lush henna? is it for me?

[melrose1985]

Okay so I started a Henna thread but I’m realizing pure henna is not for me yet. I know that with my hair color I really can’t get to the natural copper color of red I wanted. So I would gladly take a dark version of that. I did get some really great advice for using henna, but i figured i would start a new thread with this new idea/question.

I have about 2-3” of virgin roots, and the rest is dark (golden in the sun) brown. I dyed my hair about 6 months ago with a dark brown. It’s pretty much turned my hair black. It has fade a good deal now and kind of is close looking to my natural color but a little darker.

Im thinking of using honey and shampoo (or something like that) to help lighten up the part of my hair that still has dye in it. I just need to lighten a little but. Any other mixes that work well? What’s the best shampoo to use for this? I have decided I do not want to use the color oops.

I have been reading up on the LUSH henna bars. Maybe I could just go that route to get some red in my hair? The only reason for that is because I’m to chicken to dive into pure henna (right now), but hearing that the bars are very good at still conditioning I kind of like that. I need that for my ends. One girl in the lush henna bar picture thread said she had blue black dye hair ( I think) and that it worked over her hair nicely.

This year I said no chemicals in my hair, but I’m getting stir crazy over here. And I’m dying for some red/copper color to my hair. A couple of people said that the lush henna bars didn’t last the first time, I’m completely okay with that too.

No matter what I do to my hair color wise, once I get to a year with no cutting I have to get rid of the last bit of damage from the perm and chemical straighten. But I feel like if I could still “save” my ends so I don’t have to cut a bunch off.

So thoughts? Concerns? Question? In put? You think this is a good idea? All are greatly appreciated! After this I promise I will stop bring this up!

[melrose1985]

Also. I just realized that there is a retail store for them about 30 minutes from me. to add to my orginal post what do you think about the store? should i jsut order online? is the store worth checking out?

[akurah]

Lush henna is a massive pain in the ..., even moreso than the pure stuff. It's a hassle to get it made into a paste/mud for application (if you're not using indigo, it's best often just to dump the block into hot/boiling water and let the cocoa butter melt. this method doesn't work with a henna block that contains indigo because it will kill the indigo). It's also annoying to rinse.

That being said, it's quality is not bad. Not awesome, but not horrible, and as far as I can tell, no nasty additives that might turn your hair frogbutt green or the like.

[melrose1985]

Lush henna is a massive pain in the ..., even moreso than the pure stuff. It's a hassle to get it made into a paste/mud for application (if you're not using indigo, it's best often just to dump the block into hot/boiling water and let the cocoa butter melt. this method doesn't work with a henna block that contains indigo because it will kill the indigo). It's also annoying to rinse.

That being said, it's quality is not bad. Not awesome, but not horrible, and as far as I can tell, no nasty additives that might turn your hair frogbutt green or the like.


Frog butt green... Yep not looking for that :P!!

Can you do a double boiler type thing like you are melting chocolate?

[akurah]

Frog butt green... Yep not looking for that :P!!

Can you do a double boiler type thing like you are melting chocolate?

I honestly have no idea, but I don't see why not. I'd recommend trying this with a sample sized slice of their henna block and make sure that there's water in with the henna block (just enough to make the paste) just to make sure it works before doing it with an entire block of the stuff.

[melrose1985]

I honestly have no idea, but I don't see why not. I'd recommend trying this with a sample sized slice of their henna block and make sure that there's water in with the henna block (just enough to make the paste) just to make sure it works before doing it with an entire block of the stuff.

I didnt realize they had samples. thank you for pointing that out. I think i should probably check their store out.

[Emme76]

Hey!
As you know - I have tried Lush henna today - and for me it was easy. After what I read I thought it would be a bigger hazzle and a pain in the butt - but it wasn´t bad at all.

I used a big stone "mortar" (I think it is called in english) and I grinded the block ( Iused 2 blocks for my hair). It wasn´t hard at all - just fell apart. Others say that you can put it in a plastic bag and then smask it a few times with a hammer. It was easy to grind.
Then I boiled the water and added to the powder. It was easy enought to stir - and when it was done it was still very very warm. And I was ready to put it on my hair at once. I had plasic glowes and just put a bit on my hand...and started to put it in the back and roots first.

