This is my latest length shot. I haven't hennaed my roots in over a month, but the length is still pretty vibrant. I use Jamila henna.
http://www.thoughtspaces.com/ts/memberfiles/90/lengthsept08.jpg
Holy smokes Diygal! This is gorgeous. What was your base color? I am wanting that color but I think I am too dark for it. You will be at waist in no time. :cheese:

Sorry to reply to my own post...but OMG!!! I can't believe the COLOR!! I rinsed our about 8PM and this is 8AM the next day. (I cut my hair this W/E as well, so had to curl it to play.) I can't believe how FLUFFY it feels! Not bunny-soft like my fine hair usu. is. BTW what is the crap I saw on rinse-out that looked like <pardon> boogers? :disgust:
Henna Pics - Before/After (http://gallery.me.com/jpitsch#100022)

Sorry to reply to my own post...but OMG!!! I can't believe the COLOR!! I rinsed our about 8PM and this is 8AM the next day. (I cut my hair this W/E as well, so had to curl it to play.) I can't believe how FLUFFY it feels! Not bunny-soft like my fine hair usu. is. BTW what is the crap I saw on rinse-out that looked like <pardon> boogers? :disgust:
Henna Pics - Before/After (http://gallery.me.com/jpitsch#100022)


I just wanted to tell you that your hair is wonderful :flower: It brings out your great blue eyes too!

I have no idea what the boogers are haha

ETA: my 3rd henna on the 4th day.I didn't take pics of the oxidation like I usually do because I had a killer stomach bug during that time.
This is with Manic Panic and Jamila :) Sorry 'bout the blurry picture.I have these killer red spakles in the sunlight.Pictures do not do it justice :D
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/cyodice05/SN852160.jpg
looks a little orange in this picture also...its not.My siggy is a better idea of what it looks like.But add the bright :sun: sparkles!

Oh my gosh, thank you! :o I really consider them "gray-blue" unless I'm either really blonde or really red...and I'm now REALLY RED!! I LOVE it! I'm eager to see what the oxidized color will be...I'm learning so much here. Hair and shoes are my only two obsessions, so it's a good thing I can learn from experienced ladies (end gentlemen, pardon gents)! ;)

First time I've hennaed my hair!

So here's the before:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2891504017_2f9ffcf336_m.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2892343614_2db5e9a7d4_m.jpg

And here's after the henna's been off for 4 hours (time on head was 5 and half hours)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2895075914_5f0f79a9b3_m.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2894233005_ea84e3f41f_m.jpg

It's very orange in the sunlight, but obviously it's not had much of a chance to oxidise yet :D

I had planned on leaving it on overnight, but woke up around 4 am with henna dribbling out from under the film, shower cap and towel, so decided as it had been on over 4 hours it could come off.

I'm happy with it so far, but think that I might need to do a full head henna next time and then move to roots only as I'd like it a little darker, but it depends what colour it finishes at this time round.

Stormsong: what a beautiful, rich red! It looks wonderful!

I love visiting this thread! :inlove:
It is always amazing to me how many beautiful variations of sparkling color henna can impart on each person's hair. :cloud9:

I just realized I never posted my henna hair in this thread. I thought I had :silly:
I have been using henna exclusively for about three years. All of the non-henna hair is gone now- all of my hair is virgin henna only. My natural color is a light&medium strawberry blonde.
I now mostly use full henna on the roots and henna glosses on the length in order to keep the color from getting too dark, and to keep the red a warm red rather than a cool red. I like dark cool red, but I found it does not suit my pale peachy complexion.

These are my most recent pics:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1335&pictureid=21854

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1335&pictureid=20607

Here are some pics I just recently took a few days ago.

In sunlight.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/blackfoot_hair/Henna/misc061.jpg

And here is inside. With flash.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/blackfoot_hair/Henna/misc066.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/blackfoot_hair/Henna/misc065.jpg

The ends of my hair is chemically altered, but the roots and about 3-4 inches down is my natural medium brown with henna. :)

My third henna(and last one for quite awhile)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/cyodice05/SN852217.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/cyodice05/SN852211.jpg
This one shows my pink streaks a bit LOL I figured,why the hell not and added them Saturday when I got out of the hospital.

Wow, so much gorgeous hair on this page!!! It's just amazing!!!

What henna mix do you use. Your colour is amazing!

