Come talk to me about lush henna!

[sirbedevere]

Ok - so natural shitty coloured blonde but my hair was getting fried from the upkeep of keeping it a nice shade. I'm not one to shy away from bonkers colours and decided ginger is the way forward!

I've recently coloured with L'Oréal casting creme gloss In Amber (the 8 wash one) but it's already fading and I'm happy to commit to being a red head. I don't want to whack a regular permanent dye on as again I'll be trapped in the cycle of box dyes so was going to just keep topping up with a semi.

A friend has suggested lush henna and said it has worked wonders for no wrecking your hair further in the process, but I didn't get chance to grill her on the details and now she's on holiday. Has anyone used it? How do you do it?? Hints and tips gratefully received!

[IceCreamIScream]

I used to use it a lot (brunette to red head). It is great but it is super messy and takes a lot of time (both for prep and with the colour on).

I used to grate the henna to make the paste with boiling water, wait for it to cool (but don't use any metal implements or it'll turn your hair green! I'd apply in a bathroom covered with newspaper (and hairline and ward covered in Vaseline). Application wise it's much more difficult than usual dyes- there are some great YouTube videos aboutbit. Best to apply in sections. Once it's all on I cling-filmed my head and popped a shower cap on with a towel wrapped around to heat it up as that's when it's best. Then waited for about six hours! You have to be super careful for it not to drop on carpets/sofas/skin as it stains badly.

Washing bout does take its time - you really have to get the water to run clear and I'd use a lot of shampoo in the process. BUT results are amazing. Gorgeous colour and my hair looked and felt in great condition. I stopped doing it after having children as it takes so much time! I miss my red hair though

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Can't add much to IceCream's comprehensive description, except the other thing to be aware of is henna stinks, really badly. I felt like I'd applied a cow pat to my head.

Lovely shiny hair granted, but not something I wanted to do on a regular basis.

[AdalindSchade]

Lush henna is a massive waste of energy and really expensive, and it doesn’t get great results ime. Get on eBay and look for moroccan henna powder and do it that way. No grating and it gives a much better colour. It does stink though! The benefit of the lush stuff is it is mixed with Shea butter so smells less vegetabley

[GriefLeavesItsMark]

Pack of lush henna in the bathroom waiting for me to summon up the energy to use it. I like the vegetably smell of henna, and am disappointed that the lush stuff smells like bathbombs.

Instructions say apply hot, and no point leaving on for more than 3 hours.

[GriefLeavesItsMark]

Does anyone know where you can buy henna wax for conditioning?, it was brilliant but I haven't seen it in the shops for years.

[Mabelface]

I used Lush henna for years. Never had a problem with it I'd let it cool to a bearable heat. My bit tip for getting it out is to shampoo a few times, then shove a load of conditioner in it and use a vent brush under the running water to brush it out. Only reason I don't do it anymore is that I can't be arsed with the faff.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Agree with Adalind. I used the Lush henna blocks for years but then swapped to powdered henna (get mine from Amazon) - much easier to prepare and apply, results as good or better.

[IceCreamIScream]

Ooh. I may we'll be tempted by powdered henna... is it still a faff of washing out & leaving on for hours?

[sirbedevere]

Brilliant! Thanks for the advice! Icecream that's exactly the step by step I need I've got an entire day to myself today so I'm hoping to accomplish it. Just on my way to lush now. What shade shall I go for?

[sirbedevere]

I'll do the lush one today, since I've got opportunity, but will try the powder one the next time if I decide to stick to it I think.

[MaisyPops]

Only people I know who have haf good results already have quite dark blonde/light brown hair.

It's not really much good for blonde hair from what I've heard.

[EnidNextDoor]

If I have light brown/strawberry blonde hair with streaks of white then would it be ok for me? Which colours would you recommend?

[AfterSchoolWorry]

I use caca Brun, what would the powdered henna equivalent be, in terms of color?

My hair is a rich chestnut.

I'm wary of anything that might turn out that 'purple' or 'plum' color that people sometimes end up with.

[AtSea1979]

I bought some about a year ago, can't muster the energy to use it. Does it go out of date? If anyone would like it I can post out!

[girlandboy]

I had great results with Lush henna. Two things though, firstly I had quite long hair and the weight of hair + henna literally made my neck ache, it was so heavy! Secondly, I bunged up the plug hole in the bath while washing it out. It took a plunger to unbung it, and it stained my white bath. Bleach sorted that out but it did make me panic momentarily!

[wineandworkout]

I LOVE Lush henna. I have mid length dark brown hair with greys. I use caca rouge and get a dark reddish brown, with the greys as copper highlights. I've mastered an art of doing it as quickly and tidily as possible ... sit in the bath, apply to damp hair, then shower everything. I leave it on overnight: plastic bag tied around my hair, old kids' t shirt tied over the top, and I also tie my pillows in a bin bag then wrap them in an old towel to sleep on. I use the curly girl method, in case that's of interest ... I wash the henna out with conditioner.

[IceCreamIScream]

I use caca rouge sirbedevere but I am brunette- the people on the lush store should be able to advise better than me! Oh and get some plastic gloves too! No one wants orange hands

[AdalindSchade]

Henna powder is still a faff. You make it up a couple of hours before using it using warm water/tea then leave it to cool and activate. It’s still a faff to apply and wash out but it removes the pointless grating/dissolving step and you don’t need to apply it hot or keep it warm while applying it.

[wineandworkout]

IIRC you can go to Lush and pay a bit extra (not much) for them to apply it for you. Would need to wear a headscarf for the journey home tho :D

[sirbedevere]

Right - caca rouge purchased! (Along with loads of other bits - I lost my mind a bit in the shop 🙈). I'm going for it. Just having a mini pizza while I psych myself up to doing it. It's a 325g block, would I need to use it all? Hair shoulder length and fine.

[AdalindSchade]

About half should be enough

[sirbedevere]

Fab thanks I might do photo updates as I go along in a minute now

[sirbedevere]

Oh god I just realised I did a welsh-speak message then. What I meant for those not from the valleys is: 'I may do photo updates'

[wineandworkout]

Yay! Pob lwc! (Another Welsh person here)

[wineandworkout]

Also do share photos! Apparently after it's rinsed out and dry, the colour continues to deepen and develop for 24 hours. I've never noticed that myself but some do. And it makes your hair thicker and shinier :) I need to do another application myself but I recently had 2 new ear piercings and I'm worried about the henna irritating them ...