Anyone have any experience with Henna-ing their hair?

[musclemom]

I'm tired of everything about my hair. I'm thinking of making a radical change. I can't use chemical dyes, I've got awful allergies.

Everything I've read on the internet seems to repeat the same theme:

1. It gives great results and is healthy for your hair, but you need good stuff, skin dye quality stuff (but nobody will recommend a specific brand).

2. It's fucking messy as shit.

3. Gotta do a swatch test because this is really a YMMV product.

I'd love some input.

 

[vixensghost]

I tried henna on my hair when I was about 20. I do not have to tell you how long ago that was...lol YEARS! I WOULD hope THAT the products have become better since then too!

Anyhoo, all I got was the skin around my hairline to change color and the hair color changed LITTLE. IT was NOT pretty I can assure you. Live and learn!

Do you have a salon you can trust in your area if no one responds on here?

Good luck!

 

[blueta2]

I used to use henna, but it does dye the scalp and makes your hair really dry.
The trick to doing henna is to do a good conditioning the day before. This will make the scalp less absorbant to the dye and keep your hair moist.

And don't do the black one, it turns hair green

 

[TurquoiseRack]

use vaseline around your face and scalp if you are worried about staining. The more you use henna the less amount of mess it makes because you get your process down smoothly. Just know commonly your hair will come out some shade of red unless you find a really good mix of ingredients. Make sure you load your hair with conditioner when you wash out the henna because henna is very drying.

www.hennaforhair.com gives good mixing ideas

 

[JO_M]

The first time doing it, get vaseline around hairline!!! If your hair is natural , apply first to mid shaft(2-3 inches away from the scalp) pulling it to the ends. On the end apply to the root.
If reapplying start on the root and DO NOT put it on the ends. On the last 5 min you can mush the ends with the rest of the hair just to freshen up the color.

if you ever get the color on the skin and doesn't want to came of rub the color on it . If that doesn't help get cigaret ashes , wet a towel and dip it in them and rub on the skin. IT REALLY HELPS

 

[TurquoiseRack]

Definitely Vaseline the hair line. If you don't put a lot of water in it then it won't be as messy. Pay attention to how long you keep it in, you can end up with REALLY red hair. I would get someone else to apply it for you if possible, this really eliminates the messiness