How to mix and apply Beautiful Herbal/Henna Hair Dyes and other henna powders to color hair

[Send mail to apply_henna@everydayhenna.com for detailed instructions on using natural henna on your hair.]

First, always do a harvest hair test. A harvest hair test serves a number of purposes. It allows you to see the color results...It will provide assurance that you can safely use a henna product on your hair based upon your hair treatment history...it will provide you with information you will find useful regarding length of time you will want to leave the paste on your hair to obtain desired color and conditioning results. I strongly recommend this to anyone using a henna product because henna is not compatible with some chemical dye products that contain metalic dyes. Metallic salts and dyes will typically be found in products like some semi-permanent hair dyes and also in Rogaine. If your hair has residue of metallic salts or dyes from products previously used, you may obtain unwanted color results. So, please do the harvest hair test.

Harvest hair test:

Take hair from your comb or brush and apply the henna paste to it. Let it sit for 3 to 8 hours. The result of the harvest hair test on the hair harvested from your comb or brush will be exactly what will occur on your hair. That is always a good thing to know.

How much henna powder to use:

People with shoulder length hair use 100 grams of henna powder. Shorter hair will require the use of less henna powder. A rule of thumb is 100 grams of henna powder per on foot of hair length. If you mix up more henna paste than you can use at one time, cover and freeze the rest for your next use. Once your package of henna powder has been opened, you will need to make sure it is closed securely and protected from heat, light and moisture. Doing this will allow your henna to last a long time. Storing it back in foil and placing it in the refrigerator or freezer will also help to keep your powder fresh.

How to mix the henna powder:

Put henna powder in a plastic bowl. Add lukewarm water and/or lemon juice (concentrate) to the henna powder to obtain a paste the consistency of a very thick gravy. If you are using water, try distilled water and you will still want to add some lemon juice to help the dye release. If using water, I recommend a 50/50 water to lemon juice mix. Stir the paste until smooth...mashing out any lumps. Let the paste sit covered with plastic wrap and foil for 2 to 8 hours in order to get sufficient dye release.

How to apply the henna to your hair:

• Use plastic gloves always as the color will stain your hands. The paste will also stain your clothing, towels etc., so take necessary precautions.
  
• Scoop up the paste and apply to your hair making sure that all hair is covered from roots to the ends of the hair. Put a plastic cap (shower type) over your hair. Then wrap with foil if possible or just a towel...the towel is necessary to keep in the heat. Designate this as your "hair henna towel" because it will surely get henna on it and the resulting stains. To avoid the paste from staining your skin, apply petroleum around the edges of your hair (forehead, ears, nape of neck). To avoid the paste from running out from the edges of the plastic cap and towel, place tissue around the edges of the plastic cap.
  
• Allow the henna paste to stay on your hair for at least 2 hours. Some people keep it on for 8 hours. The length of time required for coloring is dependent upon your hair type. If your hair takes color very quickly, it will be colored in 40 minutes. If your hair is resistant to color, it could take the 8 hours. You will be able to tell from the harvest hair test which category your hair falls in.
  
• When the paste has been on your hair for the required length of time, rinse thoroughly. Rinse until the water is clear. Then rinse again. I rinse at least three to four times. It is not necessary to shampoo though some people do so. Make sure to rinse all of the henna paste from around the edges of your hair. What is not rinsed out will show up on your towel as you dry your hair. Henna that is not rinsed thoroughly from your hair can rub off on your clothing, hands and pillowcases. Those are tell-tale signs that you have not rinsed your hair sufficiently. Not sufficiently rinsing all of the henna from your hair can also leave the hair dull and hard to the touch. When you have done a good rinsing job, use a moisturizing conditioner or moisturizing oil on your still moist hair. Then proceed to dry and comb and style your hair as usual.

