I've gotten some comments and emails asking questions about my henna hair dye. I've been using henna for a little over a year now and I have no intentions of going back to chemical dye.
Here's my nurse's rant: as a western civilization we far too quickly to take a pill for this and a drug for that. We ingest chemicals and synthetic products by the drones. What happened to nature? Humans have been living for thousands of years before the production of synthetics. A lot {I'm not saying all...medications and interventions are necessary for many people} but a lot of what we need and should be using is found in nature. If we shouldn't be dying our hair while we're pregnant because it's harmful then why are we doing it while we're not?
I've also gotten questions about my natural deodorant...yes it works just as well as my prior drugstore bar. I use it because I have a genetic disposition to Alzheimers and Parkinsons, both which are linked to high absorption of aluminum (found in most deodorants). So...to me it just makes sense. Ok, I'm stepping off my soap box.
Anyway, since using henna hair dye, my hair has been softer, fuller, and shinier. I'm not kidding...my hair texture has actually changed. When I went for my recent haircut, my hair dresser commented that my hair (when wet) was like a sponge. Oh no that's bad right? She responded no, it's amazing...it's soaking up all the water instead of just rolling off (i.e. it retains moisture like nobody's business). Surprisingly, my hair dries much faster now since using henna. Also, I can let it air dry without it looking like a frizzy mess. It lays better and has sooo much more volume! And the shine! Oh the shine! That's one of the best parts!
Here's what you'll need:
- Henna hair dye. I use noir (black), which actually is more of a dark warm brown. note: henna is red so you'll have a red undertone. It's the indigo, moss, and clove that gives it the dark color.
- A glass bowl (it'll stain plastic)
- A cup of hot coffee or hot water (coffee gives a richer/deeper tone)
- Saran wrap
- Something to keep you busy for the next 3-4 hours
Toss a couple towels in the dryer to heat up (you'll use these later). Divide your hair into 5 sections (each side, top, middle, and back).
For my length hair, I use 3 squares (6 come in a block). Roughly chop the henna and toss in your bowl. Begin adding your coffee (I use the entire cup for 3 squares). Mix and add more coffee until your henna is dissolved and the consistency of brownie batter.
You need to keep your mixture warm so the henna will continue to develop/stain your hair. I wrap my bowl in one of my warm towels while applying it to my hair. Start with your back section, do your roots, then ends. Move to the next section. Don't skip sectioning your hair...this stuff is thicker than chemical hair dye and you want to make sure not to miss any spots.
{insert super glamorous pics here of me slathering my hair with green goop} Bummer, you don't get to see me looking all a mess :) You're not missing anything.
Once all your hair is covered, wrap your hair with saran wrap. This helps keep the henna from oxygenizing, drying out, and keeps it warm. Grab another towel from the dryer and wrap around your head. Switch warm towels out every 20 min or so. Continue to do this for the next 3-4 hours. Yes 3-4 hours...it's worth it. If you notice your hair drying within this time just put some warm, not hot, coffee in a spritz bottle, spray your hair and re-wrap with saran wrap.
When you're washing it out use lots and lots of conditioner. It'll help the henna granules slip from your hair.
In the before pic, my ponytail holder wrapped 3 times around my hair. In the after, I could only wrap it twice.
The henna will continue to develop over the next few days. Everybody has a slightly different outcome depending on your natural undertone and how warm you keep your henna during the process. These pics were immediately after my hair dried. My red tones down over the next few days and the shine actually increases some.
I hope this helps any of you with questions! Maybe I've made a believer of some others in the process. Sorry this is so much more text than my typical posts. Just have a lot of tips that I've figure out and wanted to save you the trouble of figuring it out the hard way! If you still have questions, just comment below or email me!
