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!

Hope your hair turned out nice 70isalimit.
I am a bit pissed off with my colour atm. Seems to be washing out a little too quickly and showing roots
Think I am going to go with the brown noir combo for the roots and leave them on for an age so that they take.
I was contemplating the henna from Holland and barrat. I remember someone writing that lush henna is just a tint. Well, it certainly looks that way this time round for me. I only hennaed [ is that the right word?] about a week ago! grrrr!!!

How's it looking 70isa? I'm going to do mine again soon, more for the condition than anything. The colour is still great and the greys still well covered from the overnighter I did.

And I'm going rouge!

Neveradull- leave it on overnight next time. Honesty I did last time and it's worked amazingly well. No loss of colour, my greys still totally covered too. Covered it in cling film and a beanie hat (attractive) and put a towel on the bed. Great contraceptive too!

I would but I am not sure my dh will forgive me. Better make it at the weekend so that if he has a shit nights sleep he can have a lie in!!!!!!
Sounds like good a plan to leave it in all night though....

How are you managing to use 4 blocks? I use 2 on my long thick hair and it covers it with some spare. 4 blocks is loads?

It's lovely and soft (but I don't get the mirror shine that you all get )

My roots are covered, and I had a regrowth before which has gone now.

I could not do the overnight IDo , I would combust Menopausal heads do not take kindly to being swathed in clingfilm, I was practically oven ready .

I'm still ok with 2 squares (one of each brun/noire) when it gets longer, I'll tweak the ratio.
I want to grow my hair to maybe jaw length, so still short but not cropped.

I'll get a photo once I'm organised .

I have been using lush henna for a few years now. I have some completely white sections of hair and loads of grey (despite being mid thirties, grr!) the white bits go orangey brown and the brown bits go coppery brown. I have had some compliments on the colour. It completely covers my greys and I get proper roots of grey coming after about 4-5 weeks. It is a faff but you get your own routine to keeping the mess down and I am pretty tidy at applying it now. I use a glass bowl, in a bain marie and use a spoon to mix it and squish the lumps against the sides, although very tempted to try the mixer method :) and I use a tint brush to apply it to make sure it gets everywhere. Might go for it and just slap it on next time! I've also used the creme colourant one but it doesn't last as long as the lush one and makes a big mess on my hair towels even after thorough washing. Had no idea so many other people use it, most people, especially hairdressers are very negative about henna.

Right then it's on. Eek. After reading this I bought marron. Am a tad scared. Lady in shop said all colouring will be done after an hour. Leaving it longer will just add condition. Aiming for 2 hours. The smell is quite nice. I made in a bowl over water then poured into an old squeezy ketchup bottle. Not too messy. Wish me luck.

Haven't read the whole thread so apologies if this is repeating what someone else has asked but ... If I use an electric whisk to mix the henna, can it be the same one I use for food or does it need to be one that's just kept for henna?

Im sure you will be really happy with the results. Remember if it is a little orange, it does die down so don't panic. Im going to order some marron today :) Mine needs doing.

Right, experts...you've (sort of) sold me.

My Lush henna has arrived .

I went for the marron/chestnut. I'm naturally mid dark brown with grey bits around my hairline. So sick of using harsh box dyes. Been using a Loreal dark, warm brown colour ('chocolate brownie') for ages, but am considering giving the henna a go.

Scared, though.

There is really nothing to be scared of :)
You just apply it like normal hairdye really and leave it on for a few hours and voila, you hair is coloured. Look up plenty of you tube videos regarding results and application and you will be fine. My greys are still quite resistant. It sort of covers them but I still have to get that right. I mix marron and brun for my roots. I didn't leave it on long enough last time, but will when I do it again.
Goodluck. You will be fine :)

I use my cheese grater and bowls for henna then wash and I haven't fallen ill so I think its fine :)

Tis done. Not massively different to my colour before but super shiny and slightly redder. Guess it will keep developing over next couple of days. So far so good. Was tough to wash out and was really surprised by the amount of grit in it. Really happy with the result. Have used box dyes for years and would have a sore mega itchy scalp for days after. Not today. Woohoo.

Wash it out with hundresds of conditioner next time and a brush. Much easier.
Glad it looks nice :)

Do I need to use some of that "colour b4" stuff to strip the years of box dye from my hair before I henna it? Hair is currently dyed very dark brown and i've got some Lush Marron standing by waiting for me to be brave enough to use it!

Im no expert but i wouldnt put colour be 4 over it as you dont know how it will react to that. The advice as far as i have read is to not henna your hair when you have just used a box dye or wait about a month before doing it over coloured hair. I had dyed mine for years using a box dye and did a strand test before committing to it. It gave me an idea of results. My hair at the top always has a green tinge after dying it and i often wonder if its because i used a box dye and it is the indigo in the marron that does this. However, it doesnt last and after the colour develops it goes and Im sure i only notice it under a particular light. If you have not long dyed your hair either do a strand test or wait 4 wks before dying. That is what i have been told.

Thanks - it's at least a month since I last dyed my hair with a box dye so I should be ok. I never do a strand test with normal dye but maybe o will with the henna!

I have some upstairs that I haven't got round to using. After reading all the positive comments my Sunday night is going to be henna filled! Rather excited now my hair has gone shit these past 12 months

Following this thread I bought some today. Rouge.

I have used a 50/50 blend of brun and marron on my very dark brown hair this morning and I'm really pleased with the result. I had originally stripped all the colour out of it after deciding I wanted to just grow my grey hair in but my hair just looked really blah and I decided grey hair wasn't for me just yet.

It's the first time I've ever used henna so wasn't quite prepared for how messy it was but nothing has been stained, there's no itchy or burnt scalp and my hair smells faintly of camomile so I'm happy. Would be nice if it had covered my greys a bit more so next time I will use brun alone and see how that goes.

Will add before and after pics

Did everyone do a strand test before their first henna attempt, particularly if hair was previously box dyed? The instruction leaflet I've got from lush says to definitely do one but don't want to bother unless I really have to!

Well i did but it was just to see how it would take really as i had been using a kind of wash in wash out colour and was a bit afraid of doing it incase it turned it a weird green!!! It also says on the superdrug wash in and out colour not to use if using henna so i was being cautious even although it was the other way around. I have found it not that great on my greys. Beautiful colour everywhere else. Will need to leave on for an age!!!! I have a chunk of brun left. May just use it up on my roots.

Tbh, I am not that great at applying to the roots. Think that is half of the problem!

Ok so this evening I've done a strand test. Hair hasn't gone green or fallen out or anything so that's a good start. BUT ... Can't really tell much difference in colour (I used Marron on my box-dyed dark brown hair) and my horrible white (yes white - not even grey!) roots don't seem to be that well covered. I'm a bit disappointed