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Monday, April 5, 2010

Henna Experience













Well I finally got the time and the nerve to do my first henna hair color. I have to say that it wasn't nearly as messy as I thought it was going to be from reading other blogs and looking at various websites. It definitely did look like poop and the smell wasn't all that great but it definitely wasn't that horrible either. Anyway I just added warm tap water as the instructions stated and applied it to my hair. I didn't have a shower cap so I tied my hair tightly with two plastic bags and then added a towel on top to add more heat and to kind of catch any dripping. I let it sit in my hair for 3 hours and then went to wash it out. This was the messiest part, but still not that bad. I started in the shower and quickly realized that this was causing it to splash all over the place so i turn on the tub pipe and washed most of it out that way. Then I turn the shower head back on, it took about 30 maybe even 40 minutes to get the water to run somewhat clear. I couldn't rinse anymore so I got out dried my hair and looked to see what I got. At first It was barely noticeable, then in about an hour I noticed my tips and my roots were kind of red. By that night my tips looked kind of like a dingy red. It definitely showed up more in the sun and it showed up more than I expected it to but definitely not as much as I wanted it to. The instructions said not to wash with shampoo for 48 hours and needless to say the color was still coming off on my sheets and pillowcases. Finally I washed my hair with shampoo 2 days later and it still took 3 washes to get the water to run clear. You can still kind of see the color in the sun but mainly on my tips. It almost looks like I had color and it faded and its only left on my tips :-( not exactly what I was going for.



















Now as for the softening quality of henna, I have to say I did not experience that. I hated the way my hair felt after I finished using the henna. It felt stringy and hard. After washing with the shampoo 2 days later it went back to its normal soft texture, it may be slightly softer than before but I'm really not sure because it had gotten so hard and stringy I was just relieved to have my softness back. What I did notice though is that my hair almost seems fuller since I used it. My locs are laying straighter and they kind of have a little more bounce to them than before. They also felt really light today again I don't really know if that's the henna or the tremendous amount of washing that I gave it.

9 comments:

Gigglz said...

Kay I see a slight bit of color on the ends, like you mentioned as if you had it colored and it faded. So after all the work of putting it on, washing and the feel of your locks afterward, will you be doing it again?

I get my eyebrows threaded and I asked them about getting a henna conditioner and they were all for it, but I'm afraid of all the washing they will have to do in order to get it out. So would you say the benefits of conditioninig is worth it?

Gigglz said...

Also your locks are growing! Love the beach background shot!

Kay exquisite said...

I think for your eyebrows it will be a bit different and wont require as much washing becaus theres not a lot of depth to your brows you know. I say go for it.

Well I bought two packs and I only used one so I may do it again in a month or two if I feel up to it. Like I said I don't know if it was the brand or just henna but my hair really didn't feel that great when I washed it out. It felt stringy and hard. After I washed it with shampoo it started to feel soft and nice so I don't know which one made it that way. Maybe my second attempt will make it more pronounced because there is already some there I dunno. I do believe either way it works I'm going to try nutratint? I think thats the brand on blaqkofi's blog in June though. I want something subtle that will grow out and blend nicely because I only plan on coloring my hair once.

Gigglz said...

I meant the henna for my hair not eyebrows!! Lol!!! I tried the Naturtint as well and the color did nothing as well. Unfortunately, to get any color I had to lift the black I had been using for years. Good Luck though and I can't wait to hear if it works for you. Now that my color is lifted I can use the Naturtint because it will take, although I have no plans of coloring again anytime soon.

The Real Nique said...

I Love the hair blowing in the wind!

Kay exquisite said...

Thx Nique!

I think the henna will work well on your hair now gigglz because you already have the permanent color in it. It will show up really well in my opinion or at least thats how it seems when I look at all the blgs of ladies who use henna after they have used permanent color.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kay,

I put my first henna in my locked hair four months after installation ( my consultant said it was ok) and every two months after too cover the gray. I buy mine from mehandi.com because they have a henna that can be used on locs because it is finely sifted. I have had nothing but great results! The only problem is trying to wait longer between hennas. If you go to their site, look at henna for african hair.

Rita

Anonymous said...

One more thing....

try mixing you henna with juice, lemon or orange or any other acidic juice. The acid helps with the release of the color and let it set at least over night before applying it to your hair. I can see my color under inside light but even more so when I am outside.

SisterlocksMD said...

it looks like a bit of a tint...this post may have cured me of my thought to try henna :-)