SoI just tried my second attempt at henna. I am really scared to try the *real* stuff, so the first time I tried the Colora Henna powder in ash brown, and this time Rainbow henna in dark brown. The colora produced no color change, and if any a more yellow-golden color on my new growths close to my scalp. I wasn't too bummed out because it did make it shiney, and it was cheap. I really want my hair to be a darker, more ashy brown, so I tried the Rainbow dark brown this morning, and unfortunatly produced no color change either. It may be very very slightly darker, but not anything noticable.
I wonder if I did something wrong or if the quaility of the henna is just not that good.
This time I mixed half the jar (1/2 C) with 1/2 cup strong black coffee and 1 TBS apple cider vinegar, it was really thick so I added a little more coffee but not much. I thought it would be easier to apply if it were a little thinner, but I really have no idea. I shampooed with very diluted shampoo and applied the henna to my damp hair, it is really hard and messy, but I used my hands and a highlighting brush. I put a shower cap on and my heat cap and let sit for a little over an hour.
So what did I do wrong? Or are can anyone make recommendations or how to make the application easier/more effective?

Hi-
I always used the whole jar and put it in a squeeze bottle for
easier application.
If it was close to your own color you won't notice much color
difference the first few times.
However, if you keep using it you will notice color build-up
especially in sunlight.

did you let it sit and wait for dye release? if its got real henna in it it needs to sit in a warm place for like 4-8 hours before you apply it to your head.. if you dont let henna sit you wont get any color change.. but im not sure if the brand you used is real henna

I let it sit for little over an hour before using. Should it be chunky and grainy like mud, or should it get smoother?
The squeeze bottle is a good idea. I think I will mix the rest up and let it sit over night and apply tomorrow.

I've read it's better to apply to dry hair.

I let it sit for little over an hour before using. Should it be chunky and grainy like mud, or should it get smoother?
The squeeze bottle is a good idea. I think I will mix the rest up and let it sit over night and apply tomorrow.

Good henna (read BAQ) should be ground and sifted so fine that when it's mixed up it's nearly like a gel. The fact that this is chunky and grainy is telling me that the sift isn't that good. Big chunks= less dye release than something ground small enough to better down the cell walls more.

The other problem with brands like Rainbow is that you have no idea how long that's been on the store shelves. And even if it does have a "use by" date, it hasn't been stored properly (as henna/indigo/cassia powder should be kept in the fridge or the freezer depending), which can shorten the life of any dye in there.

Also, acid can actually inhibit henna and other natural dyes in excess, so you may have done more harm than good with the double whammy of ACV and coffee.

Most times with henna you can and should use warm tea (chamomile and hibiscus are both good natural hair conditioners) or just straight warm water.

What did the instructions recommend?

Here are the results
Before: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/hair/April003.jpg
After: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/008.jpg
It actually recommended using coffee, and acv, and to add to the powder when boiling.

Good henna (read BAQ) should be ground and sifted so fine that when it's mixed up it's nearly like a gel. The fact that this is chunky and grainy is telling me that the sift isn't that good. Big chunks= less dye release than something ground small enough to better down the cell walls more.
.
your henna is like gel? mine is like pudding.. its superfine ground and gets all gooey puddingy when i mix it with hot water.. i get good dye release in less than 3 hours.. and i only need to have it on my head for less than one hour..

your henna is like gel? mine is like pudding.. its superfine ground and gets all gooey puddingy when i mix it with hot water.. i get good dye release in less than 3 hours.. and i only need to have it on my head for less than one hour..


I always mix mine to "brownie batter" and haven't had a problem

your henna is like gel? mine is like pudding.. its superfine ground and gets all gooey puddingy when i mix it with hot water.. i get good dye release in less than 3 hours.. and i only need to have it on my head for less than one hour..

Mine is more like gel, but pudding wouldn't be far off. I get awesome dye release after 4 hours with it covered and on the food dehydrator and then leave it on for 3, but part of that is I dilute my henna with cassia and it needs longer to stain.

