by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Reader Tiffany says;
Hey Leila, I have a question and wonder if the BGLH community can help me. I have very fine hair and, after doing some research, I think henna might help to thicken up my strands. But I’ve also read that for some women henna doesn’t work well, and even leads to breakage.
I just wanted to ask your readers to share their henna experiences. Did it work for them? And if not, why? Also, are there any tips or tricks for me to keep in mind? Thanks!
Alright ladies! What have your experiences with henna been like?
76 Responses
I bought henna @ wholefoods. It does indeed straighten out your curl which I like because of strinkage. Question, it has been said that we loose approximately 200 hairs a day. If you don’t comb your hair for a week your comb will look like you’re loosing piles of hair, right?
DaisyV: Check out curlynikki.com. I don’t know if your question will be answered there, but she has a lot of infomation on henna.
I have dyed my hair chemically bright red about two/three weeks ago and was thinking about using henna from lush as the salon dye is making my hair thin. does anyone have any advice on how long to leave my hair until i can use henna?
thanks!
I love henna-ing my hair. I have seen the difference in the manageability of my strands and I have noticed more curl definition in some parts of my hair. I henna more for the conditioning than for the color. I’ve henna-ed 4x and can barely see changes in hair color. I currently use Jamila but after this last box is done I’m going to try out the caca rouge mama brand from Lush.
I love henna! Henna gives my hair a wonderful burgundy tint and dare I say…”thickens” up my fine strands.
I use Dulhan Deluxe Mehendi Henna ($2.99 for 100 g at Indian grocery store) for my henna treatments. I will try Jamila henna in the future.
My fave mix is 100 g henna, coconut milk and honey. I put the henna in a bowl, add enough coconut milk to get a thick pudding-like consistency and add a healthy squirt of honey. I let it sit until the dye releases. I detangle and shampoo before henna-ing. I apply the henna and let it sit for 2 hrs. After that, I do a honey/oil treatment for 10 mins, moisturize and style.
I did it last week and although I didn’t get amazing results all at once I am willing to keep trying so I can get the benefits that I’ve so read about!! So Saturday is another henna day for me! I would also recommend http://www.curlynikki.com as she has a great section on henna and it seems to be working for her!! I want that for my self too!!!
yes curlynikki has some great henna combinations over there — I have tried the green tea and that was somewhat drying to my hair for some reason, but I plan to tweak it a bit more for my next treatment.
Riding the Henna Train 🙂 Happy Henna-ing everyone!
Lina
@ChiCityKitty
I am going to give it a try, and only time will tell, right?
Yea for the most part all I do is finger detangle as well. Every now and then I will use the comb depending on if I haven’t touched my hair in 2 weeks, but if I do it weekly I don’t use a comb at all.
How funny, I plan on doing my henna this weekend as well. I finally got a lil free time. Haven’t done it in over 2 months, so it’s time. I have one more box, so I’ll be putting my order in. I usually order 2 boxes at a time. That last me 4 months, if I do it once a month.
@Sauleta,
I say go for it, rock your hair and do your thing!
I just received my package of henna and indigo from Mehandi today. I will be doing my January henna/indigo application this weekend. I can’t wait! 🙂
BTW, I am taking a hiatus from combing my hair. I will only finger detangle. I had my first session this weekend – what a HUGE difference! It takes a little longer but I had no broken ends – only full length shed hairs. I am trying this for the next three months.
@ChiCityKitty….nothing like a good ‘ol challenge to get you to do what you couldn’t before…LOL That’s great that you love where your hair is 15 months later!!
I’ve been natural, as far as no relaxer in my hair for almost 10 yrs, but I’ve been truly natural since Feb 2010 (no press, flat iron, or heat) and I did my BC in June 2010. After my BC my hair really went into shock, and that was the first time I got a lil nervous regarding cutting my hair so short, especially without any heat or chemical assistance, but after like a month my hair calmed down and the texture was back to normal. WHEW!! Now when I stretch it out it’s back to length it was before I cut it, which is unbelieveable how fast it’s grown in 6 months. I haven’t built up the courage to just rock my hair without some manipulation (twist outs, braid outs, bantu knots, etc.) but I keep saying when summer rolls back around I’m going to just do it.
Hi @Sweetypie – indeed all those herbs are great for cleansing the scalp and hair, as well as stimulating follicles — leading to improved scalp circulation and hair growth. If you can find the shikakai oil and mahabhingraj oil — those are awesome too 🙂
@daINKtellectual — you can use cassia and get the same conditioning and strengthening effects as henna without the color change. You can also perhaps custom blend your henna with herbs so that the resulting deposit is closer to your actual hair color. If you have salon color, usually henna applications are permanent. Virgin uncolored hair usually begins fading from henna treatment after 7 wks. My hair is not so porous, so henna for me in terms of deposit will last 6 wks if I am lucky, hence my monthly repeat applications. If I henna too often I cant balance the moisture well enough and I end up with hair that is less elastic and snaps with any manipulation. I hope to have some cassia melts in my shop for the new year
(toot-toot: http://www.thehairshebang.etsy.com)
Happy Fly Hair Holidays!
