12 Step Henna Part 3!

[CocoMT219]

Ok. Burgandy! I'm so excited!
Since I'm doing a tea, do I need to add water? I've noticed on youtube people use water and like a TBSP of an acid (lemon juice, acv, etc), but since I'm using a tea instead of a harsher acid, how much liquid am I supposed to use? Idk if that makes sense.lol. Ok tea would be my acid so should I use water alone or just the tea?
And instead of 5 tbsp of henna, I'm going to use about 3-4oz cuz its supposed to go on thick like cake icing.

[CocoMT219]

bump bump bump

[Mz_SouL]

Just made a henna run. I purchased 4 packs of Karishma henna, 2 packs of Jamilia henna and a bottle of Vatika oil for $11. I'll be getting down to business this weekend and I really can't wait.

Originally Posted by CocoMT219

Ok. Burgandy! I'm so excited!
Since I'm doing a tea, do I need to add water? I've noticed on youtube people use water and like a TBSP of an acid (lemon juice, acv, etc), but since I'm using a tea instead of a harsher acid, how much liquid am I supposed to use? Idk if that makes sense.lol. Ok tea would be my acid so should I use water alone or just the tea?
And instead of 5 tbsp of henna, I'm going to use about 3-4oz cuz its supposed to go on thick like cake icing.

If you're going to use a tea, you don't need to add more water after adding the tea. Just add enough tea until the mixture becomes like pudding or frosting.

[CocoMT219]

I don't think I mixed it right or something because just like my rhassoul mixes turn out bad, so did this. I used henna I got from FNWL and I put in about 1tsp of cinnamon, 1tbs of hibiscus powder and 1tbs of amla powder. I used hibiscus tea to mix it all together. I don't think the dye released. The mix was like playdo and it was gritty.
I was afraid to put in on my hair so I just threw it out. None of the mixes I try to do ever turn out right. Now I just wasted about 2-3 ounces of my henna and I have a big bag that I don't know what to do with!

[mojitochica]

You need something acidic like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or green tea to activate the dye release. Also since you're mixing in other powders it might be difficult to tell if the dye is releasing depending on how much henna you use.

[cerendipity]

I use warm liquid of whatever I choose to mix my henna with and I also let my henna sit out overnight. The next day it's very smooth an the green paste has turned to dark brown. After I mix it a final time I add in a little honey to make the mix glide on better.

I don't add the honey all the time. Just if I'm in a rush and didn't let my henna sit


Last mix I add in hibisicus water, an essential oil with a tad bit of lemon juice.

[LatifahIfe]

I love Henna.

I've been putting henna in my hair for a little over a year and it is great!

Last night, with completely natural hair (I grew the process out instead of the BC), the henna worked like I always imagined that it would. My curls are looser.

I used Nour Pure Black Henna, which is really just indigo. I used to use the Hanna brand, but Nour is finer and works out a lot better. You have to be careful of products that advertise as black henna because it doesn't exist. Indigo is what you need if you want your hair to be black, but keep in mind, I've been reading that once you use indigo, you have to stick with it until it grows out. My hair is a dark brown with red highlights, so as soon as I see the highlights, I know it's time to henna my hair again lol.

Henna can be drying to the hair but I have a recipe that I use to mix my henna that isn't drying to my hair.

Also for the best results of jet black hair and you haven't hennaed before, do the red henna first, then the indigo. The hair comes out so beautifully black.

My recipe

1 full package of henna
Olive oil
Honey
Water
Lemon juice

I don't have any measurements for my ingredients as I do it by eye for consistency. The henna paste should be thick like a pudding. Indigo isn't the same texture as red henna, so the mixture isn't going to be as smooth, but that's how it's supposed to look.

I add the olive oil, honey and lemon juice first. I use the water to bring the mixture to the consistency that I want.

Then I let it sit in a warm place for 1/2-2 hours.

In clean hair (I co-wash), I just part and slather it in, cover it with plastic and let it sit my hair 1-2 hours.

As anyone can tell you, henna takes forever to rinse out, but you wanna make sure that you get it all out or it can dry the hair.

The olive oil and honey help to keep the henna from drying my hair, and it works great. The lemon helps to release the color.

Please make sure when using indigo, that it is indigo. Some suppliers of "black henna", the products have metallic salts or PPD in them. PPD can cause severe skin burns, sensitivity, and in severe cases, death.

I'd suggest for anyone looking for information on henna to visit www.hennaforhair.com, this is a great website with a ton of information, member recipes, a link to mehandi.com to order great henna products.

If you don't have any Indian stores near you, henna is sold in just about all of the ethnic stores or health food stores. I got mine from a little African shop near my home. Islamic stores also sell really good henna, the best comes from Saudi Arabia, the red is phenomenal.

[cerendipity]

woot woot, I'm doing my henna tonight baby!!!!!

* skipping around in circles *

[blkrose]

Originally Posted by LatifahIfe

I love Henna.

Henna can be drying to the hair but I have a recipe that I use to mix my henna that isn't drying to my hair.

Also for the best results of jet black hair and you haven't hennaed before, do the red henna first, then the indigo. The hair comes out so beautifully black.

My recipe

1 full package of henna
Olive oil
Honey
Water
Lemon juice

I don't have any measurements for my ingredients as I do it by eye for consistency. The henna paste should be thick like a pudding. Indigo isn't the same texture as red henna, so the mixture isn't going to be as smooth, but that's how it's supposed to look.

I add the olive oil, honey and lemon juice first. I use the water to bring the mixture to the consistency that I want.

Then I let it sit in a warm place for 1/2-2 hours.

In clean hair (I co-wash), I just part and slather it in, cover it with plastic and let it sit my hair 1-2 hours.

As anyone can tell you, henna takes forever to rinse out, but you wanna make sure that you get it all out or it can dry the hair.

The olive oil and honey help to keep the henna from drying my hair, and it works great. The lemon helps to release the color.

Great Info. My question: if you hair has been previously DYED, will it dry your hair out even more? Are there any drawbacks or caveats to doing the henna on dyed hair? I have VERY COURSE,THICK hair that pretty much can withstand anything. It is however a goobler for moisture and does tend to dry out often. I have to oil almost daily but its always been that way. I would love to start to do HENNA treatments and have tons of questions, so thanks for sharing the site. And also, if not for color what are the other benefits? I see so many saying they dont necessarily do it for the color.

[mojitochica]

Dyed hair and henna can get tricky because depending on the chemicals in the dye the results of hennaing could be green hair I suggest you google the brand of your dye and henna.