Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

554 replies

IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 13/03/2016 21:26

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
51
Dancergirl · 30/03/2016 10:14

OMG the mess!!!

It is on, my head is double wrapped with cling film, two disposable shower caps and a towel.

I had a few issues: I didn't manage to chop the stuff into pieces so just put the whole slab in a bowl and poured boiling water on it over a saucepan of water (note to self: must use bigger bowl next time)

I applied it using the 'naked in the shower' approach and slapped it on with my hands. But how do you stop it going everywhere?? I had it all down my back. Have now cleared up the shower and myself, hope it doesn't block the plughole Grin

My head feels really heavy with all these layers on. Finshed applying it at 10am, what time shall I rinse?

Starting colour is mid-dark brown with grey roots Grin

NewLife4Me · 30/03/2016 10:27

Not rtft yet, so apologies if mentioned already, but will it stain the bathroom and previously when I used Henna my hair went sort of limp, lifeless and the colour was just a mucky red and looked a bit chalky/ matt with no gloss.

Would it be the same now or is it different.
Have finally got own colour now but I'm not embracing the silver like I thought I would and would like to try this.

Also, not keen on the red, would the brown make my silver red like the chemical box dyes? I want to look brown, not red?

Finally, where can I buy it from, we have no hippy type shops round here?

CointreauVersial · 30/03/2016 13:25

OP - do you have roots showing yet? Or has it faded enough over time that the roots aren't too obvious?

Original poster
IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 30/03/2016 18:20

Cointreau - it hasn't faded yet and not grown enough for roots so looks as good the day I did it. This is the second lot and I had much better coverage as I made it wetter, seems to have covered my greys better this time. Here is a photo from today - colour still strong.
And well done Dancergirl- promise it'll be worth it, once you get into the swing of it you'll be a dab hand.
70isalimit- yours has gone a nice browny shade as your hair was quite light before.
Not sure what results you would get using BRUN on a full head of grey for those asking? Anyone tried?

LUSH henna - why has it took me so long to find this fabulous stuff?
OP posts:
Original poster
IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 30/03/2016 18:23

Newlife- not sure how the lush BRUN would come out on a full head of grey. Lush will give you a sample to try for free, on a strand test.
Lush henna makes your hair very glossy and shiny as its mixed with cocoa butter. My hair hasn't looked as good since I started using it.

OP posts:
MagnifiMad · 30/03/2016 18:26

Ooh, I am tempted....getting to the stage of grey where I will want to cover them...

CointreauVersial · 30/03/2016 18:28

Gorgeous colour, OP.

I'm itching to have a go, but I just can't face the whole root thing - once you start colouring you have to keep going! It would be perfect if it faded just enough for them not to be noticeable.

I have a few greys at the back, but the rest is still predominately brown, and I always said I'd never colour it.....

hazeyjane · 30/03/2016 18:31

Probably a crazy question, but has anyone tried putting an egg in the mix? When I used to henna my hair, I always added one and it made it a really good consistency helped it stay on and added shine.

Very tempted to go back to henna reading this thread, but have been bleaching it platinum for last 2 years, and have just put a brown dye onto try to go back to naturalish colour - will wait for a couple of cuts maybe!

Original poster
IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 30/03/2016 18:35

Mine in that photo above is a mix of MARRON and BRUN. Did it a couple of weeks ago. It will fade in time so if you don't like it you'll end up back where you started. My hair is also normally brown with a few greys streaking through. Enough I was on the chemical dye cycle very 6 weeks.

OP posts:
Dancergirl · 31/03/2016 10:45

Reporting back with mine, no photo unfortunately but I am very pleased with the colour, lovely reddish brown. Although the greys look a bit lighter than I would have hoped.

I can't decide if it's worth all the mess next time. But can I not go back to boxed dyes (or hairdresser tints) with henna on my hair?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/04/2016 12:45

Dancer having done the first henna~ing you should be better the next time Grin

Next time, I might try a brun+noir (I think red henna isn't a look for me at my age, but brune still has a bit of copper/red in it)

I found near the end the colour dripped down my forehead so I'll put a roll of cottonwool round the edge (I used to do this years ago with BodyShop henna)

I will certainly re-henna , I reckon it won't be anything near the three weeks when I was lighter, my roots are a close match for my present colour.

