henna powder?

[AuldAlliance]

Does anyone here use this? I've been using it for years and have only just come to the conclusion that I might be doing something a bit wrong, as I sit here with blobs plopping down onto the floor around me. Didn't strike me as so odd when I lived in a hot country and just sat in the garden for an hour or so, letting the blobs fall onto the ground. Are you meant to wet your hair first or not? What consistency should the "paste" be? And is it really normal for it all to gently plop down from beneath your towel-turban, staining everything it comes into contact with? Just idly musing, as I get a crick in my neck trying to type without the movement causing more blobs to plunge to the floor...

God, I haven't henna'ed my hair for at least ten years! I used sachets from the Body shop. It stank to high heaven and turned the bath orange. I belielve all the things you describe are quite normal. Either that or I did it all wrong too.

you're making it too watery by the sounds of it. What do you mix in the paste??
It's supposed to be squishy but not watery IME, and it's not supposed to fall off in plops either....

Apply it to clean dry hair.

I just add hot water to the powder and mix, following the instructions on the packet. Can't believe it's too runny, as it's all kind of clumpy, hence the blobs. And I put it on dry hair, so it's not that either. Never mind. Off to rinse it now and see how orange my ears have gone. Hopefully raise a giggle from my students tomorrow, if nothing else.

Which Henna do use then??

I tend to use the powdered stuff and mix my own things in it, depending on the hue I want.

To prevent orange ears smother ears in vaseline. Also get osmeone else to apply the henna for you and for a redder colour wrap head in cling film, for browner hue, allow to air dry.

Have you tried Lush henna blocks? You just break a bit off and dissolve in hot water. Makes a nice smooth paste.

Right, back again. All rinsed, excess powder removed from non-orange ears, etc. I bought it in the local supermarket (in France). It's just bog standard henna powder, comes in a packet with a paper bag full of powder inside, made (or imported) by the catchily-named Hennedrog in Marseille. Not sure if that answers your question, does it fuzzywuzzy (never thought I'd ever be calling anyone that!!)? Will try clingfilm next time, though part of the whole problem may be my hair, very thick and quite long. Not sure I can get it into clingfilm. And the Lush tablets sound good, will see if my mum can send me some.
Thanks for all your advice!

When I henna my hair, I wrap it round my head, using the henna to stick it down, then wrap clingfilm round my head. Have quite long hair - about halfway down my back - but it's straight and fine - don't know if that makes a difference. Also, when I've clingfilmed, I stick on a beany hat - to encourage it to stay in place, and so I don't frighten the postman - I leave henna on for anything up to 4 hours, so don't want everyone to see the clingfilm. Not that the beany hat looks a whole lot better!

Now I know what to do. Will ask mother to send beanie hat as well, not seen many around these parts.
Thanks cfgirl.

Not sure if you're being sarky but anyway at the idea of your mum sending henna and a beanie hat

Sorry if you thought I was being sarky, far from it. Am really grateful for your advice after asking what some folk might consider to be a bit of a daft question.

i wasn't being offended - it's just that most people that have seen the beanie hat think i'm a bit mad - i'm not used to people thinking it's a good idea!

Well I think it sounds like a good plan. And I've just googled Lush and read up on their products. Where do you buy yours? I'm going to get my long-suffering mother (she already sends me regular parcels of oatcakes) on the case. Wonder what customs will think of Iranian henna blocks, beanie hat and strange oatmeal biscuits if they open my parcels!

There's a store in my town - so I spend a fortune there! Before they opened it, I used to drive back to my uni town three or four times a year, ostensibly to visit friends, but actually to go to Lush

Have used their online ordering though - they're very good. Highly recommend their shampoo bars too - much less wasteful than liquid shampoo imo