Some things to know about hennaing your hair:

1. Henna products do not wear out readily. It can take up to 9 months to a year for the henna coloring to completely disappear. Sun may fade the color over time to a lighter shade, but hair colored with henna will maintain its coloring for a long time. This sometimes makes people think that henna coloring is permanent. It is not...but it will last for months. While henna coloring lasts for 9 months to a year, you will want to henna your hair every 4 to 6 weeks for the conditioning properties.
2. Henna does not lighten hair. If your hair is dark, you cannot use a henna product to lighten your hair...only to darken it. However, henna can provide beautiful highlights to hair. Black and dark brown hair can become black and brown with burgundy wine highlights when colored with henna. Eventually and with ongoing henna applications, even dark brown and black hair will appear a dark red or dark auburn. Brown and dark brown hair can get beautiful deep auburn and wine colored highlights and coloring.
3. Of the henna powders with no herbal additives, the Persian henna powders provide the darkest staining possibilities. The two we sell are Kimia and Ahmad. Our Malimba Moroccan and Prabda are also excellent for coloring and conditioning.
4. For color results other than red tones, you will need to use the herbal/henna. These are all natural. They are made of 100% natural henna powder and a natural dye or from 100% neutral henna powder and a natural dye. The natural and neutral henna in herbal/henna products are primarily for conditioning while the other natural dye creates the color results.
5. It cannot be said too many times...always perform a harvest hair test prior to using any henna product on your hair. This can keep you from screaming later. There are too many products on the market with additives undisclosed for you to assume that you know what is in the products you have used on your hair in the past. Only the harvest hair test will allow you to know if henna powder is compatible with whatever you have used on your hair in the past...if you still have residue of those products in your hair...And will let you know if your henna'd hair is compatible with something you want to use in the future.
6. When you choose to use henna or herbal/henna on your hair, do so knowing that you are making a long term commitment to the use of henna as your hair colorant and conditioner. This means that you will want to carefully select the other products you use with your henna choice. If you have been using protein conditioners in the past, know that you will no longer have to or want to use them with your henna. Henna will provide all of the strength your hair needs. You will probably need to include a good deep moisturizing treatment to your hair regimen using a good moisturizing oil.
7. You will want to be careful NOT to introduce a metallic salt or dye to your hair care regimen as they will act as a mordant and dramatically alter the color result...typically to black and sometimes to green. So make the change to henna for your hair with this commitment in mind.
8. It is perfectly safe and effective to use one natural henna one month and another the next month...or to mix different natural henna powders together...or to mix natural henna powers with herbal/henna powder. Playing with the natural henna and herbal/henna powders can increase the range of color results possible for you. If you want to know what the color result will be, perform the harvest hair test.
9. Each time you color your hair with henna powder...whether it be with pure henna powder or our herbal/henna hair coloring...your coloring will become a bit darker and deeper until it reaches the peak coloring capacity of that color. Keep this in mind when choosing your henna powder or herbal/henna powder.

Some people who have chosen a henna powder to color their hair become dissatisfied because the coloring is not as deep and dark as they want. Repeat coloring with the same henna powder will make the color deeper and darker.

Some people who have chosen a henna powder or herbal/henna color just love the color and want to keep that color forever. Unless that color is the peak coloring capacity of the henna powder/herbal/henna colorant used, the next application can cause the hair coloring to become deeper or darker until the peak color of the particular product is reached. Keep this in mind when choosing your color. You may wish to shift to a product like Lotus Powder Plus or Crown and Glory for a month or so because they will not affect the color, but will provide you with conditioning as henna will.

Is henna safe to use on the hair of people of African descent?

The hair of African Americans and other people of African descent is as varied in texture as the skin of African Americans and people of African descent is varied in tone. And, that of course is not to say that there is any connection between skin tone and hair texture. While I receive many questions about how henna will react on these hair types, it is hard to know what is meant by henna on the hair of people of African descent. except to know that one should expect the henna to react on the hair of people of African descent in the same way as it would react on the hair of people of European or Asian descent. If the hair is straight or coil spring curly, that should make no difference.

It appears that misinformation abounds about how henna will react on the hair of people of African descent. Such information includes but is not limited to thoughts that the hair will become hard and brittle like straw...and, that the hair will break off! The good news is there is no reason for henna to do anything to the hair of one group of people other than what is typically thought of as what henna does to hair. On the level of what henna will do to hair of anyone, the fact is... hair is hair. Henna colors and conditions hair. That is what any person should expect it to do under the right conditions.