Lina
Is it possible to henna treat your hair without changing your natural hair color? If not, how long will it take to fade/go away?
if you want the effectsof henna withot the color try cassia treatments, nicknamed “neutral henna”
@lina40–yes, I did the big chop due to the loosen curls. Thanks so much for the suggestions (I am going to try them)! I greatly appreciate it. I was thinking about incorporating the following: Neem, Amla, Arita, Brahmi, Maka, Kalphi Tone and Shikakai powders along with Dudhi and Jabakusum oils. What do you think? I have read that these items are good for strengthening and conditioning your hair without loosen the coils. Also, I heard Cassia is good too.
Thanks so much Lina40:-).
Sister Sauleta,
I have been natural for 10 years, mainly rocking a very, very close cut TWA. I don’t know if I would classify it as a TWA because it was this (snap in the air) short. I tried to grow it out a few times, only to get frustrated since I didn’t know how to properly care for my hair. Last year, when my husband, who prefers my hair short, said that he didn’t believe that I would grow my hair long because of the many failed attempts. So I accepted his challenge and 15 months later, my hair is amazing and I love every strand – even the gray ones! It has never been past my chin, even when it was relaxed.
I took the henna plunge in August 2010 and I have never looked back.
The only con about my henna regimen is that since I am using indigo, I would not be able to try to go lighter. If I wanted to change the color, I would have to wait for the indigo to grow out or chop it off and start over. Luckily, I prefer the darker look, so I am committed to the color.
I have read some nightmare stories about people who apply commercial hair color on top of hennaed hair and/or indigo. That is when you can cause some major damage, especially if you try to lift the color – unless you want blue or even green hair. Lina40, do you know anything about this?
Yes indeed ChiCity — this the green cast that some henna newbies experience — where the salon color (containing metallic salts) reacts with the henna that has been previously deposited. This is where the salon color caution comes into play. I have done salon color and a post-henna treatment 6 wks later with a beautiful renewed vibrant color, – usually brighter than the original tone! But I make sure to wait at least 6 months if I want to lighten again.. and most likely only the roots will take. Once you use indigo — it will be next to impossible to lift that black up — at the most you will likely get to a cinnamon shade, if that… No turning lighter with indigo. You may need to wait a year or more, if that.. If you want to lighten your hair at some point, I would stick with henna glosses (henna + conditioner) and do these treatments less often so the henna has a chance to fade. Hope that helps anyone 🙂
Blessings and Happy Hair!
Lina
Where do you buy the Henna or Indigo you use?
@ChiCityKitty…yes my twin natural hair sista we do have a lot of things in common…LOL How long have you been natural & doing Henna?
@Lina40 You are bringing up a lot of good tips and advise that I included in my post as well. Good job =)
Thanks ChiCity Kitty – I was wondering how to respond to Adrianna’s point.
Not all henna containing products are “natural” or even “chemical-free”. You have to read the ingredients and/or check the supplier or brand of the henna very carefully.
I think most of the people reading and responding to this post are looking for the natural and pure henna. This is the henna that is best – Body Art Quality henna (BAQ) is even better because it is usually ground much finer and double or triple sifted for smooth application.
If your henna is in a jar or a can, I would question whether it is BAQ and/or sifted. Also keep in mind that metal utensils do react with henna, which is why some commercial salon and box colors advise against using henna – metallic salts are commonly used in over the counter and salon colors for staining and depositing color into the hair.
BIGEN is a commercial hair dye that contains henna, but is largely chemicals, including PPD. I wont type out the full name of PPD, but its in a lot of salon and box colors and can cause hair loss and scalp dermatitis, etc… this is why many people move towards 100% natural henna versus henna-containing products – at least you know what you are getting and that is the point.
Pleas be mindful that henna is not for everyone — for those who tried henna for the first time and hated it..
-did you have salon color on your hair prior to application?
-did you apply it to shampooed, wet hair?
-did you use conditioner to help remove all the residue? Henna on thick natural hair can be a crazy situation if you dont have the right technique of rinsing down
You still need to moisturize or cowash perhaps more frequently after your first henna treatment Just like a first protein treatment or even a salon color, your hair is going through a new experience and may need some additional pampering.
my first henna application was ugh!! I used some henna that was not sifted (in a jar at a local indian store).. the hair came out soft, but i had twigs and grains like you wouldnt believe! It was like I had buried myself in the backyard or something..
but I learned more about henna and bought some pure sifted henna online and the 2nd application was like night and day. My hair was soft, easy to detangle, no shedding, I was thinking — “whose hair is this??” Now 3 days later, I did have to cowash because it felt just a little ‘crispy’ but nothing bad… sometimes an overnite deep condition or a cowash a few days later will help get out the remaining residue and perhaps at that point you will note the differences.
I would encourage those who have tried it once to perhaps try a gloss instead of a full-treatment for your 2nd chance henna bling! Just add 2-4 tbs of henna to your deep conditioner, leave in for an hr, then rinse well with warm, then cool water. You may be pleasantly surprised! If you are still hesistant from the first attempt, I totally understand.
Blessings and Happy Hair!
