Would you go back to chemical dyes after using Henna?

[ReginaPhilangie]

I started using Henna in January of this year as my hair was in terrible condition after 20 years of using chemical dyes and perming (misguided 90's teen ). I've been slowly going grey for the past 7-8 years, so not using anything has never been an option. I like the Henna and the red colour is lovely (and I would be staying red with chemical dyes), but...my hair isn't really in any better condition than it was 8 months ago. It's still terribly thin, breaks easily etc. (I mourn my youthful thick coarse curls). And well, it doesn't really cover the grey, not really. I'll put the Henna on, and for the first few days it'll look great but then I'll start noticing all the grey again.

I'm so sick of going to all the trouble of using the Henna (it really does take up a whole day) and then still having all the bloody grey at the end of it. I don't really want to use chemicals again but it would be so easy to just go and buy a hair dye and have gorgeous red hair and no grey within the space of an hour or 2.

Yes, I've given in again recently. Partly cos of the hassle, and also because after a year or so of henna-ing I found myself with that "I use henna!" radioactive glow as opposed to "I have dark hair with red highlights". Could suddenly see myself in 20 years turning into one of those women with orangutan-coloured hair who think they are keeping it natural.

I left it about three months in between and there didn't seem to be a problem. But my hair is definitely suffering condition-wise (this is with an off-the-shelf dye though, I've had salon dyes which have seemed to leave it in much better condition). It's a pain, isn't it.

Could you dye & then just use henna to condition? I use henna but don't have much grey yet (& have always used henna - even before going grey). I love the conditioning it provides.

I've just started using henna again (have a BF baby and trying to cut down on the nasties and I'm also trying to save my maternity pay by avoiding the hairdressers). I had forgotten what a total pain I'm the a**e it is. I end up covered in goop chasing DD around while trying not to drip on baby DS (this is despite the swathes of plastic wrapped around my head). My hair is lovely and shiny but it's not worth the bother.

I'm going to dye it with lovely, lovely, quick chemicals next time! Life's too short to waste most of a day every few weeks colouring your hair!

I have used henna for a while now. I find it covers my copious greys fine, and needs redoing around every 4 - 5 weeks because it's growing out, not because the henna is fading from the greys.

Have you tried varying the mix of henna - adding indigo etc? Also, what about putting it on at night, cover with a shower cap and beanie hat, go to bed then wash off in the morning. Much less time consuming and less chance of scaring the postman .

I second the indigo plus henna combo. My hair is much softer and the colour stays longer. The red seems to be muted down if I add indigo.

I tend to go back and forth fairly often with no ill affects. As long as you aren't trying to go lighter then the henna / dye combo isn't a problem

I went to an Aveda salon for colour to avoid nasties while pg.

Now on SMP & needing to save ££ I'm using a mineral one from Daniel Field online. You get a powder & a shakey bottle thing that you add water to & make a mousse.

You do have to leave it on an hour though. I've got one on now while I'm feeding the baby

Ooh I used a Daniel Field once, it didn't last that long but great colour and the coverage was good. Might try that again.

I have never seen a "Help, I've henna'd the baby!" thread but it can only be a matter of time

Yes, I did. I used to use the Hennara henna years ago, which was brilliant but they don't do it any more. I tried the Lush henna when my hair was in dreadful nick but it was such a faff and didn't work that well. Nice and Easy all the way for me now.