This is the 1st time I've seen this thread. I'm been steaming with henna since June '10 when I got my steamer.
Here is a PM I sent to a fellow member who asked me about steaming. Sorry it's so long, but I wanted to be thorough with my answer. So here goes.....
Yes, I do use my steamer for my henna treatments. I have very few drips when I steam and I don’t cover my hair; use to use a Terry Cloth Scrunched Elastic Headband to catch any drips. But don’t anymore. I use a paper towel to dab the few drips I might get.
Also, my recipe includes coconut milk which makes my mix very creamy. The consistency is like pudding or yogurt. I think that’s why it doesn’t drip while I’m steaming.
On average I steam for 1 – 1 ½ hrs w/the henna in my hair. My steamer has a one hour timer. One other thing I found out is that the henna rinses out so easily. In the past I would have to use lots and lots of conditioner to rinse and rinse it from my hair over and over again.
Also, I used to DC overnight to get the softness and moisture back in my hair. I steam with my DC concoction for no more than ½ - ¾ hours after rinsing the henna out. Hair is moisturized and like butter.
The steps I take to henna:
Wash my hair w/a moisturizing shampoo.
Detangle it using coconut oil only. I apply coconut oil to my hair and scalp.
Place a few cornrows in my hair and let it dry. (I get a smooth henna-application doing it this way because when I unbraid my dry hair, it is stretched and in a comb-thru state w/no tangles or knots). I’m natural and the shrinkage is maddening!
I might add that once a month I add Katam to my henna mix. It’s like indigo, but gives my hair a medium brown color; I don’t like the red of henna. And that is another wonderful thing I discovered about steaming. I mix my henna and immediately apply it so that the red dye does not release. In the past, this wouldn’t matter because for the amount of time I left the henna on my hair (4-6 hrs), the dye would release.
It’s so wonderful not to be tied down to taking care of my hair anymore. Steaming has revolutionized my haircare.
Other steam uses:
Pre-poo treatments including hot-oil or DC on dry hair….I love, love, this!!
I apply bentonite or rhassoul clay every other week. I mix it with rose water, apply to hair and steam for 15 – 20 minutes. I also apply it to my face for a facial treatment at the same time. Bentonite and Rhassoul clays exfoliate and detoxify your scalp and help makes your hair strong. They also pull toxins from the skin.
I found Kalpi-tone rinses just as easily from my hair as does henna. It’s an ayurvedic conditioning treatment like henna. I steam for 10 – 15 minutes and my hair is so soft after I rinse it out.
I’m an engineer and have to visit clients on construction sites most days. In Florida in this blistering heat with the flying dirt and debris, my hair gets dirty fast. So most weeks in the summer, I shampoo 2 – 3 times a week. After I get home, it usually takes me hours to wash, DC and twist or braid my hair. Now it takes no more than 1 ½ hours to do my hair from start to finish including a 20 min DC and a pre-poo sometimes.
I LOVE STEAMING!