I always mix mine to "brownie batter" and haven't had a problem

Do you apply to dry or wet hair? I apply mine to towel died.


themostsilly- Perhaps trying it with just water? Coffee and ACV are both acidic which makes the cuticle of the hair lay tighter, which may inhibit dye uptake. A follow up rinse with ACV would help keep the color, though.

Other idea- you could try washing your hair with babyshampoo first to help lift the cuticle of your hair a bit and allow more dye to grab.

Probably the color is very close to your hair color or the henna is old, dead. I have had some henna which gave no color whatsoever:rolleyes:...got it from some indian store nearby. Also maybe u might want to leave it on for a little bit longer & see how it goes.

Also, acid can actually inhibit henna and other natural dyes in excess, so you may have done more harm than good with the double whammy of ACV and coffee.


Being dark brown "henna", the mix likely contained indigo, and acid kills indigo, or rather kills its dye. Indigo also should be applied right after mixing; the dye gradually stains less and less after mixing, and is practically dead after an hour.

I agree that the degree of acidity in the mix was probably too much even for the henna....coffee is quite acidic and no additional acid should be used with it.

If you have more of the powder left, I'd try mixing it with hot tap-water (hard water would be fine, indigo likes alkalinity), nothing else, and applying it ASAP. That's the way indigo is done, and since you want more of an ash tone the indigo's action is more important than the henna's (the mix likely contains both). You won't go black; since it's a brown mix it probably isn't a very high concentration of indigo. But you may want to do a strand test if you don't want to go dark brown. HTH.

ETA-Rainbow gives the same instructions and suggestions for ingredients to add for every color, which makes no sense, as different herbal colorings have different usage requirements. Of course, they are pretending that every color is pure henna which is impossible. From my experience (and that of others), I think that their colors are all herbal though, with no harmful chemicals.

I think that Rainbow is rather unquantifiable until we see an ingredient list from them, which I have yet to see.

Hi themostsilly,

Sounds like you prepared your Rainbow henna just the way that I do. Although, the first time that I apply it, I use the whole jar. Especially since you have really nice length, you should use all of it. Then just half a jar for root touchups. The consistency that I use is like pudding.

But - I don't let it set before I use it, I use it immediately after mixing in the coffee and ACV. Oh, and I shampoo really well right before (especially the grays at my temples, because they are stubborn, and I found that if my hair is oily, the henna doesn't take as well).I apply the henna to wet hair. I usually leave it on my hair for an hour and a half.

If the henna is a really nice consistency, it will be easier to apply. Not too dry but not too runny! :-)

Hi all,
I used Rainbow brand for nearly 2 years.
It comes in a fine powder and if you follow the instructions
exactly it is a little thick.
I always added a little more water or coffee
and the ACV is suggested to help grab onto grays
which I also used.
I always had great coverage. I was just trying to match
my own color and just cover up the gray.

I did however apply to full length everytime and that caused
color build-up- (burgundy/eggplant) over time.
When I came here and H4H looking for removal methods, I
managed to remove the "brown" and was left with super
red "Irish Setter" hair.
Which I finally cut off.

I am also unable to use dyes as i'm very allergic to them.
There is no way I could have used this product for nearly
2 years if it contained dye and not have ended up in the ER.

So based on that and the fact that it acted just like BAQ henna
in trying to remove, it is my opinion that it is actual henna with
herbs added for different tones.

Also the instructions suggest different liquids depending on the color
you're using. Such as: coffee for dk.& med. browns, reg. tea for lt. brown,
red teas for the red shades & chamomile for the blonde shades.

If I didn't end up with the build-up, i'd probably still be using it today.
So remember to just do your roots when you reach the shade you love.

Good Luck!

Silver Strands, I agree completely. I am extremely sensitive to chemicals and I have used Rainbow for about a year with no problems. I also made the mistake of doing full-length every time, which also got too dark for me too (almost black). Now I am doing roots only (to cover up grays) and honey lightening.

Silver Strands, did you use yours immediately after mixing? I always do, and it works great.

