first time but after the second application it will be better. Very soft to the touch

hada

 

[HennaJoy]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

Hi Nita4,

I think I saw neutral henna at Cedar Vale (www.cedarvale.net) per pound for less than $18.00. Can't remember how much less though. Also, I am not sure what either company is selling under the name of "neutral henna" since it could be a number of different things that are not henna, but will condition your hair some and won't add color like amla/myrobalan. That is the most common but there are other things being sold as neutral henna. You might want to ask them exactly what it is. They usually know. Like the "black henna" sold through Cedar Vale is reported to be actually indigo. So check it out with them what it actually is and what effect you can expect from whatever it is.

If you go to the store looking for it, amla is sometimes just sold under the name of amla and not "neutral henna" or a package might say "neutral henna" and the ingredient list indicate lawsonia amla rather than lawsonia inermis (which is natural henna powder). Then you can compare the prices if they are all the same thing and get the best price.

In the stores the boxes will contain anything from 70 to 100 grams. The pound is about 500 grams. So you would be paying around $5.00 per 100 grams of the amla (if that is what they are selling as neutral henna) if you pay the $18.00 plus shipping...just rounding things off to make it easier. Check my math on that.

I think between $15.00 and $18.00 per pound is pretty typical online for neutral henna. You will find exceptions on both ends of that. I have seen amla in stores for around $5.00 but there are stores where you will find it for less or for more.

You can check with stores and see what you save when purchasing it by the case and check online to see if you get a substantial savings if you purchase by the kilo. These have a pretty long shelf life because you don't have to worry about demise in dyeing capacity. So if stocking up is possible, I would recommend it. I have noticed it out of stock/backordered on line and in the stores, they will have it sometimes and not at other times.

HennaJoy

 

[nita4]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

Hi Hennajoy

Thanks for answering my question. Since I've never purchased Henna before I wasn't sure if it was a good buy or not. From reading your post, I did ask and they said it was 100% pure lawsonia, naturally dried, ground to a fine powder and ready for use.

Why don't you sale larger quanities of lotus powder and Henna?

Also, do these substitutes (alma/myrobalan) they add work as well as 100% Henna? I guess what I'm asking is will I get the same results as 100% Henna? If not, then should I just use the Lotus Powder as I'm not looking for color.

Thanks so much, its always nice to read your post.

 

[UmSumayyah]

Re: My 1st Henna

Thanks to all who responded to my post.
I am planning to get the hennalucent next time, use the warm water instead of boiling and leave in on longer. I will also pick up the hask (gw).
scheduled for wed...let ya know how it goes. (gw)

 

[Mahalialee4]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

Lotus Report: IT'S A KEEPER! Results as follows: -extra thick hair; soft and very relaxed look and feel to the hair. By the way, I did 2 applications back to back. One like a henna and one like a moisturizer(with yogurt, cucumber, black strap and moisturizing conditioner. Also added two natural organic eggs (free roam) ...did not use any heat of course.....rinsed with AVC. okay okay I did a heavy duty thing, but next time I will just add the horseradish, sage and ferula. to one application of Lotus powder!

My Lotus powder also has lilyroot and yam and the mix is actually a dessert mix. Mixes easier than regular lotus powder mix and I was able to get it at a Canadian Chinese supermarket. Since my hair is 3b curly, my results are that my hair looks very straight when oiled and feels very very strong.The texture feels so healthy and rich and NOT DRY AT ALL. I find that my hair uses just a minimal amount of oil and when I wear it in 2 pony tails, I can dampen my hands lightly with water and smooth over each of the two sections, put them in a pony tail and pin across my head for the night and this is my moisturizer!!!!!wrap with a silk or satin scarf. The next day, it is just as straight and feels soft and moisturized but bot greasy. I do oil my scalp with my HMwildgrowth essent oil combo and just press down to the ends on each section. No need to oil separatedly. When I section and brush, I can not tell it from relaxed hair....except when I wash it and it shrinks up