Lina from The Hair Shebang
Adrianna,
Pure henna does not contain metallic salts. Compound prepackaged henna dyes can contain metallic salts as well as a variety of other damaging chemicals. Here is some information from Mehandi’s website – http://www.hennaforhair.com/science/index.html:
How do manufacturers of “henna hair dye” make all those different henna colors?
Boxes of commercially produced “henna for hair” come in a range of colors. Henna, itself, DOES NOT come in a range of colors. The only dye molecule in henna (Lawsonia Inermis) in sufficient quantity to stain hair is Lawsone , which is a red-orange molecule. Any company that claims they create the wide range of henna colors with 100% henna, using roots, bark, or other parts of the henna plant to achieve their colors is …… lying or seriously ignorant. Only henna leaves are useful for dying hair, and other parts of the henna plant do not dye hair other colors. Chemicals, metallic salts or other plants must be added to henna to make any color other than red.
These pre-mixed colors are compound hennas. If you buy a box labeled henna that claims to dye hair blonde, brown or black, there is something other than henna in that box.
Compound Henna Dye
This is a term that refers to hair dye marketed as henna, and is formulated in different colors. These mixtures may contain additional plant dyes, may contain metallic salts, and may contain para-phenylenedmine. Compond henna may damage your hair.
Pure body art quality henna is good for your hair.
There is no such plant as “blonde henna”, “brown henna” or “black henna”. The plant, henna, lawsonia inermis, has only one dyemolecule, and that molecule is red-orange.
Chemicals, metallic salts or other dye plants must be added to henna to make any color other than red. These mixes are termed compound hennas.
Some dye plants can be added to alter the color of henna. Some chemicals can be added to alter the color of henna.
Metallic salts alter and fix a dye stain. Many “henna colors” are created with metallic salts. The most frequently used material is lead acetate, though silver nitrate, copper, nickel, cobalt, bismuth and iron salts have also been used.
Dyes with lead acetate gradually deposit a mixture of lead sulfide and lead oxide on the hair shaft. When you hear that henna has “metal”, “lead”, or “coats the hair” and “leaves it brittle”, that refers to a compound henna dye, full of these metallic salts.
Hair bleach, permanent hair color, and permanent wave solution are a disastrous combination with compound (metallic salt) henna dyes. These can result in green, purple, or totally fried hair.
Some pre-mixed hennas have para-phenylenediamine. Some pre-mixed hennas have very little henna whatsoever.
Body art quality henna does NOT have metals, lead, nor does it “coat the hair”. This website is dedicated to providing you with the information to learn to dye your hair with 100% pure henna, indigo, cassia and amla without using pre-mixed “compound henna”. This is very much like learning to do your own cooking instead of eating processed food. You’ll know what you’re getting and you’ll know what its doing. The pre-mixed “compound henna” products may not have an accurate or complete ingredient declaration. If you cannot be certain what is in each box, you cannot be certain what cross reactions may occur between your compound henna and preceeding or subsequent chemical process, and you won’t know if you’re going to have an allergic reaction to something in that mixture.
How can you find out if the henna hair dye you’ve been using has toxic metallic salts?
Harvest some of your hair.
Mix one ounce (30 ml) of 20-volume peroxide and 20 drops of 28% ammonia.
Put your harvested hair in the peroxide-ammonia mix (this is in synthetic hair dye).
If there’s lead in the henna you’ve used, your hair will change color immediately. If there’s silver nitrate in the henna you’ve been using, there will be no change in hair color, because silver is coating the hair. However, silver nitrate leaves a greenish cast to your hair, so you can tell by that. If there’s copper in the henna you’ve used, your hair will start to boil, the hair will be hot and smell horrible, and the hair will disintegrate.
With all that crap, frequently unlisted, in some henna products, no wonder henna’s gotten a bad rap!
Why do some boxes of “colored henna” have no declaration of ingredients? Some countries where these products are initially manufactured do not have laws requiring the declaration of ingredients in cosmetics. So, they can put anything they want in that box and they don’t have to tell you what’s in it. If someone in the USA imports these mixes, they are not required by law to go back and discover what’s in the bulk mix that was passed through customs marked as “henna”, and they don’t have to declare it on their package. This is how a company can have a dozen “colors of henna” from blonde to black, and sell them without listing their ingredients .. and they usually do. The person selling the product may have no idea what’s in the box, or they may know and not want to tell you. If its a box of hair dye that claims to be henna and it claims to dye hair something other than red, and the powder inside is not green … it is NOT HENNA. Many products labeled “herbal henna” actually contain para-phenylenediamine. If you’re allergic to chemical hair dye and you use “herbal henna” you may to have an allergic reaction to the chemicals in it. The claim of “no ammonia, no peroxide, all natural” does not mean you’re getting safe, pure henna.
@Maureen
Freezing henna does not make it lose its strength. It’s actually whats is recommended if you have any left over from your application. It also helps the dye release.
Yes freezing henna not only preserves the staining ability, but many get a stronger deposit on the hair.. Do not freeze indigo, though – it has a short lifespan. Dye release happens within 10 minutes or so in warm water.. any leftovers with indigo should be discarded – if you think henna smells “herbal”.. indigo may smell like a 60s part–ay
Blessings and Happy Hair!
