Henna Help - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

SuzMax

I've been using Revlon Colorsilk for a number of years. But my hair has been sooooo dry lately and it even seems to have a hard time curling in spots because of the damage. As far as I know, I'm doing everything right that I can think of except coloring. I have a lot of gray and my hair grows pretty fast so I have to color often. I definitely need to switch and I used to think I'd never use henna because I heard it was really drying (true or not). But now that I'm looking for something different, henna keeps popping up. So I thought I'd turn to fellow curlies for the inside scoop on henna.

1) Is it drying and bad for your hair?
2) Does it cover gray well?
3) What kinds of colors can you get with it? My natural color is dark brown (I haven't seen that color in ages!) but I mix red and a lighter brown together. Will my hair turn green?
4) Is it expensive? I hear it is.
5) Where do you get "good" henna?
6) What are the pros?
7) What are the cons?

I sure appreciate any help that any of you can give me!

Thanks!

Suz

claudine191

If you go to the site "Henna for Hair" I think your questions will be answered.

sixelamy

1) Is it drying and bad for your hair? Absolutely not! That is, if you use the right kind of henna, and the right ingredients.

2) Does it cover gray well? It depends on the lawsone % and what you mix it with. ie. henna alone will be bright copper, but mix it with indigo and it will be more auburn. You can even get black with proper application of henna/indigo. The henna eBook is great at explaining this.

3) What kinds of colors can you get with it? My natural color is dark brown (I haven't seen that color in ages!) but I mix red and a lighter brown together. Will my hair turn green? It might turn green or even burn off if you don't get Body Art Quality (BAQ) henna. Henna only comes in red. If you want brown you'll have to mix with indigo.

4) Is it expensive? I hear it is. Define expensive.

5) Where do you get "good" henna? mehandi.com

6) What are the pros? It's awesome?! And natural. And great for the hair.

7) What are the cons? Some people have problems with losing a bit of curl if used too often. I personally have not found this to be true - I touch up roots once every 2 months and full applications twice a year.

claudine191

I think it's dirt cheap! One purchase of $20 lasts me 6-12 months. That's a tip for a single coloring session at a salon.

sixelamy

claudine191 wrote: »

I think it's dirt cheap! One purchase of $20 lasts me 6-12 months. That's a tip for a single coloring session at a salon.

I've had my packets for over a year. Just ordered some more.

SuzMax

Thanks! After much research I think I might go gray! I'll have to go visit Our Gray Journey. But if I did color I'd probably use henna.

Starmie

My experience has been recent and brief so maybe not too much help, suffice to say I think I'm going to go grey too! I agree with sixelamy's responses above though covering my grey has not worked out as I expected. I don't know if you read my thread about taking the henna plunge, but I wanted to try it to cover my grey after I developed an allergy to normal dyes - I liked the colour that ended up on my lengths but my roots have been not good at all! Initially the grey went yellow, then bright orange then a more toned down orange, now it seems to be getting brighter again, I think the indigo is fading. Given the only reason I wanted to colour was to cover the grey and it's just looking crappy I've decided to give up. Not sure I'm really ready to embrace the grey but I don't see any other options at this point.

claudine191

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, Starmie. I wonder what the chemical reaction was that so affected your roots.

Starmie

I guess it'll remain a mystery. I'm bracing for a rough ride ahead!

sixelamy

Well when you put bright copper on naked gray, it's going to be very bright, because there's no base tone. Put it on medium brown and it will be a completely different color. No chemical reaction, that's just how color is.

Starmie

I did hendigo each time, a two-step at my second attempt, still very coppery on my lightest greys, the darker greys weren't as bright. Pity they're the ones that are front and centre!
I think the unpredictability of it all is too much for me, I'm chicken, there's only so much you can get away with at my age!