LUSH henna - why has it took me so long to find this fabulous stuff?

[IDoAllMyOwnStunts]

God it's amazing. Been using box dyes for ages to cover the greys in my brown hair. My hair was in terrible condition, dry, thinning, breaking off etc.
Tried the reddy brown Lush henna, it's a gorgeous colour, plus has left it really glossy, hasn't been this shiny all over since I was in my 20s.
Did it about 4 weeks ago and the colour and shine is still as good as when I first did it. Will never use a box dye again.
Promise I don't work for them, just needed to share the love!

Inspired by this thread (have serious hair envy!) I went out and bought lush brun today and have my eldest dd lined up to help me in the week. I also asked the lush assistant about grey coverage (mines pretty grey at the roots about 40%) and she said to strand test first but that it should cover the grey and they will just look like naturally lighter strands.
Quick question anyone know how much do I need to mix to do a strand test? My hair is very thick and comes about halfway down my back.
and will my dd be best applying it with her hands or would a brush be better does anyone know? (Can't dye it myself with the shower method as I have only one properly functional arm )
Will do before and after pics if anyone's interested.

Mama I did a strand test for my first Henna (over dyed hair) I cut a sample about the thickness of a drinking straw , tied with thread and cut a corner off one cube of henna (about a fifth of a cube)
. You would be better taking a section and applying it from root to end then wrap in clingfilm and clip up with a hair grip, rather than lose a chunk of hair.

Nothing happened after an hour, I checked after 3-4 then just left it overnight. It went coppery, but on my head hair it was darker, I think because on my head it was warmer. (But the strand didn't go orange. Or green. So fair enough )

I think for your length of hair you'll need the whole block , chop it/grate it/use a food pro to powder it. The smaller you cut it the quicker it melts.
I use a 1 pint Pyrex bowl for my two cubes, it fits over a saucepan bain-marie but it's only just big enough for mixing.
I did my own last night, just by feel, (DD helped last time)
You can use a brush , like those tinting brushes, or a piping bag (plastic bag with a small hole and section up your hair to 'pipe' along the roots .

Wear the gloves
Protect your hairline with Vaseline or cream
Have a damp rag for spills.
Don't go out the house with your henna on

Thanks 70s massively useful, shall follow your instructions and report back later in the week

Henna lovers - Im trying an overnighter! My greys were just starting to peep through the henna I put on about 6 weeks ago so I've just slapped on a mix of BRUN and MARRON, cling film now on, plus my sons beanie hat (he's not impressed). Haven't broken the news to DH that he's got to sleep next to my henna smelling head. I think he's assuming I will be washing it out in a mo

I have to go to work straight after I've washed it out in the morning, fingers crossed it looks ok.

Just told DH I'm sleeping with it on...he thinks I'm joking .

Good luck with the hair idomyownstunts :) You are brave doing it before work!!! I am sure it will look beautiful :)

All worked well, Lost my beanie hat overnight but the clingfilm stayed put. Great browny red colour this morning, greys all covered. Think that's the way to go as no hanging around in the house for 4 hours.l did detect a faint henna aroma about myself today but no one commented at work so think I got away with it . Unless they are all saying I smell of cow pats behind my back of course

it looks like cowpat but smells like hay.

I did a not very thorough rinse on Friday with conditioner first then shampoo. Slept with a towel on the pillow and my hair turban on. I felt a bit gritty when I woke .....

I don't mind the hanging about but I'm visually challenged without me specs

My hair is so soft now

I'm thinking we could market the going to bed with henna/clingfilm look as a contraceptive, DH certainly kept his distance last night .
Worth it though I know mine now has such a shine and feels super sleek. Just watching Marcella and I'm wondering if Anna Friel is partial to the old henna . Her hair is a lovely conkery BRUN shade.

Bump, enjoy

Thanks for bumping this for me 70. I've just had a good look through this thread and definitely off to buy some tomorrow.

I had curly light brown hair, so think I will choose the brun one.

Has anyone ever had any sort of adverse reaction to it? I'm using mainly it to avoid horrible reactions to boxed dyes. Is a skin patch test necessary?

Well thought i would resurrect the old thread :)
NC used to be ggpixie but got fed up with it!!
Dyed my hair a couple of days with brun on the roots and redyed with mostly marron. Its lovely again!
The roots are a tad orangey and think i will probably try the darkest stuff on that when i come to doing a root touch up next time but I am happy. It all seems to blend together after a few days.
How is everyone else getting on with their henna???

Motherigloo, you do a strand test mostly to check how it will react to any box dye you have on your hair. I never did a patch test. No adverse reaction for me. If you are really sensitive, maybe its a good idea?

neveradull I'm scrutinising my roots and thinking "Hmm, they need done" (I hennaed it two weeks ago ) My box dyes lasted 3 weeks so I suppose it's expected.

I'm going to increase the ratio of brun:noire (I did 100% brun on my cropped ends still dyed hair, then a 50:50 noire:brun. )
My roots are a bit darker but with grey, so it'll (hopefully) even up a bit.

Maybe tomorrow, if I have time and inclination.

Well my greys are still very well covered after I left it on overnight. Seems to have really made the henna stick to my greys. I'm definitely doing the overnight thing again next time.

I'm contemplating lush rouge in a couple of weeks, but not sure about leaving that on overnight 😵. Hair still lovely and shiny though, and the colour seems to develop and deepen over the weeks afterwards unlike box dyes which were just fading to a brassiness.

I'm a true convert!

Oh And I read somewhere about adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to henna which helps it stick to greys. Anyone tried that?

My greys are so bloody resistant tbh. Interesting about the apple cider vinegar thing. Need to research that. Think keeping it on for a long time is the answer. Maybe try the overnight trick. I think I am going to get the brun and the noir for my roots. I do love the marron. The colour is dark but with beautiful dark red highlights through it. I only now have a cube of the brun left. Not sure what I will buy as I need the brun noir and marron!!!!! That would be £30!!! Going to leave it atm. What colour did you dye yours idoallmyown?

I noticed that hollond and barrat do henna powder. Has anyone ever tried that?

I hate the grating ha ha....powder would be easier. Think I need a food processor.

Gawd, think I am turning into mother nature lol...bought some coconut oil from the supermarket!!!

Neveradull- I used a mix of BRUN and MARRON, really love it but feeling adventurous about the rouge. Perhaps I should mix ROUGE and MARRON if I'm not feeling brave enough and work my way gradually up to just rouge.

Adding coffee to the mix too is supposed to make it a richer deeper colour if that helps, you could try that and apple cider vinegar and leave on overnight. It has honestly clung to my greys like God knows what a after leaving it overnight. Luckily DH likes the smell 👍

Oh and I don't grate it, I cut it into chunks and whisk with lots of boiling water.

Pinterest has loads of stuff re lush henna. This pic is rouge on dark brown hair apparently. Would love it to turn out like this but I have a feeling I'd look bugger all like it!

Think that's a good idea working up to the rouge. What is your hair colour atm? If it is quite dark, I don't think it would make it bright. I doubt the rouge would make mine bright red as my hair is quite dark already. I need to leave my hair now or it will make mine too dark. Will maybe add coffee to it next time when I do my roots in a few weeks.
That's a lovely colour on that picture. Too light for me but if you have light brown hair it would work! You could try a ratio of marron and rouge 2:1 and see how you get on or the opposite rouge then marron 2:1

My dh hates the smell..a suitable antedote for advances ha ha...

My hair is dark brown naturally ( with grey hairs).
And yes the henna made for an excellent contraceptive. Although DH loves the smell, I think the clingfilm and beanie hat look was a bit too specialist for him 😀