Sorry in advance for this long long post, I can only ask you nicely to bear with me a little.
Basically I want Remke's (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=63385&postcount=28) color for my hair. I know it's a long shot, and even people who achieved much redder tones haven't got this. But still, could you give me some advise, maybe I missing something here?
I do henna every month. My natural color is mousy maybe dark brown, but I've been doing henna for years now so I don't even remember how it looks.
I used to add hot water to my henna, add few drops of Tea Tree oil (I stopped doing it though) and apply, sometimes right away, sometimes I let it sit for a while, sometimes overnight. There weren't significant differences so I don't know.
I wrap my head with plastic bag and a toque to keep it warm. I sit minimum an hour, sometimes little bit longer. Then I rinse it out using water only or with a help of an egg yolk shampoo (it leaves the hair softer). I wash my hair properly 3 days later.
The color I get is my old good brown although it's not mousy anymore but rich chocolate. The tones are orange rather than red, and i want red, flaming red, dark red, burgundy, maroon, bordeaux, whatever. ANY red.
Recently I discovered that my henna (which I knew it wasn't BAQ) might be diluted with sand, which could affect the color intensity, and tone it down from red to orange.
I just hennaed again yesterday. I changed my usual recipe after realizing that achieving red tones with henna is more than possible. I got new kind of henna from a herb farm business here in hopes of better quality. I also added steeped hibiscus tea (from natural dried hibiscus) instead of plain hot water, and made sure it isn't boiling hot since I understand it might kill the dye. I let it sit overnight. I stayed with the henna on my head for 2 hours.
I haven't got any blazing red from this. Or any red. It looks redder than usual, just a tiny bit. But right now it's too soon to judge. I'll be back to you with a pic after the wash. I think that I should have warmed up the mix in the oven, because it was cold when applied to my hair.
Is my hair too dark for the red? Should I consider honey lighten it some?
Maybe 1 hour is not long enough for red tones? But still, I do have pretty dark hair.
Are there any flaws in my routine?
Is there anything I could do?:confused:
I've seen all of your pictures, and they're all gorgeous, and the color is amazing. The reds are just to die for!

Heidi - I think Remke's natural color must be lighter than yours. I don't think you'll be able to get that color without somehow lightening it, which will be difficult. I've tried honey and the results were subtle. I've also used lemon juice which lightened my henna but also left my hair damaged. I think some members here (can't remember who but maybe they'll chime in) have used manic panic mixed in with their henna which gave them more red - maybe it's a possibility?

My henna hair is in my signature, but it looks very dark there... It's copper red in light rooms and in sunlight (see avatar) :cheese:

You are welcome to look at my Hair pics on my profile. I labeled them before and after individually b/c they didn't load in the album the way I wanted them to and apparently you can't rearrange them once uploaded....ugh!

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/IMAGE_00311.jpghttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/IMAGE_00310.jpghttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/IMAGE_00309.jpghttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/IMAGE_00306.jpg
different lighting changes it from blk to rich chocolate to eggplant to auburn glow...

My indoor flash/no flash shots:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/ForensicVette/hair-henna01NOV2008-flashnoflash.jpg

And this'n...

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/ForensicVette/hair-braidedfigure8.jpg


's a gooooood color now. Play up my eyes. It's an auburn color in normal lighting to an almost natural redheaded look. Bright lights, of course, ZOMG.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7779/pb120124mj7.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pb120124mj7.jpg)

that's mine. I use a mix of plant dyes from a firm called Sante. The color is called terra, i.e., earth brown. It's more reddish than brown though and contains henna. My natural color is graying brownish/blondish. The graying made the golden/reddish shine disappear, my hair became dull and dark. So I decided to interfere ;-)

(Sorry for the weird hemline, I was dusting it yesterday and must have over-dusted one side. I'll fix it.)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/779/37300290739dbd23adgf4.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=37300290739dbd23adgf4.jpg)

That was my hair five years ago, natural color.

The signature pic (if it shows) was my first attempt at henna'g my hair -Nov 9/08 - I used Lustrous Henna in brown that I bought off internet comp. (Saba something in the states - came really speedily also). I had every intention of strand testing, but didn't, and feel very fortunate that it didn't come out in clumps! First day back at work I got several compliments - AND I cannot believe the change in just one application. Hard for you to see unfortunately - Avatar is pre-Henna but damp hair.

I just henna'd my 16 YO son's hair with PP that I had in the freezer. He is very fair skinned and had dishwater blond hair with lighter highlights in the front around the hairline. He just wanted it for shock effect, but I think the Hair is Beautiful! I'm having trouble with Photobucket accepting my pics right now but as soon as I am able I will post the pics. The ones I have are right after the application so no oxidation had taken place yet, his head is GLOWING! I'll be able to see some oxidation today when I see him after work.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/Red_Jon_Closeup.jpghttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/Red_Jon_Sideshot.jpg

WOW! That looks GREAT!