Then I wrapped my head with cling wrap. Didn´t drip or spill anytning....
The smell wasn´t bad either...didn´t bother me.
And when I rinsed it - I just let the water do it´s job - used schampoo twice (didn´t like this cause I only CO) - then conditioner twice. Then after I put some coconut oil in it.
It wasn´t more work than the cassia I used before.

My hair is now very very soft - and I used only brown - so I don´t know about the red. But there is a lush color ´that will add some red into your hair - but not a drastic change.

So for me it was easier than I thought.
You should do a strand test and try it first.

I am going to post some after pictures tomorrow....:)

Take care and good luck

[Isilme]

Hey!
As you know - I have tried Lush henna today - and for me it was easy. After what I read I thought it would be a bigger hazzle and a pain in the butt - but it wasn´t bad at all.

I used a big stone "mortar" (I think it is called in english) and I grinded the block ( Iused 2 blocks for my hair). It wasn´t hard at all - just fell apart. Others say that you can put it in a plastic bag and then smask it a few times with a hammer. It was easy to grind.
Then I boiled the water and added to the powder. It was easy enought to stir - and when it was done it was still very very warm. And I was ready to put it on my hair at once. I had plasic glowes and just put a bit on my hand...and started to put it in the back and roots first.

Then I wrapped my head with cling wrap. Didn´t drip or spill anytning....
The smell wasn´t bad either...didn´t bother me.
And when I rinsed it - I just let the water do it´s job - used schampoo twice (didn´t like this cause I only CO) - then conditioner twice. Then after I put some coconut oil in it.
It wasn´t more work than the cassia I used before.

My hair is now very very soft - and I used only brown - so I don´t know about the red. But there is a lush color ´that will add some red into your hair - but not a drastic change.

So for me it was easier than I thought.
You should do a strand test and try it first.

I am going to post some after pictures tomorrow....:)

Take care and good luck

It's great that you are happy. But next time, don't use boiling water because it kills the indigo, so you probably just got the benefits from henna and cocoa butter. To get the indigo to work, just mix (with cool water or max lukewarm) it until you have reached desired consistency and slap it on your head. The henna will dye release on your head.

[IrishRover716]

Lush's stuff also really isn't that great if you want the henna to add color to your hair, since it's made with a large amount of cocoa butter, which keeps the dye in henna from binding. Other than that, it's great for your hair.

[cobblersmaid]

Yeah, it's okay. I used it on my sister, and it turned out okay. It is so much harder to use than BAQ henna, and the sift is horrible. There were huge twigs in it. The colour was very light and faded really fast, sio if you want it to be less permanent, it's good for that.

[RancheroTheBee]

I'm going to agree with "It's okay, but don't sell your soul for a block". The kind I got had okay sift, but it was harder than the stuff I bought in the UK and applying it was a huge pain. Also, it oxidizes to a very unsexy shade of brownish orange, and it doesn't cover black dye very well at all (believe me, I tried).

[Emme76]

So strange - the store girl where I bought Lush was very specific that I use boiling water - also the instructions I got home. Can it be different stuff, since I am in Sweden. hummm..
I did get a very big color change. So something must have worked :)! I will try with cold water next time....

[melrose1985]

With the responses i have gotten back on this it does seem like it may not be for me. It actually seems like it's more of a pain that just making a paste from a powder. I'm thinking that the rainbow henna powder might be easier.

[willowcandra]

I used caca rouge a few years ago and it gave me a deep stunning red. lasted ages.

I grated mine with a cheese grater then added hot water mixed and applied it was really easy. and it smelled great.

[CaityBear]

I personally didn't find it that hard to mix up and apply. Washing it out was a pain, because it took a while to get the last of it out. But I didn't mind it. Personally, I would like more colour, but it's not that bad. If you don't want something really extreme, something to add just a bit of colour, LUSH would be good.