Lina
where did you get the indigo color from?
Is there anyone who knows if freezing henna can make it loose its strength?
Actually I’ve read on other sites that you can freeze henna and reuse it and it would be just as strong as the day it was made!!
I’ve frozen henna and it was just as strong as making it fresh.
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET! My hair is proteun sensative and dries very easily. It took 48 hours of deep conditioning to keep some of the moisture back in my hair. i had to place lads of melted down shea to keep it moist. My hair is too sensative for henna. I will never do it again.
Okay.. a lot of ppl are not going to like what I say but here we go… Henna dyes contain metallic salts. They are also found in the infamous natural dye “BIGEN”. What Metallic salts do is coat the hair and causes the hair to discolor, lose natural curl and eventually break off. NOW! (I know some people like HOLD up!!!) The dyes are found in Hennas, Men box colors, a few women box colrs, and hair restorers like Rogaine. There are some that CAN use hennas without having to be worried about breakage later.
This is how metallic salts affect the hair (Pretend that The capital letter “I” is a hair strand and the brackets {} are Metallic Dyes.
You dye ur hair for the first time {I}
Months go by and u need to freshen up that color and oh, that new growth has come in {{I}}
Months after that, “My hair is growin so well and I wanna maintain my color so u.. {{{I}}}
STOP!!!!
Metallic Dyes coat ur hair each time you use them, they build up on the hair. Its nothin to help break the coat. Eventually the coat gets too heavy for the follicle taht the follicle gives in, causing a word of breakage. I read, all the time, about women using hennas and explaining this unbelieveable softness, a lighter fluffier texture to the hair, and oh my favorite, “My hair felt thicker!” This isnt bc u just added a healthy color but a coat.
THE ONLY PEOPLE, I REPEAT THE ONLY PEOPLE that should use dyes with Metallic dyes are people who are constantly cutting their hair. Not trimming monthly but literally maintaining a short style. Why?? Are short hair wearers are maintaing a balance between new growth and colored hair. Its not giving the coat a chance to grow and pull. Those with medium to long hair would really be taking a chance for severe breakage later… guaranteed. ia lso failed to mention that its hard for product and also chemicals to break that coat, so the way you would usually take care of your would require a lot more TLC. Worst news of all, Metallic dyes and Chemicals dnt mix. Ur hair will literally smoke.
So Henna or not? The choice is yours.
oy sweetypie – soo sorry about that chop! Did you do it mainly because of the henna curl loosening? Next time around, pre-treat the hair with some ayurvedic oils, coconut oil, or even olive oil prior to application. I have seen curl patterns return over an 8 wk period – again hair porosity can be an issue for people whose coils tend to loosen. Shikakai, amla, and even ACV rinses work really well to balance porosity and improve curl definition.
@ tiffany – I would wait at least 1 month before applying henna to color-treated hair. I did an Aveda color a while back and henna’d 2 wks later, and while the color was off the chain, i had to really baby my hair (cowash every 2-3 days) to bring the moisture back into balance. The color, although gentle, really put my hair off balance. At least 2 deep conditioning treatments before you henna on top of the color should be good 🙂
@ cygnet — great tips – you definitely know your stuff! I have used walnut hulls, cloves, cinnamon, and even home-brewed beer (not self-made!) to brown my hennas down a bit from red. The simplest thing I have found is to add cloves and amla. Amla alone reduces the orangy brassiness of Jamila hennas, in particular.
for those whose hair is prone to dryness, I would use an acidic tea (green, black, white tea) orange juice, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, some have even used flat wine, grape juice, grapefruit juice, lime, plain yogurt, sour cream, coconut milk, coconut water, and hops-brewed beers to get dye-release with less dryness.
You can also simply use water and add a few drops of an essential oil — this “terps” the henna — causing it to oxidize,activate quicker and eventually give better stain results (if deposit is what you are looking for).
I can see this thread may go on for a while 🙂
Blessings and Happy Hair!
Lina of the Hair Shebang
I used henna over a year ago and my hair strands went from coils to s curls:-(. Yes, my hair was thicker and stronger but my coils were gone. I used green tea instead of plain water and kept it in overnight(fyi).
I big chopped almost 4 years of hair growth *tear* last June because my new growth was not matching with the rest of my hair. I am interest in ayurvedic hair care teatments and may try it in January!
Hey I have thin hair and I swear by henna..It makes my hair strands feel thick and strong. I also feel I have less breakage when using i and it makes my hair shiny as hell.The only con is you will have a grassy smell until the second wash but I don’t care I love it!
i was stupid and put a chemical color dye in my hair…while it looks fine I miss my natural natural locs…and the color. I want to dye my hair back to its origional color instead of the auburn red (only about 10 locs) that it is. Would you recommend putting the henna on top of color treated hair?
Sauleta,
You and I must be hair twins! Not only are we doing the same henna routine, but we use the same deep conditioner – JessiCurl Weekly Deep Condition Treatment. Great minds think alike!
I just started using the Island Fantasy scent. Now that winter is in full swing in Chicago, I need something to keep my mind on summer.
@BabyCakes I use JessiCurl Weekly Deep Condition Treatment http://www.jessicurl.com
I also have heard that the Carols Daughter smoothies work really well for DC as well. I haven’t tried it.