Heidi - I think Remke's natural color must be lighter than yours. I don't think you'll be able to get that color without somehow lightening it, which will be difficult. I've tried honey and the results were subtle. I've also used lemon juice which lightened my henna but also left my hair damaged. I think some members here (can't remember who but maybe they'll chime in) have used manic panic mixed in with their henna which gave them more red - maybe it's a possibility?
I know my goals appear somewhat unreal, but I didn't mean that I tried to get her color. I aspire for a profound red color, not maybe-red or kinda-reddish or brown-with-reds. Real true red. Unmistakenly red color. And I said that I got care if it's burning light red or dark burgundy red.
I asked Nightshade, who's length is a color i would be happy with and she said her natural color wasn't light brown. There also burns_erin's hennaed hair which is rich dark red color I would die for. I think her staring color wasn't dirty blond for sure.
I know honey lightening is very subtle, I tried it. It might affect less due to the henna actually, IMO. But maybe after multiple application it will lighten enough or something. And I know lightening with lemon juice is damaging.
I read about Manic Panic, but the color fades rather soon, and I wouldn't like to go back to chemical dyes even if they semi-permanent.
So many people here did get the red tone, I'm still hanging in the brown-with-overtones phase as like I hennaed for the first time. It's frustrating.

I know my goals appear somewhat unreal, but I didn't mean that I tried to get her color. I aspire for a profound red color, not maybe-red or kinda-reddish or brown-with-reds. Real true red. Unmistakenly red color. And I said that I got care if it's burning light red or dark burgundy red.
I asked Nightshade, who's length is a color i would be happy with and she said her natural color wasn't light brown. There also burns_erin's hennaed hair which is rich dark red color I would die for. I think her staring color wasn't dirty blond for sure.
I know honey lightening is very subtle, I tried it. It might affect less due to the henna actually, IMO. But maybe after multiple application it will lighten enough or something. And I know lightening with lemon juice is damaging.
I read about Manic Panic, but the color fades rather soon, and I wouldn't like to go back to chemical dyes even if they semi-permanent.
So many people here did get the red tone, I'm still hanging in the brown-with-overtones phase as like I hennaed for the first time. It's frustrating.

How long are you leaving it on again? Wasen't it only a couple hours? I leave mine on 5 hours and left my sons on 4 hours. I also got much better color saturation with previously dye released and frozen henna, and a good clarifying just before application.

How long are you leaving it on again? Wasen't it only a couple hours? I leave mine on 5 hours and left my sons on 4 hours. I also got much better color saturation with previously dye released and frozen henna, and a good clarifying just before application.
Did you applied the henna cold?
My last application the henna was pretty cold (but not frozen). Heat stimulates the process of staining, so I thought I did a mistake by not heating it gently some before applying.
I indeed used to apply the henna for an hour or two, because I thought a dark hair as mine wouldn't need as much time as, say, blonde.
I described my routine here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=341758&postcount=261) if you feel like skimming through and giving some further advice.

Did you applied the henna cold?
My last application the henna was pretty cold (but not frozen). Heat stimulates the process of staining, so I thought I did a mistake by not heating it gently some before applying.
I indeed used to apply the henna for an hour or two, because I thought a dark hair as mine wouldn't need as much time as, say, blonde.
I described my routine here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=341758&postcount=261) if you feel like skimming through and giving some further advice.

I just put my frozen henna in a hot water bath for a little while and then applied it. It felt pretty cool on my head but quickly warmed up from my body heat. Smeone on here said they freeze theirs in ziplock bags so that it will thaw faster and that works great! I tried it last time. Once it was thawed I just cut off a corner and had an applicator ready made.

I just put my frozen henna in a hot water bath for a little while and then applied it. It felt pretty cool on my head but quickly warmed up from my body heat. Smeone on here said they freeze theirs in ziplock bags so that it will thaw faster and that works great! I tried it last time. Once it was thawed I just cut off a corner and had an applicator ready made.
I wonder if it really thaws faster in a ziplock bag. It's not like henna it self warming like human body and the bag keeps the heat effectively. I actually use a brush to apply the henna.
I'll probably use the hot water bath method next time.

I wonder if it really thaws faster in a ziplock bag. It's not like henna it self warming like human body and the bag keeps the heat effectively. I actually use a brush to apply the henna.
I'll probably use the hot water bath method next time.

