What does the Chamomile do to the henna color? I think I've read that it makes it golden, but I'm not sure how much of an effect it really has. I'm about to do more test strands (waiting for my samples to come in the mail from H4H) but I don't have enough shed hair to try all the recipies I have in mind. I'm interested in trying this tea for the rinsing-out properties, but worry about the color effects.


I have auburnish brown hair with 5-10% greys. The effect I want is Debra Messing auburn or Irish Setter Red or more orange/red. I want to avoid a cherry color or burgundy, and don't plan to use Indigo. Most of all I want to avoid an unatural-looking color. I plan to do a strand with straight Yemen as I don't have one of those yet. I also may try one with Yemen and cloves to get it a little darker. I also haven't tried Jamila with Cassia. Without pulling more of my hair out I don't know how I'll try all of these strands both with and without Chamomile. I also don't want to use a recipie on my hair that I haven't tried on a test strand.

Any ideas anyone? Does the Chamomile make that much of a difference? What about the cloves? Thanks.

From all reports, the chammomile doesn't make that much of a difference, but if you want red/orange rather than a cooler red I think it's a good idea to add it, as it definitely does add some golden tones that are noticeable when used on its own. In a test strand with henna the difference might not be detectable (as henna is a much stronger dye) but it might be enough to shift the tone in a way you may not notice in all lights. Chammomile is good for your hair, so it certainly can't hurt. I always use it w/ my henna.

I've never used clove w/ henna, so can't really give informed comment....but it seems that those that use it are usually going for the mahogany or burgundy thing.

From all reports, the chammomile doesn't make that much of a difference, but if you want red/orange rather than a cooler red I think it's a good idea to add it, as it definitely does add some golden tones that are noticeable when used on its own.


What's the difference between the red/orange and the cooler red? What about the mohagany/burgundy? I'm still trying to figure out everyone's definition of colors. What some people call auburn I would call "red" hair. Thanks.

Not looking at your hair, but the "cooler" red would have no golden tones, by definition.

I have darker red tones that would qualify as burgandy, which was achieved through a demi-permanent dye (though you don't want that!) :)

I guess what I want are the "warmer" colors then. Would the Jamila or the Yemen bring me a "warmer" color? Or does it matter?

What's the difference between the red/orange and the cooler red? What about the mohagany/burgundy? I'm still trying to figure out everyone's definition of colors. What some people call auburn I would call "red" hair. Thanks.

Cherry and burgundy are cooler reds. The hair color that I've seen some people call mahogany is also, but going by what I see when I look at the actual wood, mahogany to me is a dark orange-red-brown, or a warm auburn.

For a warmer result, what you don't want is too much of a saturation of lawsone, the henna pigment, which after a certain point of its build-up begins to appear cooler-toned. So, use a lower dye content henna, like the henna from Pakistan ( Jamila is Pakistani), and don't leave it on more than 2 hrs. And when you re-henna, do roots-only applications, once your length is the right color.

ETA- I just remembered that you've got grays to cover. To keep the rest of your hair in the warm tones, your grays will have to stay in the bright copper zone. If you henna enough to get your grays auburn, the rest of your hair will go dark burgundy. I like the look of the bright copper strands, but many of the people that henna gray battle against them.

Some people believe that chamomile gives a more "natural color" to the henna.

I used it in my gloss, but then again, I'm a blonde.

Maybe what could help me is if I had some comparisons. Who here has the "warmer" hennas and who here has the "cooler" hennas? I could look at their sig pictures and figure it out from there.

I loved these people's colors: almalthea, Girltron, Toof, Nightshade, and MadHatter. Do they all have a "warm" or "cool" tone, or is it just a mixed bag of great hair?

Cherry and burgundy are cooler reds. The hair color that I've seen some people call mahogany is also, but going by what I see when I look at the actual wood, mahogany to me is a dark orange-red-brown, or a warm auburn.

For a warmer result, what you don't want is too much of a saturation of lawsone, the henna pigment, which after a certain point of its build-up begins to appear cooler-toned. So, use a lower dye content henna, like the henna from Pakistan ( Jamila is Pakistani), and don't leave it on more than 2 hrs. And when you re-henna, do roots-only applications, once your length is the right color.

ETA- I just remembered that you've got grays to cover. To keep the rest of your hair in the warm tones, your grays will have to stay in the bright copper zone. If you henna enough to get your grays auburn, the rest of your hair will go dark burgundy. I like the look of the bright copper strands, but many of the people that henna gray battle against them.



I don't think I'll mind the copper strands. I have a Pakistani test strand, and the color seems dull compared to my Yemen+Cassia test strand. I can't make up my mind if I like the Jamila test strand; it was done without chamomile or cassia. I guess I just need to make up my mind about what color I am going for, more auburn or more orange/red.

Maybe what could help me is if I had some comparisons. Who here has the "warmer" hennas and who here has the "cooler" hennas? I could look at their sig pictures and figure it out from there.

I loved these people's colors: almalthea, Girltron, Toof, Nightshade, and MadHatter. Do they all have a "warm" or "cool" tone, or is it just a mixed bag of great hair?

Everyone you mentioned has warmer tones in their hennaed hair. HTH.

Yeah, chamomile really doesn't do much. It conditions, and maybe it adds some golden tones, but I'm a blond and I've never noticed that it does. Now cassia, that adds golden tones, but if you mix it in with the henna there is a chance you'll get fading at first, but if you repeat the application (or a lighter one) again once it starts to fade, it will cover it pretty well.