I don't find the colour fades that fast for me. The first time I used the Rouge, and yesterday I used the Marron and the Rouge hasn't faded much on me.

It is good if you want a good conditioning and if you only wanta little bit of colour.

[almudena]

An interesting link with information about Lush hennas:
http://www.lushie.com/haircare-hennas.html

[melrose1985]

almudena- you have a fantastic hair color! I love it! Thank you for the link, i read though it and it make it sounds easier then i was thinking.

CaityBear & willowcandra- do you think that the bar gave you the pros of using henna (strength, shine and whatnot) or do you think it was because of the coco butter?

[willowcandra]

almudena- you have a fantastic hair color! I love it! Thank you for the link, i read though it and it make it sounds easier then i was thinking.

CaityBear & willowcandra- do you think that the bar gave you the pros of using henna (strength, shine and whatnot) or do you think it was because of the coco butter?

I have never used any other henna. But I did experience the couple of days of dry feeling hair followed by soft strong thicker feeling hair. It did do some good things for me. I think all the coco butter did was make it a bit harder to wash out. Needed shampoo!

Shine? my goodness yes. And in the sunlight? I was a glowing sparkly beacon! My grandfather told me I looked like I had been burnished. And it stunned a small child into silence.
I even got random compliments from people who just couldn't work out why my hair was looking so amazing.

I did however have bad (read green) results with caca brun many years ago over a colour. I had to cut the green out over a couple of years. It's really really worth harvesting your hair from a brush and making up just enough henna to test it. I grated a little into a bowl and made up to what they said, then mixed in the wad of saved hair, wrapped in cling film for four hours then rinsed....I left it to oxidise for three days- the rouge did look very bright to begin with but eventually calmed down to a deep red on me.
I left it on my hair for the saem four hours with cling film.....you could seperate the saved hair and test different development times. Or even second developments.

[Unofficial_Rose]

I used caca rouge a few years ago and it gave me a deep stunning red. lasted ages.

I grated mine with a cheese grater then added hot water mixed and applied it was really easy. and it smelled great.

So did I, and got lots of compliments on the colour. Also, unlike BAQ, it doesn't go too dark on me after a few days. I am so tempted to let my henndigo gloss fade then use the Caca Rouge. The cocoa butter means you have to shampoo it out instead of just CO, but it's very conditioning.

[melrose1985]

Wow... I’m kind of being sold on this.... I still have some black bits in my hair from very old dye. So the only thing that i was worried about is being two toned. I have been using honey to lighten up my hair. actually have honey mixed with my cone free condish and OH MAN that does wonders to my hair. But i'm thinking of making the trip to the lush store in CT, Maybe i can just call them and see about pricing. it might be easier to just order it online. Later on i will have to post my hair color now, so you all can take a look at the where my black bits are still. And along with that the color i'm kind of looking for so maybe i can get recommendations on which color to use.

I just want to find something that i can just touch the roots up and be do with.

[melrose1985]

Okay, Sorry this picture is so hacked up, but it's a picture i found while i was looking at henna hair color and henna stuff online. This is not me and i'm not sure who it was while is why i got rid of everything but the color of the hair. I hope this is okay to do. If not please let me know!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2690&pictureid=35438

I know my hair is a little dark then what this color so i know my hair wont get any lighter, but if i could at least get a shade that has this orangy look to it and not the color red that would be great. I will post pictures of my hair later. My album pictures look very dark but thats because there is no flash really and my bathroom is very dark. So i have pictures of my hair color with a flash and light.

I hear about the marron and the rouge, what color would you recommed to use to get the kind of coppery orange shade above?

[willowcandra]

with it being lush --with excellent customer service you may be able to sweet talk them into giving you a teeny sample.


Wow... I’m kind of being sold on this.... I still have some black bits in my hair from very old dye. So the only thing that i was worried about is being two toned. I have been using honey to lighten up my hair. actually have honey mixed with my cone free condish and OH MAN that does wonders to my hair. But i'm thinking of making the trip to the lush store in CT, Maybe i can just call them and see about pricing. it might be easier to just order it online. Later on i will have to post my hair color now, so you all can take a look at the where my black bits are still. And along with that the color i'm kind of looking for so maybe i can get recommendations on which color to use.

