I have a new hair treatment OBSESSION..... Henna! This is the 2nd time I have used
Lush's CACA NOIR Henna Hair Colour & I just cant get enough. I have always wanted to try henna on my hair but I was a bit skeptical about it. I was worried that I would maybe get a skin reaction (I have sensitive skin) or maybe my hair would get all knotted up & dry or something.
A Little History About My Hair
My natural hair colour has been weird. The roots are a dark brown colour & the ends are a lighter chestnut-brown colour. I have dyed my hair black a few times with different dyes since I did the BC (Big Chop) in 2010, but my hair ALWAYS goes back to my natural colour eventually. Each time I dyed my hair it got really dry and I got lots of split ends, so I wanted an alternative, healthier way of making it a darker, even colour.
Thats when I started searching online about Henna. I was trying to find someone with the same hair type as me who has used this specific type of henna but I was unsuccessful. So one day I just decided to stop being a wimp & went to the mall & got me some Henna!
Heres how I did my henna process:
You Will Need:
- 1 Bar of Lush's Henna Hair Colour (I used half a bar- 3 squares) (2 squares is enough for short hair, 3 squares for medium-shoulder length) (6 squares- full bar, is enough for long hair)
- 1 Pair of Gloves
- A couple of Towels (Dark ones or towels you don't mind if they get stained)
- Heat Proof Bowl
- Whisk
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Kettle or Pot of Boiling Water
- Paper Towel
- Colouring Brush Or Use your hands
- Ultra Bland or (I used Vaseline)
- Shampoo
- Lots of Conditioner
- Deep Conditioner
- Comb or Tangle Teaser Brush (To detangle)
- 4 Hair Clips
- Plastic Wrap or Plastic Bag (Optional- leave uncovered to air dry for a Blue-Black finish, OR Cover with Plastic Wrap for a redder Tone to you hair.
Before you start let me warn you that this process is
EXTREMELY MESSY!!
**Note that my instructions are slightly different than the instructions given with the henna. This is just how I prefer to do it!
- Make sure your hair is clean, detangle & dry.
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| My Hair Washed & Dried |
2. Get everything you need together.
3. Section you hair into 4 sections & clip each one up.
4. Apply Vaseline or Ultra Bland around your hair line, neck & ears to protect your skin from possibly being stained.
5.Chop up the henna as finely as possible on a cutting board & add to your heat proof bowl (Separate any extra henna & put in a zip-lock bag for your next application)
*Tip: On my 2nd attempt at doing henna I used a blender to get the henna as smooth as possible.
6. Boil your pan of water.
7. Whisk the henna with hot water, a little bit at a time.
8. Keep adding water a little at a time until mixture is smooth & about the consistency of brownie batter.
9. Cover your floor with a few towels & put on your gloves!
10. Start at the back, applying from root to tip. Make sure to saturate each section. (make sure the henna isn't too hot, if it is wait a few mins but you want it to be as warm as possible when applying)
11. Work FAST!! *for longer hair you can sit the bowl in a pan of hot water for a few minutes to keep the henna warm*
12. After you have applied henna to each section take each clip out and smooth down and twist into one big bun.
13. Optional step: Cover with plastic wrap or a plastic bag for a reddish-black result OR leave uncover for a blueish-black result.
14. Clean up the mess & RELAX!! (I managed to study & watch a movie while I waited)
**Wait times- The Lush instructions recommend leaving the henna in for 2-4 hours.
I left mine in for 3.5 hours the first time (Covered) & the 2nd time I left it in for 6 hours (Uncovered).
15. After the time is up, WASH IT OUT!! (I rinsed the henna with just warm water at first, then I used some shampoo.)
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| Mane 'n' Tail Olive Oil Complex Herbal Gro Shampoo, Giovanni Deeper Moisture Conditioner & Matrix Biolage Hydra Source Aloe Mask For Dry Hair |
**BE PATIENT!! It takes time to wash it out. especially if you have curly hair because the henna is gritty & gets right in those curls.**
16.After you shampoo, condition you locks! rinse & repeat as many times you need until all the henna is out. (I did about 3 or 4 times).
17. Next deep condition your hair. I left my hair mask on for about 5-10 mins, then rinsed out.
18. Continue with your usual hair regime & enjoy your new hair!
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| After 1st Application |
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| After The 2nd Application |
**Note: Your hair colour will still be processing over the first 48 hours, so you wont see the final shade straight away.
So here are some of the PROS & CONS of Using Henna:
PROS:
- After each use my hair gets DARKER
- Its NATURAL
- It makes my hair SOFTER
- It helps my curls clump together (Less Frizzy)
- Promotes Hair Growth
- Strengthens My Hair
CONS:
- MESSY application
- Pretty Pricey *About $25 not including tax (Not bad if you have shorter hair because you can use one bar for 2 or 3 applications)
- Hard to Wash out!!!
- Time Consuming Process
In conclusion, I personally feel like henna is worth doing. I love the effects it has on my hair & I plan on using it every 1-2 months!
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below!
Luv
Zoë xo
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