Henna for Hair

I'm not an expert, but I'm not a newbie either.

Here's how I do it. The day before I plan to henna: mix approx 2 c powdered henna (the greener the better!) with the juice of one lemon (or in a pinch I've used about 1/2 c apple cider vinegar) with hot water making up the remainder- to mix it all into a yogurt-like consistency. Cover and leave in a warm spot overnight.

The day of: Check henna for dye release. This is easy. If it's a different color on top than underneath, the dye has released and your henna mix is potent.

Make sure I have 4 hours to dedicate to my head. (Some people do as little as 2. I've just always left it on for 4 hours.)

I start at the base of my head, with hair kept up in a clip, pulling down small sections and saturating top and bottom- taking special care at my temples, bangs, and along my part. Basically, anywhere my roots will show well. At the end I'm just slapping mud any ol' place to ensure complete coverage.
Once you get it in your hair separation is almost impossible so start out with some sort of plan.

Sometimes I wrap in a plastic bag, sometimes I don't. The bag is better because it traps in heat which helps the hair cuticle to be more receptive to the color. You can also heat the bag with a blow dryer.

Leave on for 4 hours +/-.

Finally it is time to rinse it out! You will be so ready for this step as your head will have been sooo heavy, itchy, whatever.

Do a cursory rinse with water (the cooler the better) to get the bulk of the henna out. Then load up with some cheapy conditioner (V05 has some good ones- I love their Tea Therapy!) and I mean LOAD up! This will help all of the little bits to flee your head.

Do a final rinse with water, again the coolest you can stand. Cool water keeps the hair cuticle closed to retain the color.

It will take 2-3 days to see your final color as it will need to oxidize a bit.

The more you henna, the deeper your color. You can end up with a burgandy-ish color.

There are no color variants of henna, such as black or blonde. Real henna is red. Period.

Henna for Hair's FAQ covers this very thoroughly.

You should not use compound henna if you have chemically dyed hair. Henna for Hair has an excellent warning page.

Oh, that frog butt green color you read about? I've had that! It was many years before I touched henna again.

Always do a test run to see how your hair will react. Not all hennas are equal, and not all prior dye jobs will react the same.

Good quality henna will cover gray hairs. They aren't totally covered but rather end up as highlighted hairs. More info here.

One of the most beautiful things I've seen was an Indian woman with a head full of thick, black hair and all of her grays were a henna red... WOW! Stunning.

Henna quality makes all the difference with a full head of gray. With cheap henna you could end up with orange hair. Don't skimp on quality!

Here are typical ingredients found in store bought commercial shampoos & conditioners:

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (Synthetic Detergent) - Found in shampoos and conditioners, these are harsh detergents and wetting agents also found in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and auto cleaning products. SLS can retard the healing properties of the body.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Synthetic Detergent) - Can be slightly less irritating than SLS, but may cause more drying and has been reported to cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, dandruff and allergic reactions.

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (Synthetic Detergent)

DEA (DEA Lauryl Sulfate) (Synthetic Detergent) - very drying to the skin and hair.

Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (Synthetic Detergent)

Alpha Olefin Sulfonate (Synthetic Detergent)

Cocamide &Lauramide DEA (Synthetic Detergent) - can be very drying to the skin and hair.

Stearalkonium chloride (Fabric Softener)

Synthetic Dyes: Yellow #5, Orange #4 and Violet #2, etc., coal-tar dyes also labeled as FD&C or D&C followed by a number. Coal tar has been known to cause severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, fatigue, nervousness, headaches, nausea, lack of concentration and cancer.

Animal Protein, Collagen Protein, Animal by-Products - collagen found in most skin care products is derived from animal skins and ground up chicken feet. This ingredient forms a layer of film that may suffocate the skin.

Propylene Glycol - FDA cautions manufacturers that glycols may cause adverse reactions in users. This clear liquid used in antifreeze and de-icing solutions is used in shampoos and conditioners as a humectant and moisturizer.

Methyl Paraben - used to extend a product's shelf life, inhibit microbial growth and can cause skin irritation.

Fragrance (Synthetic) - usually petroleum based and can cause headaches, dizziness, rashes, respiratory problems, vomiting, skin irritation and chemical sensitivity.

What's the solution?  Learn to make your own shampoo!