One consideration would be whether or not the hair to which the henna is to be applied tends naturally towards being dry or oily. If the hair naturally tends towards dryness, then the one/two punch of the henna application for strengthening and a moisturizer conditioning or an oil to moisturize would be recommended. The moisturizing conditioner or oil to moisturize should be applied to the hair while it is still damp immediately following rinsing the henna paste from the hair. Some people
with dry hair will also add carrier/fixed oils to their henna paste. We also carry a line of excellent hair oils and extracts to be used along with your henna.

My hair is worn in a natural style. I henna my hair monthly and have done so for years. Henna does not change the texture of my hair. It colors it and conditions it. And actually works as one of the best conditioners I have ever used. So if someone uses henna and gets hair breakage, straw-like texture or anything unusual, my first question is... what else was used on their hair?

People often wonder if they can use henna with permed hair. Years ago I used henna over my hair that had been permed. I had no problem. Many people today condition and color their permed hair with henna. If one is using 100% natural henna powder or an herbal/henna for hair coloring and conditioning, they should experience no problems with henna and their perm. It is advised however, to space the henna treatment and the perm by a couple of weeks. (However, some people are perming and applying the henna treatment with 24 hours and having no problems.) The key is to use and know that you are using 100% natural henna powder or herbal/henna powder that contains no metallic salts. When you are sure of this and sure that your other products contain no metallic salts, your perm and your henna are compatible.

At EveryDay Mehndi, none of our henna powders contain metallic salts or metallic dyes. Our henna powders and herbal/henna powders for hair are 100% natural.

If you wear your hair natural and chemical free, henna will also strengthen and benefit your hair. Henna use will temporarily...from washing to washing...relax the curl pattern of your natural hair. Henna will not straighten your hair. Henna will not permanently remove your curls. It simply loosens the curl pattern some. Because natural hair varies in degree of tightness of curl, the degree the curl pattern is loosened will vary as well. So know that you can use henna without loosing your natural curls. Henna also helps to detangle hair.

Henna benefits the hair by strengthening it...regardless of how you describe your hair. Henna will color and condition your hair and slightly and temporarily loosen the curl pattern.

Each individual needs to make a decision about the state of their hair prior to adding any new treatment or process and have a specific purpose in mind for using any product on their hair. Determine if it is time to add a new product or ingredient....Determine if/when you add a new product or ingredient, if you then need to cease using some other product or ingredient...Determine if it is time to give your hair a rest or time to give it assistance. It is an individual decision based upon every individual's particular hair situation and circumstance. So knowing your own hair condition and what it needs will help you to determine if henna is what your hair needs and wants. I would suggest that anyone switching to a henna product closely assess what products they have been using on their hair in the past and determine if those products should still be used on their hair when hennaed. The harvest hair test works great to find out after the hair has been hennaed, how the hair is going to react to the shampoo, conditioners, moisturizers etc. that were used in the past or are being considered for use. It helps you to time the coloring process and length of time it will take to get both the coloring and conditioning your desire for your hair.

Back to the hair like straw for a moment. That sounds a lot like what I have seen happen when people condition their hair with cholesterol products touted to strengthen the hair. It does that, but it can also zaps out all of the moisture in the hair.making it brittle and causing breakage. In an emergency, a really deep conditioning with a good moisturizer is all that is typically needed. The best emergency moisturizer in the world for hair damaged like that is in the refrigerator. It would be mayonnaise applied generously to the hair... hair covered with a plastic cap...cover again with foil... cover with a scarf or towel and sit back and read a book or watch TV for a few hours. Then wash the hair thoroughly to get out all of that mayonnaise. Really, really thoroughly. The smell of mayonnaise left in the hair is not a good thing at all. The wonders of the mayonnaise treatment is that the moisture will be restored to the hair, tangles gone and hair becomes more limp and manageable. People with really thin hair and hair without body should avoid this treatment because it does make the hair more limp in a way that is not desired on hair that is typically thin and already lacks body. When it is not an emergency, take time to look at our hair oils and extracts and get some on hand to help restore your hair to health and to also maintain healthy hair along with your henna.