For those that are experiencing dryness, sometimes it’s usually from:
1. You aren’t rinsing the paste out well enough so some residue is still left on your hair
2. You need to restore the moisture to your hair with either condish rinsing or a heavy DC.
3. What you use to mix your henna with. Sometimes lemon juice or teas have to much acidic components to them.
The great thing about all of this is that you are using natural products so you can play around till you find a combo that works for you. Trial and error make for some of the best experience stories, and teaching guides 🙂
@Minimalist Beauty do you add anything else other than Coconut Milk to your Henna Mix? Do you let it sit to get dye release or apply immediately? My henna glosses still dry my hair out and am curious about the coconut milk to offset. Your input is GREATLY appreciated!
@LouderThanThey
I actually use GBP as well, but since it has protien in it I didn’t know if I would be over doing it if I used it as a DC after henna.
I have fine strands of varying curl sizes, and they are of moderate density on my head. I have used henna since summer of 2007, and I love it. I primarily use it for the color.
Because I find henna drying for my hair, and my hair already tends to be dry due to hypothyroidism, I make sure to use lots of moisturizing conditioner. For about a year now, I have mixed my henna with conditioner to apply it, and after I rinse it out with conditioner, I apply more conditioner. For me, if I’m going to err, it will be on the side of too much moisture, because for my hair, I’ve yet to find any such thing :-); my hair needs a lot of moisture and loves it very much. If you used henna, and then your hair started breaking, you may have needed to significantly increase your moisture use; try it now if that is your current situation, and see if that helps.
What I’ve heard and observed to be the case is that the darker your hair to begin with, the less you’ll notice the color while in a shaded place. Over time, the henna stain deepens with repeated use. On me, however, if I go a couple of months without applying, the color starts to lighten up again. I have golden-strawberry-blond hair underneath, however, and I’ve heard from other people with albinism that their hair sometimes doesn’t retain color as well, so since I also have albinism, that may partially explain the lightening when I don’t reapply for awhile.
And that thing they tell you about not using oils in your mix because oils interfere with stain? Not a problem for me! If you don’t want the staining so much, however, try adding oil to your mix and see if you get less. Want a stronger stain? Add apple cider vinegar.
As for gray coverage, I’m told walnut powder is good for mixing with henna to give brown results. Black tea also will do it; I know this by experience. I purchased henna from a local Indian market, and it had black tea and other natural powders in it. My hair was dark reddish-brown for quite a while after that. I still have the remnants of that henna powder in my long-term hair supplies storage. But the two-step henna and indigo coloring is the recommended way to go completely black for those who want to do that, and I think it is supposed to do a marvelous job on grays.
And if your henna comes pre-mixed with anything, make sure it’s a plant or food, for instance, chamomile, marigold, hibiscus, walnut powder, tea, amla, shikakai, all of those are common plant and/or comestible ingredients found in an all-natural henna mix. Rainbow Henna is a company that sells these kinds of henna mixes, and there are no PPD’s or other synthesized chemicals in their powders. If your henna contains a synthesized chemical additive, DO NOT USE IT!!!!!
And if you try it and don’t like it, find something else :-)!
@ Dani, try AO GBP or White Camelia. They work better for me than HSR does.
Henna is GREAT!! If you don’t want the red undertones, simply follow-up with indigo. You can do indigo after for jet-black hair or add it to the henna for brown hair. HTH.
Wow, thanks for the info. I think I might go for henna mixed with amla (to retain my kinks) like lina40 suggested.
@babycakes
In the summertime (I live in the HUMID Midwest) I used Suave Humectant (think I spelled it right) with my hair steamer. Suave is cheap and awesome. And as of right now I’m on the hunt for the perfect winter ready DC. I have used AO- Honeysuckle Rose but I’m only 60% in love with it. Any suggestions for a winter DC ladies? A cheapo and/or a highend please!
@Kim – I had a less than postive reaction to Henna the first time I tried it as well so dont feel bad. I had just cut off my perm and had color in my hair, about a month later I tried Henna. My hair was DRRRRRRRRY, brittle and breaking, I was not a fan. Fast forward 1yr. I have been using Amla powder as a conditioning treatment for a few months not (check out this treatment on naturallyleslie.blogspot.com) and it had my hair feeling GREAAAAT!!!! so I decided to revisit the Henna. I have to say the results this time round were much different and I will be doing it again. It still very dry on my ends were I still have color but the rest of my hair is fluffy and feels stronger. I used a different brand than what forums have suggested. I used Napur that is infused with Amla, and other Ayurvedic powders. I will try Jamilla next time, see if it makes a difference.
Can you all please state what DC you all use after your henna treatment…tia
Just something to remember about henna…if you have a lot of gray, white or silver hair, you’ll get orange hair from henna, not red. I spent some time in India, and it’s the dye of choice for old people whose hair is turning or has turned white. Let’s just say that a bunch of Indians are running around giving Carrot Top a run for the money, which isn’t exactly the most flattering choice for a brown-skinned person. It’s shocking and awful looking but the norm and they seem to prefer it to just having grey or white hair.