I just want to find something that i can just touch the roots up and be do with.

[melrose1985]

with it being lush --with excellent customer service you may be able to sweet talk them into giving you a teeny sample.

Good idea! I wouldnt even mind doing a tiny sample on my hair (on my head) but just because i have different colors in my hair from dye and my natural roots.

[mooglewoo]

I've used Lush several times. It's an "okay" type of henna, good for introducting oneself to henna and the process, but for color this lacks quality and this OVERCONDITIONS my hair to the point when I rinse out my henna, I have to use shampoo. Lush hennas are filled with things that are not important to the henna process, like fragrances and butters.
FTR, I have only used caca noir.
I don't grate it, it takes too long. I just apply pressure with a knife and it just falls into chunks. I use hot tap water to mix it, and leave it on for 2-3 hours; whatever I have time for lolz. If you're new to henna, try it. If you want more conditioning than color, try it. :}

And I just wanted to add: Anytime you are using indigo, do not use boiling water. It kills the indigo. No offense, but of course the sales lady at Lush said to use boiling water because that's what the package says and they are told to tell cutomers what THEY KNOW, and what they know is what's on the bar. I have yet to talk to a Lush SA who actually henna'ed her hair. Not one. The ladies on this forum know their junk. Thanks to LHC I'm now a henna addict. (I just currently don't use Lush-but like I said, it was a great intro!)

You can do a search on this forum for "lush" and you'll see some experiences others have had. Good threads^^

[melrose1985]

I've used Lush several times. It's an "okay" type of henna, good for introducting oneself to henna and the process, but for color this lacks quality and this OVERCONDITIONS my hair to the point when I rinse out my henna, I have to use shampoo. Lush hennas are filled with things that are not important to the henna process, like fragrances and butters.
FTR, I have only used caca noir.
I don't grate it, it takes too long. I just apply pressure with a knife and it just falls into chunks. I use hot tap water to mix it, and leave it on for 2-3 hours; whatever I have time for lolz. If you're new to henna, try it. If you want more conditioning than color, try it. :}

And I just wanted to add: Anytime you are using indigo, do not use boiling water. It kills the indigo. No offense, but of course the sales lady at Lush said to use boiling water because that's what the package says and they are told to tell cutomers what THEY KNOW, and what they know is what's on the bar. I have yet to talk to a Lush SA who actually henna'ed her hair. Not one. The ladies on this forum know their junk. Thanks to LHC I'm now a henna addict. (I just currently don't use Lush-but like I said, it was a great intro!)

You can do a search on this forum for "lush" and you'll see some experiences others have had. Good threads^^


Thanks for the input... And i guess right now i am looking for some color but i really like the idea of the wonderful things henna does for ones hair, the shine, stength and whatnots.

[mooglewoo]

Oh, truly henna has improved my hair so much! With Lush hennas though, the conditioning mostly comes from the butters. :} Nonetheless, they're worth a shot!

[almudena]

almudena- you have a fantastic hair color! I love it! Thank you for the link, i read though it and it make it sounds easier then i was thinking.


Thank you for the nice coment :flowers:
And in order to get an orangy look, I'd go for the reddest henna (keep in mind that henna is not red but orange).

[almudena]

Oh, and for the pictures of hennaed heads, well, remember that the same hair looks totally different under two lights. Just and example; these two pictures of my hair where taken at the same spot , the same day, under the same light, one after the other; both with flash. On the darker one I very very slightly changed the angle (and took off my jacket).

[melrose1985]

thank you ladies. I bought some of the lush bars and i'll try it this weekend. If it does fade then no biggie i'll try again or something else.

[melrose1985]

I will post before and after pictures of the lush henna in the lush henna color thread, but i'll put them here too.

I got the Marron bar. I did a strand test last night... I dont think the water was hot enough and i dont think i really mixed it right. But i did get a little color difference. So tomorrow i'l jsut doing the whole head... I got time! i have a penpal to write and my mom wants to start are seeds for the garden this year!