but in the meantime

Do you know what else...? I do not have to comb through or brush my hair for days!!!!! just make sure to keep the ends lightly oiled and dusted and wrap my hair and let it grow!!!This is what I wanted. A no fuss, no stress, no damage daily routine. I will be keeping my hair wrapped from wash to wash or treatment to treatment until I reach my next goal: The bottom of my bra strap! I have already posted my latest deep conditioner which also relaxes the hair. (shea butter, ferula, horseradish, sage, mayonnaise lime juice.) Happy Hair Growing to me ...happy hair......

Bonjour.

 

[azul11]

Re: My 1st Henna

i dont know if this has been answered already but with the hennalucent do you have to let it sit with warm water like with reg henna? God bless you all.

 

[BabyCurls]

Re: Applying Henna

Thanx, HennaJoy. I really love the results that brought to my hair after using it yesterday. I have a question, though. I want to do a henna rinse, and want to maintain the shine that I've already experienced. When using henna as a rinse, can I use herbal tea in place of water(we have hard water where I live) and add a few drops of carrot oil and say, a teaspoon of conditioner to the mix? I know a lot of people are experiencing some dryness from the natural henna or the Hennalucent and adding some oil or conditioner to the mixture will counter the stiffness and the dryness. But I think doing this treatment as you pointed out maybe 4-6 weeks would be beneficial.

Again, thanx for the compliments.

 

[HennaJoy]

Re: Applying Henna

Hi BabyCurls,

People experiencing dryness from natural henna may want to look closely at some of the other ingredients or products if any that are being used with the henna and also to make sure they are doing a thorough rinsing. An herbal tea, your conditioner and oils in your rinse sounds fine with me. You may run into the same problem with the hard water since you are going to make your tea from the same water. The bottled distilled water may be helpful as you make your tea and give you an option for other rinses when you want to use water in your rinse without a tea. Our water here can be fine most of the time and then at other times gets chemically. I keep a couple gallons of distilled water on hand just for those times. And it does make a lot of difference.

Once you've got the basics down and working for your, there is nothing to do but be creative...

Let me know how your rinse comes out and what you use. I'm still interested and compiling ingredients and products people are finding helpful, useful and beneficial to use along with their henna and on their henna'd hair. If one particular oil or conditioner doesn't provide the results you want, another will. I'd love to know both what is working for you and what is not.

HennaJoy

 

[HennaJoy]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

Hi Nita4,

Actually I sell henna powder in large and small quantities...from 100 grams to multiple kilos. Each kilo is 2 1/2 pounds or 1000 grams. The lotus powder I will sell in larger quantities when my next shipment comes in.

Sounds like what the person didn't tell you was what sort of lawsonia...lawsonia amla or lawsonia inermis. Only the lawsonia inermis is henna. The lawsonia amla is amla.

When you don't want color, the lotus powder is the next best substitute. Amla is also a good substitue. My ordering would be natural henna, lotus powder then amla...in that order. You don't get the same results with the lotus powder and amla as you do with natural henna. But...they are both worthy substitutes with one a bit more worthy than the other...

HennaJoy

 

[sweetcocoa]

Re: My 1st Henna

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
azul11 said:
i dont know if this has been answered already but with the hennalucent do you have to let it sit with warm water like with reg henna? God bless you all.

[/ QUOTE ]
I didn't. After I mixed up my oils, blackstrap molasses, and a little Hask Henna and Placenta to 1/2 cup of warm water(I boiled some distilled water and added nettles and rosemary and let it cool just a little), it was very thick(not drippy), then I used immediatley on my hair followed by a plastic cap.