You’ll probably get nice color results if you still have all black hair, but if you have a lot of grey, beware…
I am so glad you asked this question! I am interested in trying but I do want to get semi-permanent color in my hair this summer and was wondering what negative effects Henna can have on my chemically processed hair (i.e. I am natural but want color. Any opininons on this?
I’m currently transitioning, 6 months post relaxer and I’ve been toying with the idea of henna to aid in detangling and hopefully reduce breakage (that line of demarcation thing is killing me). What scares me is the colour. I’ve always been a jet black hair kind of girl. i don’t know if I could handle my hair bright. Has anyone ended up with bright/orange hair?
Henna’s definitely become one of my staples. I try to henna once a month. Over the past 5’months my hair has become thicker and less brittle. It also fills in the gaps in my strNds from split ends- not repairing them but giving me more time for my hair to grow out before a trim
I love henna!!! I’ve been using it monthly since March of this year and have seen my curls soften and also get stronger. I mix about 100 grams with a can of coconut milk. The coconut milk gives great dye release without the drying effects of other acids or tarps. I leave it in as long as possible (3-6 hours). Karishma Henna has a great herbal mix and Jamila Henna gives a beautiful burgundy color. Adding hibiscus powder enhances the burgundy shade even more. I would definitely recommend using henna for healthy hair and beautful color. I think of henna as my deep conditioning treatment.
Hi there — i wont repeat too much of what I have seen posted, but I will point out that..
— henna will make your hair thicker, stronger, more voluminous, and yet easier to detangle – due to the deposit it leaves on the strands. Depending on the porosity of the hair you may get a rich vibrant color, or a more subtle color with highlights that intensifies in richness over time. Don’t forget that your scalp will get a great exfoliation and stimulation as well.
— henna glosses are not to be left on overnight. You may have to keep in mind the conditioner you want to use for a henna gloss, because that will influence the amount of time you want to keep it on your hair. A more pure henna treatment is better for overnite conditioning.
— I’ve been using henna for the last 5 years and it just gets better and better! Fine hair, thick hair can both benefit from henna. There a number of places you can get it if its not local to you
(toot-toot: http://www.thehairshebang.etsy.com )
— For first time users, you may want to make sure you follow up with a deep conditioner to ensure that your hair stays moisturized. Fine haired ladies seem to do just fine with henna, but thick-haired naturals may want to cowash the henna out or use a deep conditioner after rinsing.
— Scared of loosening curl pattern with henna? Use water instead of lemon juice, add amla or shikakai to your henna, or make sure you pre-treat the hair with ayurvedic oils prior to henna…
Blessings and Happy Hair!
Lina of The Hair Shebang
This is so crazy! I’m on Christmas break from college and I was swearing up and down that I was going to try henna before school started(in case it came out awful…I would have time to fix it). Now I’m convinced and will def. get the jamila type of henna. Thanx ladies!
What a timely article/responses, I have debated on whether to Henna or not for a month now, after these reviews…. I will Henna this weekend & thanks for stressing it has to be the pure henna not the chemically altered one. Love you naturels
I’ve done two henna gloss treatments so far, the first time I didn’t sift it so make sure you do, as mentioned before. Days later I still had grains left in my hair. Besides that, I haven’t really noticed a big difference in the shedding which has always been a handful and still is. I’m hoping that’ll improve, and that my hairline will grow in because it has been thinning for the last couple of months.
It does look like my hair is much softer, slightly looser and the shine has improved greatly (I don’t know if that’s only the henna or the oil rinse as well).
I wanna do a full-on henna next time I’ll wash my hair, maybe mix it with coconut milk and amla or another ayurvedic powder. I don’t think I will leave it on overnight though, I’m too scared after Kim’s horror story :P. It does seem like for most of the people who commented, it’s the longer, the better when it comes to henna’ing.
My hair loves henna!
I have type 4 fine and thin hair which is noticably thicker since I started henna treatments.It also gave me a beautiful deep brown/mahogany/red colour.
I leave mine in over night. In my mixture I use tea,let it sit,then add conditioner and oils just before I apply.
Hope it woks for you too.
I love henna! My hair’s already pretty thick tho. I use it more for the natural highlights. The best henna is from a foreign company and in powder form. I’ve left henna in my hair for hours and overnight, and I never had issues after it was washed out, but others have. It’s a good deep conditioner to help repair damage. I haven’t used it in more than a year cuz it makes a big mess, but I still have my highlights. So it’s good stuff. But hair stylists would say otherwise. I’ve met some who told me henna is bad, but it depends on each person’s hair
This is great! I just added the finishing touches to a batch of henna I plan to freeze and use this weekend! I have used Body Art Quality Henna from mehandi.com for over a year and I absolutely love what it does for my hair!
In April of last year, I had such a serious allergic reaction to hair coloring (done at a salon) that I ended up at an ER clinic. My scalp wept from sores, and my face looked like I had gone ten rounds with Evander Holyfield!
I, too, was reluctant to try henna. All the research I’d done indicated it was a safe alternative to permanent hair coloring (which contains metals and PPDs.) Reluctantly, I decided to give it a try.