Freezing it in a ziplock allows you to lay it flat so that the surface area is larger and it thaws faster when put in hot water. If you apply the henna with a brush, you may not be puting it on thick enough as well. It needs to really be caked on thick like you are frosting a cake in order for it to really get good color saturation and it also really needs to be wrapped in the plastic wrap good so that there is no air drying the mud out.

I love the color of your hair WildCherry! I'm trying to lighten my hair with the honey recipe to get it that color so I can do another shadow of henna with a marigold/red combination.

I just had my hair trimmed today so I got a pic. Here's my hennaed hair a couple of months after my last henna and 2 days after my 3rd honey lightening treatment.

http://www.acspotlight.net/images/hair3.jpg

Heidi I was just re-reading through your posts. Are you mixing your henna with any kind of tea? I use organic green tea to mix mine. I also leave it on for about 4 hours. I apply it with my hands since its goopy stuff. I just scoop it up and plop on my head until my whole head is caked in it. then I twist it up and wrap it in saran wrap. (btw, saran wrap is making a kill off of me!) Also be sure you don't wash for at least 24 hours. 48 if you can stand it. When you rinse your henna out are you using shampoo? the best way to rinse it out is to use a little olive oil to loosen and then run in hot water. My hair usually feels gunky for the first two days so I just throw it up and let it stay that way until I can do a regular wash and condition.

One more thing, did you use any neutral colorless henna before you applied your colored henna? the neutral acts like a conditioner and helps the henna take to the hair.

:) I am just in awe of all the beautiful shades.
Is there any way to remove the old black dye from my ends without causing damage?

I'm not sure if anyone has answered you, but I used Color Oops from CVS Drug Store. It took the black off of dark brown hair. I may do it one more time but it will be a while because I'm spending too much already on my hair :D

I have to say these pictures, for the most part look amazing. I remember when I was a shampoo girl in a popular salon that a client had Henna red hair (she loved her Henna and did not color her hair any other way) and it felt so coarse and terrible, especially when wet, the actual colour was very vibrant and nice, but the texture was just bad, it was a turn off for sure...

So in all your honest opinions, is your Henna hair soft like the photos show? I am just wondering because I am new to long hair and I do not colour my hair at all now, but I am wondering if Henna could be an option for me in the future...

I love the color of your hair WildCherry! I'm trying to lighten my hair with the honey recipe to get it that color so I can do another shadow of henna with a marigold/red combination.

I just had my hair trimmed today so I got a pic. Here's my hennaed hair a couple of months after my last henna and 2 days after my 3rd honey lightening treatment.

http://www.acspotlight.net/images/hair3.jpg
Wow- stunning! :thud:

Heidi, here's a few things I can think of that might help....

1.) If you don't already, use a clarifying shampoo (or just one for oily hair)*immediately* before hennaing, and don't condition, just apply the henna to your damp hair. Henna dyes more strongly on hair stripped of oils.

2.) Leave your henna on a lot longer, at least 3-4 hrs.

3.)Use henna that's been frozen and then thawed. The freezing process has been shown to cause henna to release a lot more dye.

4.) Add a few shakes of allspice or clove powder to your henna. They don't really dye on their own, but the eugenol they contain intensifies hennas' color.

With your natural color, you won't get bright, flaming red. But you should be getting burgundy/maroon, etc....that's what brown-haired people usually get with repeated applications of straight henna. I think the hennas you've used must be very weak, and/or you have henna-resistant hair. All of the tips above are in order to get the most lawsone out of your henna and into your hair.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hUd54RRCvAlrWUrQfSXlvA?authkey=bHAIuAXp5nc

Pre henna

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S1nl4bSIaH9j0QF9w2DjEA?authkey=bHAIuAXp5nc

Post a couple full head applications

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hUd54RRCvAlrWUrQfSXlvA?authkey=bHAIuAXp5nc

Pre henna

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S1nl4bSIaH9j0QF9w2DjEA?authkey=bHAIuAXp5nc

Post a couple full head applications

I am not sure why that didn't work but here is a link

http://picasaweb.google.com/chris.shepherd/Hair#

my avatar is my pre henna hair but it had been chemically dyed so it was lightened considerably. I'd really have to dig through archives to find a pic of pre chemical dye days.

Heidi I was just re-reading through your posts. Are you mixing your henna with any kind of tea? I use organic green tea to mix mine. I also leave it on for about 4 hours. I apply it with my hands since its goopy stuff. I just scoop it up and plop on my head until my whole head is caked in it. then I twist it up and wrap it in saran wrap. (btw, saran wrap is making a kill off of me!) Also be sure you don't wash for at least 24 hours. 48 if you can stand it. When you rinse your henna out are you using shampoo? the best way to rinse it out is to use a little olive oil to loosen and then run in hot water. My hair usually feels gunky for the first two days so I just throw it up and let it stay that way until I can do a regular wash and condition.