When switching to henna as your way to condition and color your hair, you may want to look at the products you have been using and reduce or eliminate other protein conditioners (depending upon the frequency you will use your henna). What you are ultimately after is providing balance to your hair. Having a source of protein, water and oil for your hair should help you to maintain your hair in excellent condition by understanding the language of your hair and when it is indicating its need for each or all. I like the use of products we have readily available in our home and in our refrigerator as part of a beauty regiment. I swear by the use of an aspirin in shampoo as a dandruff remedy... The use of a beaten egg in water poured over the hair between the shampoo and rinsing to strengthen and provide body to hair. And mayonnaise for deep, deep moisturizing the hair. These homespun remedies are tried and true and are completely compatible with henna that will color and condition the hair. The aspirin, egg or mayonnaise are not necessary when using henna to color and condition the hair and to keep the scalp healthy and free of dandruff. But they are helpful additions to keep in mind depending upon the natural condition of your hair and/or the damage your hair may have experienced in the past from products.

There are many other natural ways to approach healthy hair that include the use of natural herbs and essential oils. We have also developed our own line of specially formulated herbal hair oils and extracts for healthy hair, hair growth and maintenance. A lot of the hair "grease" sold and used by many folks of African descent for daily management of the hair be avoided. Some are so heavy as to clog the hair follicle, weigh down the hair and cause extreme build up on the scalp and hair. Coconut oil, jojoba oil, sesame seed oil, Avocado oil, almond oil, baobab oil, tamanu oil and other fixed/carrier oils are pretty light in comparison and can do a great job adding sheen to the hair, stimulating the scalp and aiding in moisturizing the hair. There are also wonderful cream-like products that will not weigh the hair down that are healthier for both the hair and the scalp. Ultimately what is desired is an oil or cream that will enhance the natural oils of the hair and scalp and also help to seal in natural oils or other moisture applied to the hair shaft.

I truly believe that a lot of the damage that occurs to the hair of African Americans results from products that make the hair brittle though sold as conditioners and shampoos. The word "conditioner" means a lot of different things. It pays to ask questions about what exactly that "conditioner" is going to do to the hair and choose the one that is going to do only what you want to have done to your hair. And also check ingredients lists on both shampoos and conditioners for any ingredients that might lead to drying and ultimately brittle breaking hair. When you have hennaed your hair, be sure to inform your beautician and check out what they know about working with hair that has been hennaed. Most have received absolutely no training and know very little. Many of their products, processes and techniques used and recommended in salons can have a negative effect on hennaed hair. They may automatically condition your hair with protein conditioners or use conditioners that have little to no moisturizing effect to the hair. Be aware of that and ask questions and then inform them. I believe more and more people will choose henna as a natural way to color and condition their hair. Do yourself and other folks a favor and bring the facts to your beautician. It might be what saves your hair on your head.or someone else's hair..or just what the beautician needs to know in order to take steps to become more knowledgeable themselves about henna.

Hair tangled???

Here is a helpful little hint. If your hair has gotten tangled and matted for any reason, henna is the best thing I have ever discovered to take out those tangles and loosen the hair. Sometimes the worst thing you can do to hair that is matted and tangled is to start jerking on the hair and trying to comb it out. You are going to break and damage the hair. Instead, mix up your henna paste and apply it. Let it remain on your hair for the required amount of time. Then rinse your hair until the water runs clear. Then rinse it a couple of more times. There are many natural routes to detangling your hair that are far better than combing through the hair dry and jerking on it. A quick rinse with a brew mixture of henna powder, marshmallow root powder, sesame seed oil and aloe vera gel/liquid mixed with equal portion of distilled water is a quick aid in detangling hair. Pour it onto wet hair...cover with a plastic cap for 30 minutes. Your hair will be loosened, detangled and easier to manage when rinsed out. But back to just our girl henna. You will be amazed how henna detangles and loosens your hair. Depending upon what products your have used to grease your scalp and add shine to your hair, you may then want to shampoo your hair with a mild shampoo. Just one quick shampoo and rinse will usually do the job. Typically, if you have not used any heavy grease products, you can skip the shampoo step.

Hair Henna and Body Art quality henna powder.