Go to the hooked on henna social group--which I think you as a new member can do--and look at the pictures. Hypnotica has a lovely cool-toned red. Toof, although I haven't seen her pics lately, has a warmer red. Girltron's hair always seemed more brownish to me than reddish, or maybe it's auburn. My color is somewhere in the middle, but I can't really classify it myself. I hope I'm more warm toned...Madhatter's signature is my favorite example of warm coppery red, although she's also a real redhead.

I just used chamomile because putting a ton of lemon juice on my hair just sounded like a bad idea, and plain water sounded boring, lol.

I use it! And while chamomile does have a pale golden dye, I don't think it does jack to the henna color. I just love the conditioning benefits :) The lawsone is just too potent. If you're doing a very weak henna gloss with mostly chamomile and just a titch of henna, you may get some golden tones.

ETA: I have to fight to keep my hair "warmer" if I do henna only I get burgundy. I cut my henna by more than half with cassia to keep it coppery and warm :)

Everyone you mentioned has warmer tones in their hennaed hair. HTH.

That helps a lot, thanks! Now I know that what I like best has been consistently warm, and that's what I need to shoot for. Less saturation, roots only; got it! :)

Yeah, chamomile really doesn't do much. It conditions, and maybe it adds some golden tones, but I'm a blond and I've never noticed that it does. Now cassia, that adds golden tones, but if you mix it in with the henna there is a chance you'll get fading at first, but if you repeat the application (or a lighter one) again once it starts to fade, it will cover it pretty well.

Go to the hooked on henna social group--which I think you as a new member can do--and look at the pictures. Hypnotica has a lovely cool-toned red. Toof, although I haven't seen her pics lately, has a warmer red. Girltron's hair always seemed more brownish to me than reddish, or maybe it's auburn. My color is somewhere in the middle, but I can't really classify it myself. I hope I'm more warm toned...Madhatter's signature is my favorite example of warm coppery red, although she's also a real redhead.


I've been trying strands with Cassia. I just can't believe how red henna gets my test strands on my auburn brown hair, even with Cassia!

How do I get to this social group? I don't know if I can get there yet as a newbie. I know I can't see profiles yet. I'll just have to keep posting and asking more questions till I've earned those royal privaledges I guess. Hopefully I'll have picture posting privaledges by the time I henna.

I just used chamomile because putting a ton of lemon juice on my hair just sounded like a bad idea, and plain water sounded boring, lol.



LOL! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of using chamomile just because plain water sounded boring!

I use it! And while chamomile does have a pale golden dye, I don't think it does jack to the henna color. I just love the conditioning benefits :) The lawsone is just too potent. If you're doing a very weak henna gloss with mostly chamomile and just a titch of henna, you may get some golden tones.

ETA: I have to fight to keep my hair "warmer" if I do henna only I get burgundy. I cut my henna by more than half with cassia to keep it coppery and warm :)



Whoohoo, adivce from a hair idol! :happydance:


I have a test strand with your recipie (henna/cassia 50/50 with chamomile) and so far it is my favorite result. I'm off work today and I'm impatiently waiting for the mail to get here with hopes that my samples will come today. I'd like to try a strand with 75%Cassia 25%Yemen Henna, but I'm not sure how much it will do for my brown hair or if it will cover the greys. Wish me happy test stranding.

My henna is here, my henna is here! I feel like a child who has waited for Santa Claus and he has finally come. I'm off to do more test strands!

Whoohoo, adivce from a hair idol! :happydance:


I have a test strand with your recipie (henna/cassia 50/50 with chamomile) and so far it is my favorite result. I'm off work today and I'm impatiently waiting for the mail to get here with hopes that my samples will come today. I'd like to try a strand with 75%Cassia 25%Yemen Henna, but I'm not sure how much it will do for my brown hair or if it will cover the greys. Wish me happy test stranding.

ROFL I am most honored you have me as a hair idol. And props to you for strand testing! If it helps, I found that anything less than 30% henna on brunette hair didn't do much and faded quickly (at least on me).

If it helps, I found that anything less than 30% henna on brunette hair didn't do much and faded quickly (at least on me).

That does help. I won't bother with that test strand then, since I don't have much hair to test.

Two test strands this time:

1. Yemen, chamomile, touch of lemon, cornstarch to gel it, four hours to dye release, four hours on test strand

2. Yemen, chamomile, touch of lemon, cloves, cornstarch to gel it,four hours to dye release, four hours on test strand



That will make a total of 8 test strands this time. Hopefully one of them will make me go "This is it! This is the recipie!"


BTW, how long should I wait for these chamomile flowers to soak? I bought the real deal this time instead of using tea bags. I put four samples in one cup of water. I have no idea how I'm going to strain this. If I go with this I'll have to get one of those tea strainers for loose tea leaves.

Rustella,
The social groups can be found under quick links. Hopefully, you can see them now, or will be able to see them soon.

BTW, how long should I wait for these chamomile flowers to soak? I bought the real deal this time instead of using tea bags. I put four samples in one cup of water. I have no idea how I'm going to strain this. If I go with this I'll have to get one of those tea strainers for loose tea leaves.

I dump mine in recently-boiling water, then cover and let it cool to "just hot enough to poke my finger in without burning myself" and then strain and mix with the henna/cassia. The heat makes dye release come about faster.