One more thing, did you use any neutral colorless henna before you applied your colored henna? the neutral acts like a conditioner and helps the henna take to the hair.

I rinse it with water only, or egg yolk shampoo (egg yolk + water + few drops of olive oil). And I don't wash my head for 3 days (and I'm still alive :lol:).
This last time I used steeped hibiscus tea instead of plain water and I think I yielded better results this time. But I think it still looks more like brown with flashy orangy tones than red. I'm going to wash today and have a picture tomorrow after it dries.

Heidi, here's a few things I can think of that might help....

1.) If you don't already, use a clarifying shampoo (or just one for oily hair)*immediately* before hennaing, and don't condition, just apply the henna to your damp hair. Henna dyes more strongly on hair stripped of oils.

2.) Leave your henna on a lot longer, at least 3-4 hrs.

3.)Use henna that's been frozen and then thawed. The freezing process has been shown to cause henna to release a lot more dye.

4.) Add a few shakes of allspice or clove powder to your henna. They don't really dye on their own, but the eugenol they contain intensifies hennas' color.

With your natural color, you won't get bright, flaming red. But you should be getting burgundy/maroon, etc....that's what brown-haired people usually get with repeated applications of straight henna. I think the hennas you've used must be very weak, and/or you have henna-resistant hair. All of the tips above are in order to get the most lawsone out of your henna and into your hair.

Thanks that has been most helpful!
1) I always looked for cleansing shampoo, I never thought a shampoo for oily hair would do the trick (but it makes perfect sense). I am actually trying to go shampoo-free, could basking soda or soapnuts be as good as a shampoo?
2) That's the first conclusion I made after looking through this tread. But can I accidentally overdo with henna? I don't want to get a color too dark, and be forced to grow it all out.
3) I think I will do so next time.
4) I never knew that! Wow thanks!
I do suspect my henna was weak. I switched to another source now. I think my hair takes the henna well. I henna once a month, and I can definitely feel how by the end of the month my hair "longs" for new application, it needs that. I can see how my hair becomes finer, breaks more, it is drier. So I don't think my hair is henna-resistant.

I have to say these pictures, for the most part look amazing. I remember when I was a shampoo girl in a popular salon that a client had Henna red hair (she loved her Henna and did not color her hair any other way) and it felt so coarse and terrible, especially when wet, the actual colour was very vibrant and nice, but the texture was just bad, it was a turn off for sure...

So in all your honest opinions, is your Henna hair soft like the photos show? I am just wondering because I am new to long hair and I do not colour my hair at all now, but I am wondering if Henna could be an option for me in the future...

If her hair felt coarse, I would guess that it had more to do with the actual texture of her hair rather than the henna. If anything, henna tends to make your hair feel thicker, healthier and smoother. I know some people who've overdone it on the henna applications start to complain about a change in the texture of their hair (it does build up) and that they lose their curls or waves, but it can mostly be avoided by just touching up your roots once you achieve your desired color. That's one thing I really like about henna - my length never fades and touching up my roots with henna is as easy to do as using chemical colors.

Originally Posted by krspies
I love the color of your hair WildCherry! I'm trying to lighten my hair with the honey recipe to get it that color so I can do another shadow of henna with a marigold/red combination.

I just had my hair trimmed today so I got a pic. Here's my hennaed hair a couple of months after my last henna and 2 days after my 3rd honey lightening treatment.



Wow, that is a sparkling vibrant red! Very pretty!

Here is mine. The flash makes it look more purply than it really is but you can see the red glints and great shine.

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr309/LaurelSpring/DSCN1590.jpg

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr309/LaurelSpring/IMG_0033.jpg

I have to say these pictures, for the most part look amazing. I remember when I was a shampoo girl in a popular salon that a client had Henna red hair (she loved her Henna and did not color her hair any other way) and it felt so coarse and terrible, especially when wet, the actual colour was very vibrant and nice, but the texture was just bad, it was a turn off for sure...

So in all your honest opinions, is your Henna hair soft like the photos show? I am just wondering because I am new to long hair and I do not colour my hair at all now, but I am wondering if Henna could be an option for me in the future...

My hair was a little rough for a couple days after a henna and then it's back to normal after a couple washes, if a little better behaved. It certainly hasn't made my hair coarse and rough.