What shampoo do you all use? Is there one that helps preserve colour? I have some Henna shampoo that was in my cupboard , dragged it out, lovely Smile

Original poster
IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 01/04/2016 15:57

Yes I agree Dancer it will get easier now you're prepared. I smeared a bit of Vaseline around my hair line which meant I didn't get a strange coloured scalp.
I use Tresemme shampoo for coloured hair. So far my henna has barely faded and I wash my hair every day. Do you remember Henara shampoo in the 80's? Not sure they make it any more.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/04/2016 18:34

Oooh I loved the Henera in the big bottles, they smelled gorgeous, the conditioner was thick but not heavy.
I bought tubes of it (£1 each from Savers), that's what I dug out from under the bathroom sink.

I am tempted to ask for Aveda Clove shampoo and colour enhance conditioner as an early birthday present....Smile

StrawberryLeaf · 01/04/2016 20:41

I've done mine again, was trying to tackle the roots. I still don't think I had it runny enough, I find it really difficult to get all my roots covered well, there is still lots of grey.

I find by the time I get upstairs from the kitchen to bathroom it's gone more thicker, I think next time I need to make it really runny.

Still once again my hair feels amazing! So thick, soft and shiny.

Dancergirl · 02/04/2016 19:55

Doesn't it all run down your back if it's too runny?

Original poster
IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 02/04/2016 21:51

I did mine like Heinz tomato soup consistency. Once cling film on I didn't get any running down my face or back. My greys are still well covered. It's been sunny here today so I've been admiring my colour and shine at every opportunity!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/04/2016 00:22

I think I need to be braver and make my henna a bit runnier next time (I did yoghurt consistancy but had to call to DD to bring me more boiling water. Which she did with a Hmm face in case I was nekkid in the bath. I wasn't BTW)

If it's too dry it is really difficult to apply smoothly (I used to paint the BodyShop stuff on with a tint brush , I had waist length hair in those days so doing root touch not whole head)

I think my dye last week melted a bit with my sweaty little menopausal head. But I had put a layer of Ultrabland (Lush cleanser) so my clingfilm might have slipped at bit.

Next time: Brun+Noir: Heinz Tomato Soup, cottonwool 'snake' round the edges (Actually I might eat HTS while I waft about being unglam)

figureofspeech · 03/04/2016 03:44

I used to do mine in noir just for the glossy locks it gave me. I think I will try again as it's been a while & my hair is looking a bit dull. I used to apply Vaseline over my face, ears, neck to prevent staining.

Yes to having everything ready beforehand and if possible have someone apply it for you particularly the back of the head.

VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon · 03/04/2016 09:09

Keep the kettle in the bathroom with you and top it up when you need to

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/04/2016 12:11

This thread has reminded me I have some of this lurking in the back of my bathroom cupboard. Can someone summarize how to use it pretty please? Do you put it on wet hair? I remember sleeping with it on in the past but I co sleep with ds at the moment and don't want to risk hennaing the baby Grin

My hair looks crap these days and I really want my thick shiny pregnancy hair back!

Sallystyle · 05/04/2016 13:13

I am going to do this tonight I think.

Correction, DH is going to do it for me.

I have short hair, so not much of it to do.

Greengardenpixie · 05/04/2016 21:09

Mine should be here in a few days but not going to do it for a while yet as I have recently coloured my roots and don't want anything strange to happen!!!

Original poster
IDoAllMyOwnStunts · 05/04/2016 21:49

Cutyourhair-

  1. Cut lush henna cubes up
  2. Cover with boiling water and whisk to quite a runny consistency like Heinz tomato soup.
  3. Take cling film, old towel, shower cap and gloves plus henna into bathroom.
  4. Put Vaseline around hair line.
  5. I then strip off and apply to dry hair whilst stood naked in shower
  6. Massage it all over head so hair well covered.
  7. Wrap head in clingfilm. Put shower cap on top or old towel into turban.
  8. Rinse yourself and shower down.
  9. Get dressed and Leave on for between 30 mins and overnight (I do about 4 hrs).
10. Rinse off in shower, shampoo and condition as normal 11. Admire swishy glossy locks. 12. Come back and post photo 😀
OP posts:
CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/04/2016 22:39

Thanks ido

OvO · 05/04/2016 23:14

I'm now going to have to go into Edinburgh city centre just to visit Lush!

I tried the stuff 11 years ago and had my mum and sister helping and it was a total faff and didn't really make a difference.

But this time I'll do it naked (alone!) and leave it on for much longer!