Anyone with experience of using the "Caca" henna hair dye from Lush?

[FireOverBabylon]

I'm considering dying my hair at home, rather than paying upwards of £50 to have a permanent hair colour done at the hairdressers. The reviews of the Caca henna on Lush's website look positive, and it's only £8 a block, but they say that you have to grate up the henna and add water to kae the dye, and then leave it on for 4 hours before washing it out - I have a 2 year old so don't have many 4-hour blocks to myself!

My hairdresser says that she wouldn't recommend anyone dying their hair at home (but she would say that wouldn't she?) and that she has a customer who hennas her hair because she's allergic to proper hair dye, and it doesn't cover grey. The Lush reviews say that it does cover grey, so I'm really confused.

If you've used the Lush henna, does it really take 4 hours to work, and does it cover quite a bit of grey? Would you recommend it? If it does take 4 hours, is it really messy / dripping or can you just carry on life?

I used to use the caca marron on my hair and it gave it a lovely colour and the condition was great,covers grey fine , in fact they stand out more iyswim.
It is a faf and messy so cover areas that might get splashed. I USED TO CHOP IT UP SMALL AND ADD REALLY HOT WATER MIXING IT TILL YOU GOT QUITE A THICK PASTE OOPS, then apply to hair,you will need to leave it on for at least 4 hours,cover it with lots of clingfilm and carry on as normal-although i wouldnt recommend answering the door or going out!
I have only stopped using it because my hair is really thick and quite long and i could never get the back bits covered enough.
It takes ages to rinse out to,
if i ever have short hair again I would def use it again.
Could you do it when little one in bed!
Good Luck!

I used to use it a lot when it first came out (the red one), same procedure as raspberry. I had to stop when I developed enough greys that they stood out as shining orange against the dark auburn background. A pity, as it leaves your hair in much better condition than the alternatives.

Also, be aware that you can't use conventional colours for some time after henna as it stays in the hair shaft and interacts badly (would need to check how) with the dye.

• You don't need to grate it - you can just chop it into the blocks and dissolve over heat; see the video here the relevant bit comes up at around one minute.

I just do the same in a stainless steel mixing bowl over a larger pot containing simmering water (on the hob)

• You should leave it on for as long as you can.

• Cling-film will make it dribble, it will dribble more if you have made the mixture too thin. It is going to be a bit of a headache, but it gets easier.

• A great video for self-application: - I tried this last time, and it was so so easy.

• It can be very very messy, especially if you are a first timer, and it is a little bit of a headache to wash out - I actually washed my hair properly, and even a few days later, I still had colour coming out after washing my hair again!

Also, it is said that if you want a redder colour, use cling film, for a darker colour, let it air-dry.

I would recommend doing this on a summery day!

i henna my hair, not with lush stuff though.

i get my mum to do it as it is messy and not as easy to apply as normal hair dye is. i put it on the afternoon and leave it on overnight, i wrap it up with cling film, washing it out in the morning.

it does cover grey, i am about 40% grey and it covers mine fine.

i would download the pdf from the henna for hair website as it gives really good advice for the correct way to mix and apply henna for the best results.

To wash it out, rinse as much as you can under the shower, shampoo twice then stick on a shedload of conditioner. Then, brush the henna out under the running water using a vent brush.

I did use Lush henna but much prefer the after-result of 100% BAQ henna (body art quality). It is a faff, but worth it. My hair's in great condition and often gets compliments. Covers greys fine but when my darks are outnumbered by greys I plan to start adding indigo to the mix (my mum does this).

I have a baby and a toddler - as long as DH watches them for the 20 mins it takes me to apply, I don't let the 4 hour coverage time stop me. If it's wrapped well in film so won't drip (it's impossible to remove from fabric) it's fine to go about your day (though maybe don't leave the house )

Also, if you go into the store (though it requires time, which may be an issue...) they do 'henna for a tenner' and will apply it for you, which is much much easier if it's the first time. Also, if you have lots of thick or long hair and need more than one £8 block, it's still only ten pounds, so works out cheaper than applying it yourself anyway. Then you can go home with it on your head and just wash it out when you're ready - you have to not mind walking from the shop to the car like it though!

(Sorry, cross-post - that's Lush I'm talking about :) )

I'm thinking of using henna again soon too as I'm getting lots of grey now - haven't done it for years.

Once I did my friends hair for her - she had thick, wavy, waist length hair. She basically had to lie down for most of the time while it was on as it was so heavy. To wash it off she laid down on a slope in the back garden & I used the hose on her. Luckliy it was a hot sunny day. It did look amazing though.

Good luck!

Oh cover the skin around your forehead/hairline with a thick layer of vaseline & some cotton wool for drips to stop staining your skin.

I didn't know about going into the store. I used to get my friend and neighbour to do it but I moved away from her.

Wow lots of responses! OP in my lunch break, then pop back at tea break and page the oracles - thank you lots ladies

I'm quite tempted by the henna for a tenner option at Lush, but work full time so would have to try a shop v. early on a Satruday morning to save being a tourist attraction as there are no car parks near our Lush shop. I do have short hair though, so it doesn't seem unfeasible to dye it at home - I'll follow some of thel inks above and hope for some more sunny days!

Did you do it FireOverBabylon? How did it work out?

I've done my dark brown hair with marron and I love the result,but would happily have it redder.I'm shoulder length thick hair,used half the block and left it 4 hours.
Any tips for how I might have gone a bit redder? Does anyone know how the rouge works on dark brown hair? And has anyone tries the henna for a tenner? (seems worth it to me to avoid all the faff...)

Can you only use this if you have nothing else in your hair already(highlights for example)? Would you have to let the highlights grow out first?
I used to use henna when I was a teenager but can't remember how it works.

I've been using it for a few months now. Tis great. Covers greys (got quite a lot of them too) and leaves my hair in fantastic condition. I don't grate it either, just use about 4 blocks, usually 3 of brun and one of the black one, pour almost boiling water over it, and then put the bowl over a pan of just boiled water on the hob to keep it warm. It seems to make it much easier to apply. Easiest thing is to cover it with a cheap shower cap, then a towel twisted tightly to stop any drips.

frumperina I had permanent dye on my hair when I started using it. It has made no difference at all, and I can't see any difference in colour to the hair which has only had henna on, and the longer hair where there must still be old hair dye on it.

One other thing though - I don't think you are meant to use a metal bowl or metal spoon etc for mixing. It is supposed to give a green tinge to the colour.