This is no fun at all!


Two days ago, I did a root touch-up and my scalp still itches! Mostly in the back and nape though.

I have been massageing my scalp with a dab of SS oil every night and it have been helpful in shooting the itches, but I'm looking for something better. Suggestions?

Brown sugar scrub works for me when I have henna residue on my scalp. I hate scratching orange goobs off my head!

try a good old shampoo:)

I have had this problem majorly so I totally sympathize. I put some lotion on it. If you have anti-itch lotion, that's really good. I had to switch brands of henna because of this problem.

I only get this when its not all washed out.. I normally re-mermaid soak for a bit and then wash and scrubbt eh scalp and use the handheld to rinse well..

I don't mean to be a pain, but are you sure it's the Henna making you itch and not the chemical dye you put in your mix?

If you're sure it's the henna, I find that a nice long CO wash does away with any itchies I have after hennaing.

I don't mean to be a pain, but are you sure it's the Henna making you itch and not the chemical dye you put in your mix?

If you're sure it's the henna, I find that a nice long CO wash does away with any itchies I have after hennaing.

Shouldn't be the dye...I didn't have any reactions to it when I used it soley.

Just wanted to bring this topic back up, as itchiness has been bugging me like crazy lately. Unfortunately, I don't know if it is henna or indigo that is bothering me, as I use a premixed henna.

Anyone made any observations on this lately? Does hot weather have anything to do with it?

I love my henndigo except for the itchiness! (Well, and the smell!) :-)

What was in the mix? If it's a lot of lemon juice or something, maybe it just dried the skin out.

the only time I've gotten mad itchies after henna is if i CO only, and don't shampoo. I'd suggest to shampoo a few times, even with a Shampoo bar if you dont like sulphates, usually takes care of it.

No, I don't use any lemon. Just coffee and a little ACV.

Do you folks shampoo right after hennaing? I usually wait till the next morning...maybe I should shampoo right away?

Some wait but I always shampoo as i'm rinsing out my henna to make sure i have all the mud out. It has never effected my color and feels soooooo much better if i do. I always condition a few times after the shampoo to restore softness.

I only CO it out myself. (And then continue to only CO ever after.) I have experienced no trouble from this, except I might have to add more conditioner and rinse it out like 8 times, lol.

After the first few times, I begin to detangle each time with my wide tooth plastic shower comb which is a light color. The first time of this gets out any chunks that were hiding and being stubborn. The next few times, I keep examining the comb for signs of henna dust. When it comes out completely clean, I usually do one more time anyway for good measure and if that's also clean I trust that it's all out.

Hm, very informative! I always thought it might wash out my color if I shampooed right away!

Henna bonds to the Keratin in the hair shaft, so shampooing (lemon juice, bleach, peroxide........ industrial grade rocket fuel lol) won't budge the color.

Henna bonds to the Keratin in the hair shaft, so shampooing (lemon juice, bleach, peroxide........ industrial grade rocket fuel lol) won't budge the color.

Maybe this is wrong, but I had been under the impression that this takes time. Like, maybe roughly parallel to the oxidation time frame or so.

Once it is bonded, then yeah, the hand of Zeus can barely move it.

(I'm not trying to refute experience of previous posters who shampoo afterwards and have no noticeable change, but I thought maybe both things were true at the same time.)

Maybe this is wrong, but I had been under the impression that this takes time. Like, maybe roughly parallel to the oxidation time frame or so.

Once it is bonded, then yeah, the hand of Zeus can barely move it.

(I'm not trying to refute experience of previous posters who shampoo afterwards and have no noticeable change, but I thought maybe both things were true at the same time.)

I'm glad you said that, because I am paranoid of washing the henna COMPLETELY out too. I think it's because on the H4H site with mixes, I had seen some very saturated desireable reds where the people had said they didn't wash it squeaky clean. Also, I thought my henna came out brighter and felt better when I didn't apply a conditioner (which of course at the time had sulfates and cones in it) while or right after rinsing out henna. Could be other factors, of course...

Back when I used lemon juice, I used to have this problem. Then I learned lemon may inhibit the dye. I don't use lemon anymore, and I stoppedhaving the problem.

Back when I used lemon juice, I used to have this problem. Then I learned lemon may inhibit the dye. I don't use lemon anymore, and I stoppedhaving the problem.

Oh, come on, seriously??? That's really the straw to break the camel's back, what with a whole thread on why not to use lemon, plus what you just said. I'm never putting lemon juice in my mix again. This is crazy! But you know, I'm SO glad I joined this forum and can start taking care of my hair properly. You guys are fantastic.

My scalp sometimes itches after I henna because it leaves a little residue on my hair and scalp. It clears up after the first wash, which I do two or three days later. I like to wait for some oxidation before I shampoo. I CO the henna mud out of my hair and that gets most of it out very nicely. I use very little conditoner because I keep my mix the consistency of pudding. It rinses quickly and cleanly. I'm also lucky to have a laundry sink to do this in. ;)