Also, just to add, I don't think that there is indigo in the Dark Brown. I bleached some test strands, and they just bleached like regular henna'ed hair, they didn't turn green/blue like indigo'ed hair.

Also, just to add, I don't think that there is indigo in the Dark Brown. I bleached some test strands, and they just bleached like regular henna'ed hair, they didn't turn green/blue like indigo'ed hair.

The mix still might contain indigo, as mixing it with the acid fluids (coffee, ACV) would have inactivated it, so *your hair* would not have been affected by it, and therefore wouldn't react to bleach like indigoed hair.

Silver Strands, did you use yours immediately after mixing? I always do, and it works great.



Yes, I used it almost immediately except one time I
got called away for a few hours.
When I got back I didn't think it would work but it actually
took hold much better giving a deeper tint.

I also did it with dry hair (clean) and it took better then also.

I think that Rainbow is rather unquantifiable until we see an ingredient list from them, which I have yet to see.

They do actually have ingredients lists on the jar, but they just say things like "neutral henna", "black henna" (which we know aren't actual plants) etc.

I'm really not so alarmed by this, though. The herbs that can be mixed with henna to produce different colors were and are traditionally referred to by these common (rather than botanical) names, like "black henna" for indigo, etc. It's only recently that this has been challenged, and Rainbow has been around a loooong time.

I realize that there are bad chemicals out there in certain brands, but in my experience they're pretty easy to recognize/smell.

I use BAQ now, but used Rainbow years ago on dyed hair (no problems), and later, out of laziness, went back to dyes with ammonia and peroxide, which I applied over Rainbow-hennaed hair with no problem. I had used a bunch of different Rainbow colors, too. Others have had the same experience.

Actually, I'm using a Rainbow product again, I just remembered! I use their Marigold blonde (to mix with my real henna), it's ingredients list is "neutral henna, chammomile, calendula" and it looks, smells and acts just like cassia with those added herbs.

Okay so it would be okay to mix it now, and use it later? I think I will just try it this time with water only. I have some darjeeling tea, would that be okay to use also?

Maybe dark brown is too close to my color, and I need something darker, all I know is I like a very dark brown, and my hair is not it. Thanks for all the advice

Okay so it would be okay to mix it now, and use it later? I think I will just try it this time with water only. I have some darjeeling tea, would that be okay to use also?

Tea is acidic also; I'd try it without anything acidic this time....just water. I'd also apply immediately after mixing, to give the indigo that may be in it a chance to work...indigo dyes most strongly immediately after mixing, and goes downhill from there. Even if it doesn't contain indigo, applying immediately is unlikely to hurt...a lot of people (including myself) apply regular henna immediately. You waited to apply before, and did not get results. HTH.

I would say use it immediately. I've never let it sit out.

Also try leaving it on for an hour and a half and using the full jar, I think you will notice more color that way. I've been doing the Dark Brown for a few months now on full-length and it really is almost black now:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=423&pictureid=10818

I can't remember if they carry "black", but I occasionally
bought med. brown and lt. brown and mixed the 2 together
in a large bowl and then put the mixed powder back in the
2 containers and used them like that.(one for each use)

So that could be an option also if you wanted something a
little darker.

Do remember to not use any metal during any stage.

Well I just mixed the other half, with just water, and 2 tbs of olive oil, and let cool for only like 10-20 minutes. I made it a little thinner, and put it in a squeeze bottle. I liked this application method better, but now it is a little drippy. I have it sitting on now, and it looks really dark green, whereas with the coffee it looked very dark brown. I am going to leave it on about 2 hours this time. I am also going to but my heat cap on for at least 30 minutes. Hopefully I get a little darker. I hope it doesn't turn my hair green :S Thanks for all the adivce and support.

