Henna hair - do you have experience?

[WaterWorld]

Wandering round town ended up in Lush (looking for something cheery).

Came across the Henna blocks -

I am 44 had a slight reaction to hair dye skin test while pregnant 6 years ago and daren't go with the chemical stuff since then, but some hints of grey creeping in now and would like to hide them and pretend I have a new lease of life.

I always liked bright hair on me (though DH would not be a fan even though I had plum hair when we met/married).

Talk me into or out of using it...because the leaflet seems all fine really but I have lost my nerve.

TIA

[Mabelface]

It's faffy, it's messy, time consuming and smelly, but your hair will feel bloody gorgeous afterwards. I hennaed mine for years, but I'm too lazy now. My method of doing it:

Soak the block in boiling water in a metal or ceramic bowl (plastic will get stained) and mix till it's the texture of thick custard.

Cover the whole area you're going to be in with newspaper. Get long sleeved rubber gloves, then vaseline any exposed skin to prevent staining, including all over your face.

Brush though your hair then apply a good dollop of henna section by section (check it's cooled enough not to scald your head). Once applied, give it a good squidge about to make sure it's right in the roots, then wrap your head in clingfilm. I loved really bright hair, so left it on for 3-4 hours.

Rinsing it out is a pain, rinse as much as you can with water, shampoo, rinse, shampoo again, rinse then put in loads of conditioner. Use a hairbrush under the running water to brush out the residual henna powder.

Clean bathroom so it doesn't look like a murder scene.

[TrionicLettuce]

I find the Lush blocks much more of a pain to use (especially when it comes to rinsing it out) than powdered henna. I also never found the colour as strong but I've only ever used the Lush stuff a couple of times so it could have been an iffy block.

These days I'm doing my hair very dark brown/soft black with a two step henna an indigo process. It is a faff and takes ages but it's so worth it, it really does make hair feel absolutely amazing.

[CointreauVersial]

I haven't hennaed my hair since I was 15. Not sure how it would look over grey, but it was great on my (then) mousey brown.

Filthy to apply, but I'd say Go For It.

[madamginger]

I use the lush blocks, I'm naturally ginger so I use them to cover my greys.
I like them but they are very very messy, I don't bother sectioning my hair, I just tip my head upside down over the bath and rub it in till all my hair is covered, making sure I do the roots well.
Then I cling film my head and wrap it in a towel and leave for at least 4 hours. It takes an age to wash out though so I have to allow at least 5 hours from start to finish to colour my hair

[Abominablebride]

I use it all the time. Dh applies it for me which minimises the mess.
I've managed to get washing it out down to a fine art without the bathroom murder scene look
I just hate leaving it on for hours
Results totally worth it though

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Suraya Brazil henna cream gives a good effect and is much easier.

[WaterWorld]

excited and feeling braver..

[Monica101]

Just going to post use suraya too.

It is so much easier, less messy and time consuming.

eBay is the cheapest to buy it and I can get away with using half a bottle each time so quite cheap too.

[VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon]

I use the lush blocks. I have long and thick hair and use 1.5 blocks each time. I've never tried henna powder. It's fairly easy, just time consuming as in sitting with your hair in cling film for half a day. It's not super bright but it looks like a nice natural copper red.

[WaterWorld]

Actually I remember DH helping me dye my hair in the early days (long ago) perhaps he will help if it avoids me staining the bath and my ears red.

Thank You everyone will give it a go

[banivani]

The lush is quite expensive. HOWEVER i did try using them once and had great results as to the condition of my hair afterwards. Couldn't justify price though when plain henna and indigo powder from local "Turkish" (as we say here) shop was so cheap. I get great colour results from henna but I mixed with indigo so it wasn't too pillarboxy. For I while I did it like every week (I knoooooowwww) but it really built up then into these fantastic layers of shades that was great. Can't cope with the mess though so I've given it up for a bit!

[pickledparsnip]

Do it! I've been using henna on my hair for the past 5 or so years. Don't bother with Lush, their blocks are an expensive faff. I get henna powder from my local health food shop, where they sell it by weight.

It is a pain in the arse, but well worth it for the results.

[pickledparsnip]

There are loads of websites telling you how best to prepare your henna. I used to heat mine up, but now I just mix it with lemon juice, leave it for at least 12 hours, then whack it on my head.

[CointreauVersial]

Back in the day, Body Shop used to sell henna powder. They've gone too glossy and corporate now.

[WaterWorld]

Ooh I'm going to get addicted to this I can see it coming...

[BearFoxBear]

I use suruya too, it's much less faff than the normal henna, it's just like a normal hair dye.

[whatdoIget]

This sounds great, but do you mind if I hijack the thread to ask if it can be used if hair is already dyed with a conventional permanent dye?

[DianaT1969]

If hair is 50% grey, are the results still good?

[AgathaF]

I used the Lush blocks for a few years, then went on to the Surya henna. The Lush stuff is great, but time consuming and very messy. Also, hair smells a bit farm-yardy for a couple of days after. Surya stuff is much easier to use, but I found after using it for a year or so, it started to look a bit orangy. I'm using Daniel Field colour now. It's PPD free so shoudn't cause any reaction. The colours are more reliable, like a regular hair dye, and it lasts fairly well on my grey hair. It's also much quicker to use than henna.

[43percentburnt]

I use lush henna and have done for a few years.

Use a cheese grater to grate the block into a bowl, then pour in boiling water.

My DH applies it.

I have waist length hair and use half a block from lush, it works fine, my hair is very straight and not particularly thick. I cling film it for approx 3 or 4 hours.

Greys turn golden. People often compliment the golden bits and ask if it's highlights...

I get a shower to wash it out. I put cheap conditioner on, then I shampoo, then conditioner until it is out - takes about 15 mins. I find it comes out of towels/shower curtain/dressing gown fine.

I really love the stuff. Yes it's a faff, but I prefer sitting at home, with it wrapped in cling film then going to the hairdressers and sitting there!

[Bavmorda]

I buy mine in powder form from Henna Boy online. The first time I ever did it I used the Lush block but found it a faff.

I pour the powder in a bowl, mix with orange juice until it reaches a muddy consistency and leave overnight. Then whack on hair and leave for 4 hours wrapped in cling film.

Have been using it for nearly 6 years. I chose to switch to it because a friend had waist length hair and the whole length of her hair was in perfect condition because of henna.

I love the condition - the only downside for me is that my hair was once wavy and now is dead straight (which apparently is down to the henna). Oh the irony of having used GHDs for years before!

(The other downside is my natural colour is dark brown, so I don't get the awesome bright red color I'd get it was fair.)