Last November, I bought henna and followed the directions on the website, mixing it with lemon juice. My scalp was a bit dry from using the lemon juice. I have since hennaed three times, mixing it with apple juice instead of the lemon juice, and have had excellent results.
As the other ladies indicated, it is a godsend to naturals because it colors and conditions! And, the color lasts! For those with grays, it creates nice coppery highlights. In my opinion, it is well worth the effort, especially for those allergic to permanent dyes.
I used henna a long time ago and i loved it. It never broke my hair off and I was a teen using it on relaxed hair then. i plan on using it again once i find the real stuff. I never left it in over night and i did at times over do it but still no breakage. The Henna I used had a recommended time on it, if I am remembering correctly.
I love Henna. I henna my hair every two weeks, alternating from a henna gloss to a straight henna paste. I have yet to have any problems with my henna as far as my hair being dry bc I do an extensive DC afterwards.
Am I the only one who had a bad experience with henna? I did a henna gloss and left it in overnight. For the following few days, my hair was so soft and amazing, but then it started breaking off and has been ever since (4 months). It was definitely dumb of me to leave it in for so long on the first try, but I’ve learnt my lesson.
I have fine (3b/c) hair & I love my henna. I do it about once a month & it really has helped with the thickness of my hair. It also loosens the curl a bit so my hair looks alot fuller. My hair has more spring & bounce to it.
I do not get a mess when applying my henna. I mix it in a blastic bowl & then section my hair & apply the henna with a hair color brush. It goes on easily. I then comb my hair up and around & wrap my head in Saran Wrap before putting on a shower cap & a scarf. I really don’t like to sleep in it b/c I stained a pillow once, so I do it on a day I have nothing else to do & can leave it in for several hours.
My greys turn a pretty coppery color & my hair has a “fiery glow” in the sunlight. I am a color girl & have ALWAYS colored my hair. I decided not to get color once I went natural & was really disliking the dull drab brown of my natural hair color. Henna resolved all that.
Wow, amazing that henna gets only positive reviews. I used it when I was a teenager (20 years ago LOL) and a couple of times since. To be quite honest I would do it for the color and not for conditioning so I didn’t notice any difference. But now I’m sold and will do it next week LOL.
Sauleta, I echo the same sentiments! I love being on the dark (henna) side!
And Curly Nikki is hands down the best tour guide for henna PERIOD.
In fear of just repeating the above comments I want to say that henna is the only thing that kept me from going back to a relaxer. It made my hair super strong, soft, and manageable; and the color is just awesome. Even my permed strands are thick, healthy and gorgeous! If I had discovered henna before going natural I probably never would have. It is such and awesome gift from nature!
I have been using henna twice a month since August and I have noticed a huge difference in the texture and thickness of my hair. It did loosen the curl a bit but it feels stronger and softer. The first monthly treatment, I mix the henna with indigo to keep my hair color a very rich dark black / brown. The second monthly treatment, I will henna gloss by mixing the henna with a conditioner.
Before I starting using henna, I did my research on the Henna for Hair Forum – http://www.forums.hennapage.com/. I also read about Curly Nikki’s henna experiences – http://www.curlynikki.com/. I follow her method of tub rinsing, so I don’t find it very messy. If you fill your tub with water and then dunk your head, rinsing is very easy. I follow each treatment with a extra moisturising deep conditioner.
I purchase my henna online from Mehandi – http://mehandi.com/. The quality is amazing and I love that you can order kits. They have a variety of hennas, amla and other hair and skin care items.
I love, love, LOVE what henna has done for me!
i’ve never used henna…im to scared about the curl loosening effects & its not a risk im willing to take right now, even though i hear about its benefits…i like the other ayurvedic treatments ive done though…they make my hair feel soft and strong, so i’m thinking about trying cassia one day since i heard its the same as henna without the color or curl loosening, but you have to do it more often because the results dont last as long
I have fine but thick 4a and I am a long time user of Jamila henna. It thickens my hair and leaves it feeling soft and very shiny with no shedding. I mix mine a la Curly Nikki, only using green tea.
I used henna for the first time last weekend and it made my hair color bright and my hair full of volume and sheen. I have thick, coarse hair and was experiencing breakage prior to using it. I haven’t noticed any breakage since using the henna yet. I will definitely use it again next month, though.
I have been doing henna since Feb 2010, and I love it. I started out doing it once a week, for like 3-4 months, but the process can be quite tedious, so now I do it once a month. When I first started I was using a mixture of Henna, green tea, and honey, but I think the caffeine and acid combo in the green tea was a little strong for my hair, so it did feel dry and a little brittle, but now I do what is called a Henna gloss. My Henna gloss consist of Henna, coconut milk, conditioner, and honey. OMG!!! I love it and I think my hair loves it even more. Someone suggested that I switch to coconut milk instead of the green tea, and I think that has been a winning combo. I can definitely tell a difference in my hair using the Henna. It’s easier to style, feels stronger, and is definitely thickening up. I haven’t done a treatment in 2 months (been really busy) and I can tell the difference. Here are some tips if considering Henna treatments:
-Be mindful of the type of Henna you are using. Each grade of Henna is different. You want to use what is considered Bridal henna, it’s pure and already sifted. I prefer Jamila 2009, that comes in a foil pouch. I order mine online from http://www.mehandi.com
-For a regular Henna treatment it is best to leave it on overnight, but I leave my Henna gloss on overnight as well. That way it’s like I’m getting my Henna and DC at the same time.
-Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, and Rinse some more. When rinsing out your henna it’s easier to do it over the tub or in a big sink. I usually do this till I can see the water is running clear out my hair. It doesn’t stop there. Then you rinse with conditioner. I usually do the condish/rinse cycle like 3-4 times.
-DC(Deep Condition) After you finish rinsing your hair do a Deep Condition to restore the moisture and softness to your hair. Henna is similar to a protein treatment in that it will make your hair feel dry and brittle if you do not take the steps to restore the moisture. Make sure your DC has ingredients that promote and seal in moisture. Leave it on 30 mins to a hour. Then rinse and go about your usual style routine.
-Make sure you have gloves and have clothes and materials that you don’t mind getting stained, especially in the beginning till you get a routine down. Once I did it without gloves and my hands were stained for 3 weeks.
-My saving grace and where I got most of my info from was Curly Nikki’s website http://www.curlynikki.com there is a lot of useful information there and a section dedicated to just Henna.
Tiffany I say just come on over to the dark side, and try Henna out. Sorry my post is so long. I hope it helps, and good luck!! :o)
I wouldn’t mind doing some Henna but I do hear that if you have some grey hairs,that it won’t adhere and have that part turn orange reddish color. I just dyed mine a midnight blk semi-permanent from Clariol Instincts, and love it.
…..By the way I used Jamila and you can usually find it at your local indian grocery store.
As I type, I have Jamila henna in my hair, lol. I’m keeping it on for 10 hours and I’ll apply my dc after rinsing. I mixed Jamila henna, a couple of splashes of lemon juice, warmed distilled water, 1/2 cup of HE Hello Hydration, and 1 cup of Vo5 Passionfruit Smoothie. I let it sit overnight. Prior to applying, I adding some coconut oil and peppermint oil. So, I’ll see what happens!
I plan to do this once a month. Good luck!
P.S. I have thin to medium, fine hair.
It’s funny you posted this because I just henna’d my hair for the first time this past weekend. I was a little nervous at first but I got satisfactory results, I only left mines in for about four hours so it didn’t really color my hair, which was good because I like my dark strands! However I noticed the thickening effects and the softness of my hair. I just wish I had of left it in a little longer (maybe slept in it). I liked it enough to definitely do it again….probably over the holiday weekend. note: I mixed mines with a powder called Amla, and it comes in oil form as well this is so that your curl pattern does not get affected by the henna. Good luck and happy henna!
My hair is mostly fine, but thick. I tried henna for the first time about two years ago and did it (stopped this summer) about every 4 months using Jamila from Butters-n-Bars.com. For me…
Pros: lovely color, decent as a conditioning treatment.
Cons: it’s messier than other conditioning treatments that offer similar results, e.g. honey + olive oil, mayo, bentonite clay. You have to be careful not to get it on your clothes/hands.
Decision: I’m just sort of ho-hum regarding henna right now. For strengthening, it’s just OK to me. I would do it again, but only to get that fantastic reddish-brown color.
I have fine hair and I henna once a month to every few months. It has made my hair thicker and adds a nice sheen to my strands.
Some great henna brands to try (my favs):
Karishma Henna
Reshma Henna
I henna’d for the first time 1 month ago, and hands down, it is the BEST thing I’ve done for my hair since going natural.
My hair is mostly medium to thick density, but I have some areas (in the very front and very back), that are fine. I also LOVE really big hair, so I decided to try henna to thicken my strands. As a 4b, my hair also tends to be very dry, so I’m always looking for ways to retain moisture. Henna seemed perfect for both reasons.
I could immediately tell the difference as soon as I washed the henna mix out and DC’d. My hair was SUPER soft and moisturized, and I’ve been able to cut down on how often I moisturize and seal since I henna’d 1 month ago.
Henna’ing will now be a staple part of my regimen. Don’t be scared- henna is the truth!
I’ve used henna since I’ve been natural for a year now. First you should make sure that you are using “real henna” and not imitation henna. This type of henna can have chemicals in it and can do some damage to your hair. Go to mehandi.com and the website has tons of information about where henna comes from, FAQ’s etc.. You have to follow the instructions!
It took me awhile to decide if henna was right for me and I have no requests. I have no breakage and henna actually does the opposite making your hair stronger and stopping hair loss, but of course everyone has different results. For those that have breakage, most likely they had breakage before the henna or didn’t use “real henna.”
I love henna and you can learn to add different oils and things to your mix to add natural coloring, increase the color release etc.. For some its time consuming but you have to do what works for you. I have no complaints. You can check out my blog if you want to read about my experience. Good luck
I’ve tried Henna, I do not have fine hair however, but I loved it. I actually got the Henna from a local Indian Grocery store by my house for $4. The color set really well in my hair, I have only done it once so I cannot talk for long term experiences, however I did not have any breakage or adverse side effects. I would just suggest to sift it first to get it finer so there isn’t a lot left after you rinse it out.