Maybe she didn't care for her hair well otherwise... or she had naturally very coarse hair. :)

Here is my henna head.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2075&pictureid=24914

As you see, the change is so suble! Why?

Wow, Heidi, your hair is so lovely!!! Love those curls!!

It is subtle but it's richer IMHO.

Your curls are beautiful! You make me want curly hair! :)

Wow, Heidi, your hair is so lovely!!! Love those curls!!
Thanks Millie :grin:

It is subtle but it's richer IMHO.

Your curls are beautiful! You make me want curly hair! :)

Thanks Addy, let's switch :lol:
I posted a question (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=341758&postcount=261) about what have I done wrong that don't get past my current color (to a redder color), so this picture is the visual part of it.

I think maybe your hair is just too dark for the red to show up very much. If you really want it to be brighter, maybe mix just with water and leave it on a shorter amount of time. Adding cassia might help keep it lighter too! However, I think it is absolutely lovely as it is!!

All these henna photos are so drop-dead GORGEOUS it makes me wanna try henna on my hair. But I'm too chicken to do anything I might regret and too lazy to commit to something I'll have to keep up. I adore the red colors and the SHINE though. Wow.

Here is my henna head.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2075&pictureid=24914

As you see, the change is so suble! Why?

It is subtle, but I can see some more "glow" on the henna'd side.
I bet if you looked at your hair in the sunlight, you will see the fire sparks. :D

Your curls are great! Lovely hair. :flower:

I think maybe your hair is just too dark for the red to show up very much. If you really want it to be brighter, maybe mix just with water and leave it on a shorter amount of time. Adding cassia might help keep it lighter too! However, I think it is absolutely lovely as it is!!
Diluting henna with cassia yields orange colors rather than red. I know that for sure from Nightshade's experience. Her length is red because she used straight henna, and her new growth is bright orange because she switched to fifty fifty henna cassia. I know my color is very dark, but from what I understand, if I want to get to the red, I need to intensify the henna even more, that's how it works.
Well, it doesn't look like that in real life. The flash really flatters hennaed hair.

It is subtle, but I can see some more "glow" on the henna'd side.
I bet if you looked at your hair in the sunlight, you will see the fire sparks. :D

Your curls are great! Lovely hair. :flower:
Thanks LadyMoon, I can see it too. The glow on the left is rather orangy whather on the right it is more whitish. That's how the henna fades away on my hair every month I think.

I just henna'd my 16 YO son's hair with PP that I had in the freezer. He is very fair skinned and had dishwater blond hair with lighter highlights in the front around the hairline. He just wanted it for shock effect, but I think the Hair is Beautiful! I'm having trouble with Photobucket accepting my pics right now but as soon as I am able I will post the pics. The ones I have are right after the application so no oxidation had taken place yet, his head is GLOWING! I'll be able to see some oxidation today when I see him after work.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/Red_Jon_Closeup.jpghttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/Red_Jon_Sideshot.jpg

OMG! I Love Henna! Look at my DS hair after 3 days of oxidation (Natural Light from a window):
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc104/ckatto71/Henna025.jpg

Thanks that has been most helpful!
1) I always looked for cleansing shampoo, I never thought a shampoo for oily hair would do the trick (but it makes perfect sense). I am actually trying to go shampoo-free, could basking soda or soapnuts be as good as a shampoo?
2) That's the first conclusion I made after looking through this tread. But can I accidentally overdo with henna? I don't want to get a color too dark, and be forced to grow it all out.
3) I think I will do so next time.
4) I never knew that! Wow thanks!
I do suspect my henna was weak. I switched to another source now. I think my hair takes the henna well. I henna once a month, and I can definitely feel how by the end of the month my hair "longs" for new application, it needs that. I can see how my hair becomes finer, breaks more, it is drier. So I don't think my hair is henna-resistant.

A baking soda or soapnut wash might be sufficient before henna; I'm just not sure. You want your hair to feel totally stripped of oil after the wash, if they accomplish that, then they'd work. But if they accomplished that, they wouldn't be gentler alternatives, no? Baking soda I've used before henna, but combined with shampoo. I got a very strong henna-stain that time, too strong for me.

I think it might be worth it just to shampoo (rather than using gentler methods) before henna, it'd only be once a month or so.

Henna always technically darkens (ie, adds color, doesn't remove any), but for people that already have very dark hair it often gives the visual effect of lightening.

But you could try maybe just increasing the time to 2 hrs. and see where that gets you. If your results are still not strong enough, then go longer.