Not very long ago, both hair henna and body art quality henna powder were full of stems and leave pieces. Applying them to your hair required that you rinse and rinse and despite lots of rinsing, small pieces of the henna would remain in your hair to be brushed out unless you sifted your henna powder prior to use. Today, henna powder sold elsewhere for hair henna is typically inferior both in staining ability and sift to what is referred to as Body Art quality henna powder.

Body art quality henna powder should always mean that it is excellently sifted and fresh and able to color both hair and skin excellently and easily. At EveryDay Mehndi, we have made sure that all of our henna powder, whether designated for hair or body art are equally well sifted and of equal high and excellent standard and quality. Avoid at all cost some of the henna powders some people will sell you as hair quality henna powder. What you will get with these will typically be debris.leaf and stem pieces, with grit and a bit of henna powder thrown in. Yep, it might color your hair. It won't color your hair and condition it as well as body art quality henna powder or henna powder developed for hair henna. But the biggest drawback is that those pieces of henna leaf, stems, grit, and sand will be falling out of your hair and resting on your scalp no matter how much rinsing you do. So check out if what you are being sold is actually body art quality henna powder or a henna powder developed especially for hair. Anything else will waste your money and cost you lots and lots of time rinsing to rid your hair of debris. Your hair is important. Don't put just anything on it... even if it is called henna for hair. Remember, body quality henna should be finely sifted...other suppliers will sell inferior quality henna powder as hair henna. At EveryDay Mehndi we guarantee the quality of our hair henna is the highest and equal in standard, coloring and conditioning to any body art quality henna powder. When looking at something sold to you as a henna product to color your hair and most of what you see with your eyes is other than powder... what you see is what you will be left to rinse out.brush out... comb out... and just can't get out of your hair and off your scalp. Buy quality!!! The hair henna and herbal/henna hair colors sold at EveryDay Mehndi have been developed just for you.your hair.and ease of use.

After your hair has been hennaed you can wear it naturally or straighten and press it with a straightening comb. The one thing I suggest that needs to be remembered is that if pressing the hair with heat, it may not require the degree of heat that is typically needed to straighten.

All that to say, hennaing hair on the heads of African American's requires the same considerations prior to switching to a henna product and after switching to a henna product that hennaing hair on the heads of any other group would require. It is the condition of the hair and the variety of products anyone is accustomed to using prior to switching to henna and desired outcomes that must be taken into consideration.

These considerations stated apply to all people selecting henna for their hair.

Rule of thumb.read the labels, ask questions and commit to allowing a harvest hair test prove or disprove what the results will be. And chose henna because it will provide the coloring you desire and provide the balance in conditioning that your hair needs. If you approach henna in this way, you will enjoy a long and happy relationship with your henna'd hair.

Happy Henna Hair Care!!!

What color will my hair be after I use natural henna to color it?

The precise color results you obtain when using henna are determined in part by the color of hair to which the natural henna is applied.  It is also determined by your particular body chemistry, hair history, how long you leave the henna paste on, how much dye release you obtained prior to using...a number of factors including the quality of the henna powder you selected.  So no one can tell you precisely what color results you will obtain. However, natural henna provides red coloring to your hair.  Repeat applications will overtime deepen and darken the red coloring to the optimal color and tone possible by the particular henna powder. Just as body art henna stains change over the course of a few days due to oxidation...your henna'd hair color will also change over the course of a few days after application due to oxidation.  The initial color may sometimes appear bright.  In a few days you will observe this color settling in and it will both darken and deepen in tone.

Day 1	Day 5

Maureen

See also: Henna hair instructions or Applying Natural Henna and Herbal/Henna to Hair; Henna Interview with Maureen -- includes extensive information on henna for hair (offsite)

Other offsite resources:

Personal Hair Journeys...

1. Great site with information you will want to read about hair loc'ing
www.dreadconnection.faithweb.com

2. Forum for folks wishing to discuss doing their hair and skin the natural way:

African American Natural Skin and Hair Care
http://pub84.ezboard.com/fafricanamericannaturalskinandhaircarefrm2

3. Long Hair Loom homepage

Find more on the Forum page!

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