 

[Guest]

Re: My 1st Henna

Janice and Luvhair,

For those two sections I poured some milk in a bowl and just dipped my fingers in it and keep wetting my hair with the milk until it was completely saturated. Now, I want to reall emphasize, the milk straightened out the texture of hair I already have. If you have 3c/4a hair, it will not make it 1a,1b, or 2a, 2c. It straightens out what you already have. I think henna is the only product that can take any hair texture and turn it into something else by not only making it softer, but transforming it into the next hair level. For example, if you have 4b hair, I really believe the henna can take it to 4a. And with continued use, you may be able to achieve a 3c. However, I say "may", because the one supplement I know for 100% sure that can change hairtexture is MSM! I take Doctor's Best in powder form and I know that I know this supplement can change hairtexture. I don't offer anyone a pipe-dream because to do so is deception and very wrong in my opinion. But I would go to court and stand before the judge and vouch for this supplement. SeaMist knows what she's talking about on this one

This Saturday I plan on doing my whole head with the milk. I want to be sure that what happened with those two sections of my hair was not an anamoly in any kind of way. After the "treatment", I'll be sure to post results.

 

[NAPPtural]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Mahalialee4 said:
Lotus Report: IT'S A KEEPER! Results as follows: -extra thick hair; soft and very relaxed look and feel to the hair. By the way, I did 2 applications back to back. One like a henna and one like a moisturizer(with yogurt, cucumber, black strap and moisturizing conditioner. Also added two natural organic eggs (free roam) ...did not use any heat of course.....rinsed with AVC. okay okay I did a heavy duty thing, but next time I will just add the horseradish, sage and ferula. to one application of Lotus powder!

My Lotus powder also has lilyroot and yam and the mix is actually a dessert mix. Mixes easier than regular lotus powder mix and I was able to get it at a Canadian Chinese supermarket. Since my hair is 3b curly, my results are that my hair looks very straight when oiled and feels very very strong.The texture feels so healthy and rich and NOT DRY AT ALL. I find that my hair uses just a minimal amount of oil and when I wear it in 2 pony tails, I can dampen my hands lightly with water and smooth over each of the two sections, put them in a pony tail and pin across my head for the night and this is my moisturizer!!!!!wrap with a silk or satin scarf. The next day, it is just as straight and feels soft and moisturized but bot greasy. I do oil my scalp with my HMwildgrowth essent oil combo and just press down to the ends on each section. No need to oil separatedly. When I section and brush, I can not tell it from relaxed hair....except when I wash it and it shrinks up

but in the meantime

Do you know what else...? I do not have to comb through or brush my hair for days!!!!! just make sure to keep the ends lightly oiled and dusted and wrap my hair and let it grow!!!This is what I wanted. A no fuss, no stress, no damage daily routine. I will be keeping my hair wrapped from wash to wash or treatment to treatment until I reach my next goal: The bottom of my bra strap! I have already posted my latest deep conditioner which also relaxes the hair. (shea butter, ferula, horseradish, sage, mayonnaise lime juice.) Happy Hair Growing to me ...happy hair......

Bonjour.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have a before and after picture of you hair with the lotus powder? A pic before you use the Lotus and a picture after you use it. I would love to see it,
SInce you are getting Great results.

 

[Guest]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

Mahalialee you sound like one happy camper! Thanks for posting this. I'm telling you these natural products are off-the-hook! The Lotus Powder sounds really nice. I'm going to try your recipe and post my results also

 

[hada]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

That Lotus powder sounds wonderful!!

I will get some pretty soon. I agree about not combing hair for days and hair is still moist and soft. I am loving this.

hada

 

[Boadicea]

Re: 2nd application..(takin\' notes..)

I have never used henna but I was wondering about the color. I have naturally dark brown and medium auburn hair with some orangey-blond strands mixed in.

I would love a raveny blue-black hair color but which henna is that? Gleaming ebony or Persian black or some other name? Also, my hair doesn't take dyes well and sometimes not at all, would henna work for me? I've had permanent hair color that came right out with the next wash. It's my genetics. But I'm thinking that maybe a natural dye like henna will color my hair. What do you think?