This is my hennaed hair:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff117/Radish_photo/IMG_1038.jpg

I've used various henna dyes and now I've found my favourite: 95% sifted Yemeni henna. This gives me exactly the color I've been after: fiery!

A baking soda or soapnut wash might be sufficient before henna; I'm just not sure. You want your hair to feel totally stripped of oil after the wash, if they accomplish that, then they'd work. But if they accomplished that, they wouldn't be gentler alternatives, no? Baking soda I've used before henna, but combined with shampoo. I got a very strong henna-stain that time, too strong for me.

I think it might be worth it just to shampoo (rather than using gentler methods) before henna, it'd only be once a month or so.

Henna always technically darkens (ie, adds color, doesn't remove any), but for people that already have very dark hair it often gives the visual effect of lightening.

But you could try maybe just increasing the time to 2 hrs. and see where that gets you. If your results are still not strong enough, then go longer.

These are my 2 hour henna (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=345850&postcount=291) results (steeped hibiscus instead of plain water, left overnight). What would you make out of it? The difference is so very subtle. But I am little bit scared to oversit, and get it too dark. The shampoo point is a fair one, and I'll definitely consider it next application.

RedFrizz ---- I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Redfrizz: holy HECK, woman, that is a Gorgeous color.

This is my hennaed hair:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff117/Radish_photo/IMG_1038.jpg

I've used various henna dyes and now I've found my favourite: 95% sifted Yemeni henna. This gives me exactly the color I've been after: fiery!


I want that color!!!!! What was your starting color? I came quite close to your color a couple of weeks ago, but my henna has faded again...

My hair with a mixture of henna and other plant dyes:

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7779/pb120124mj7.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pb120124mj7.jpg)

I buy the mixture in a box ;-) it's called Sante Terra. Sante (http://www.sante.de/Haarfarben/index.html)is a popular brand in Germany. They offer a number of different nuances (http://www.sante.de/Haarfarben/farbtonkarte.jpg). Of course the result depends on your natural color.

You can see my roots here:

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/5347/farbuebergangbx9.th.jpg (http://img364.imageshack.us/my.php?image=farbuebergangbx9.jpg)

They used to be dark blonde with reddish highlights... but now the grays make it look dull. I feel that the Sante Terra returns my natural color with a kick. Nice feeling. :)

Thank you very much for your comments :)

ilovelonghair: my hair is originally ash blonde / light brown, with reddish & golden highlits. I have lots of red pigment and I think this keeps my henna from fading (that pic was taken about 4 weeks after my last henna).

For anyone curious about how Lush henna mixes look on hair - this is a good forum thread ... basically - the same as this one, except they refer to themselves as "caca heads" lol


Pictures of Happy Caca Heads (http://forum.lush.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19438&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&sid=8f3a0f1885788f0d2d36cecba56eb3d3)

I've been sifting through this thread to get a better idea of the color differences between lush and baq henna...

WOW RF, that is some AWESOME hair!! Has the henna relaxed your curl any at all? (It doesn't look like it!)

^Thnx! To my amazement henna hasn't relaxed my curls at all, on the contrary, my curls have gone wild because of it! I guess it's because all of the nourishing & healing qualities of this fantastic plant :)

@ RedFrizz, your hair looks wonderful!
This is the colour, that i would like to have.

Unfortunatley I didn't know the henna you use...but maybe one day, i could find something like that!

This is my hennaed hair:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff117/Radish_photo/IMG_1038.jpg

I've used various henna dyes and now I've found my favourite: 95% sifted Yemeni henna. This gives me exactly the color I've been after: fiery!

I love your hair!
Gorgeous colour and curls:cheese:

After jumping in headfirst, panicking and being talked down by the dear ladies on this fabulous forum, I am SO in love with my henna :D! Look at this VOLUME
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/muchforgiven_2008/volume.jpg
Look at this WAVE
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/muchforgiven_2008/shineandwave.jpg
Look at this SHINE
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/muchforgiven_2008/raisedhairs.jpg
ahhhhhhhhhh love :D

Here's mine... this is my second henna. The first one I kinda screwed up by following some bad advice. (I used lemon juice, didn't know to wait for dye release.)

So... I love the way it feels, and I like the way it looks when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. But these pictures are so over the top! I don't know... I'm naturally a dark redhead to auburn, and there's a lot of sunstreaked hair here that has turned very bright in the sunlight.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/image.php?u=16517&dateline=1226851676&type=profile

Here it is, the night before, inside. Inside I definitely love it. I suppose it'll just take getting used to.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1832&pictureid=24935

Jean Grey - your hair looks very lovely - both indoors and out!

@ RedFrizz, your hair looks wonderful!
This is the colour, that i would like to have.

Unfortunatley I didn't know the henna you use...but maybe one day, i could find something like that!

Thank you sooo much (you too granitbaby). I bought my henna from henna-boy.co.uk, 'cause I couldn't find good enough henna from Finland (I don't know why, but all the henna dyes I've come across here have been giving me only a hint of color and I've been forced to boost them with for example turmeric).

My henna-mix is as simple as possible: hot water, acv & olive oil (or coconut oil) & ginger to cover the not-so-pretty odor of henna. The oil is for extra treatment an easier application. I usually prepare the mix in the evening and use it the next morning and keep it on my hair for about 3 hours. Simple but it works (for me anyway..) :)

RedFrizz, have you been blonde or relatively light of color before the henna?

^ Yep, relatively light; I'm naturally ash blonde/light brown with tons of red pigment. I've been hennaing my hair for over a year now and in January 2008 I cut my hair to ear length. So basically all of my hair is now hennaed 'virgin hair'.

Thanks, the color turned out really awesome for you. Something I aspire for myself actually.

RedFrizz, Welcome from another hennaing Finn :flowers: I left you already message in your profile but I though you might not be able to see it before you have 25 posts? We have quite a few fellow Finns here.

BTW you can order BAQ quality henna (and indigo and cassia) from pieni tuoksukauppa (http://www.tuoksukauppa.net/), and all thoug I haven't tried it personally, I've read it's good quality.

This is my hennaed hair:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff117/Radish_photo/IMG_1038.jpg

I've used various henna dyes and now I've found my favourite: 95% sifted Yemeni henna. This gives me exactly the color I've been after: fiery!
Gorgeous colour!
Love your curls, they look so bouncy and the thickness is just...well; wow. :)

I took this picture over the weekend (it's in my album) and it made me very happy seeing the color I've finally acheived as well as the length! (I've been through a very long struggle with henna and I think we're finally friends now!)

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1405&pictureid=25255

RedFrizz, Welcome from another hennaing Finn :flowers: I left you already message in your profile but I though you might not be able to see it before you have 25 posts? We have quite a few fellow Finns here.

BTW you can order BAQ quality henna (and indigo and cassia) from pieni tuoksukauppa (http://www.tuoksukauppa.net/), and all thoug I haven't tried it personally, I've read it's good quality.

Well hello there! I thought there might be a few Finns in here, 'cause we are indeed somewhat hair-crazy people :p And you're quite right, I can't see your message, I'm such a newbie..

I'm familiar with that store you mention and I've actually used the henna it sells many times, but unfortunately I can't recommend it. I don't know is it because of my hair quality or what, but I can't get enough color out of it. Or maybe I'm just a fan of much brighter colors and therefore I didn't get the wow factor..

you can see mine pretty well in my profile pics. I haven't done a henna treatment in a year, so there's not any at the top...the ends are pretty read though! (I have some natural reddish highlights to begin with). The difference shows the most in my updos, where the bun is red but the scalp-hair is pretty brown. :lol

redtea - that's a beautiful color! What was your starting natural color, and what mix/recipe finally yielded these results?

Is there a way you can get a chocolate brown hair color with henna??

I'm no expert by any means but I think it's definitely possible using some indigo in the mix.

Is there a way you can get a chocolate brown hair color with henna??

Check out the buxus/katem (think I'm spelling it wrong) thread, or look on H4H. According to the pics on H4H 1/2 henna and 1/2 (?) buxus is suppose to yield a chocolate brown color.

Thank you very much for your comments :)

ilovelonghair: my hair is originally ash blonde / light brown, with reddish & golden highlits. I have lots of red pigment and I think this keeps my henna from fading (that pic was taken about 4 weeks after my last henna).


There is hope for me :D I have the same kind of hair color. How long did you leave the henna in for? Did you mix it in any special way?

I have to say these pictures, for the most part look amazing. I remember when I was a shampoo girl in a popular salon that a client had Henna red hair (she loved her Henna and did not color her hair any other way) and it felt so coarse and terrible, especially when wet, the actual colour was very vibrant and nice, but the texture was just bad, it was a turn off for sure...

So in all your honest opinions, is your Henna hair soft like the photos show? I am just wondering because I am new to long hair and I do not colour my hair at all now, but I am wondering if Henna could be an option for me in the future...

My texture is probably actually better beacuse since it is stronger I do not get as much breakage. If I do not rinse well enough or my mix is too acidic I can have texture issues for a few days, then it is back to it's usual "glass-like" self.