Okay I just rinsed out, wet it looks like it may be a little darker. I will take a pic in the morning when it is dry. Overall I am happy with the process b/c more than anything I am happy knowing I didn't use any harsh chemicals and the natural ingredents are good for my hair. I hope it looks darker, I can tell it did not tone done any of the red/brassiness but I am working on being happy with what I've got. I am worried though about the upkeep, but we'll see how that goes, I am hoping it will blend well with my roots. Pictures to come tomorrow.

Looking forward to the pics!

I just took the 2nd pic I let my hair dry over night in a bun so thats why its so wavy. Also it still feels oily, I guess from the olive oil, so I am sure it will lighten up a little after a shampoo or two. I will take another pic tomorrow after a shampoo and natural dry. It is definetly darker though-hooray!

Before/After 1: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/008.jpg
After 2: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/001.jpg

Ah, success- it definitely looks dark brown now! Your new color is very pretty, although your natural color was lovely as well. :)

I'm curious also if the oil is going to lift some out.
Let us know.

Wow, nice! Your hair looks beautiful. Hopefully the oil didn't affect the color's stability too much!

That's a lovely sable color!

I appreciate this thread! Have been on the fence about using Rainbow, but now I think I'll give it a try. Orange cast of henna doesn't do much for me.

themostsilly: Your hair color is pretty. Before and after
Mellie: You have tried highlights with the brown Rainbow?

Thanks!

Hi Anksa Na,

Re: highlights; I have done honey lightening on it, and it's worked very well!

I appreciate this thread! Have been on the fence about using Rainbow, but now I think I'll give it a try. Orange cast of henna doesn't do much for me.



Thanks!

I'd say there would still be a risk of orange w/Rainbow; all of their colors except the black, neutral, and the non-strawberry blondes seem to have actual henna in them. Mellie doesn't get orange; whatever darkening, cooling herb (indigo or whatever) is in the dk. brown doesn't fade on her, but it may well on others.
Not trying to be negative, but I don't want you to end up with an orange cast (as you don't care for it; I love it myself!)

I shampood my hair last night, (I used Avalon Organics Nourshing shampoo for the first time) and when I did the suds were a bluish tint, so I thought most of the color didn't take. I put in bun over night and took the last pic this morning when dry. I think some of the color lifted out, but not much b/c to me it still looks darker. I added the olive oil b/c I felt bad that I had been putting my hair through so much just to get a color I was happy with, and it suggested it on the instructions for dry hair. If and when I do it agian, I will just use water. Thanks for all the compliments, and suggestions!!

1st attempt: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/008.jpg
2nd attempt: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/001.jpg
Shampoo after 2nd attempt: http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/themostsilly/003.jpg

Overall I am still happy even if I didn't get too much of a color change. I will wait till fall, and try agian, if I can wait that long. I don't mind if there isn't too much color change cause as least my hair isn't ruined by chemical dye. It left my hair soft, full, and shiney, so not really any complaints. But for the next time does any one know a local retailer that carries Rainbow in my part of the country? I ordered from amazon last time which is fine but I hate wait , and I would like to avoid shipping if I can.

The suds being blue confirms my belief that the Rainbow browns do contain indigo, despite what the company claims.

Do you have any health or natural food stores in your area? They usually carry Rainbow; if they don't they generally carry Light Mountain brand (which also has a range of colors, and more honest/informative ingredients listing...) which is comparable to if not better than Rainbow, in my experience (years ago, I use pure Pakistani henna now.)

Themostsilly: You can re-apply henna anytime, you don't have to wait till Fall if you don't want to! It is good for your hair.

And to concur with Velouria, yes, I get mine at the local health food store/herb store.

Re: indigo in Rainbow; I wonder about if it has indigo too; but when I was curious about bleaching my hair, I picked up a Revlon highlighting kit at the store and bleached some test strands. As per the directions, I checked it every so often to see how it was coming. After about an hour and half (if I remember right), it lightened to a copper color, but there was no blue or green. Don't most people have blue/green issues when bleaching indigo'ed hair? So that makes me think that there isn't indigo in it, or maybe not enough to cause the blue/green bleaching issue?

Themostsilly:

Re: indigo in Rainbow; I wonder about if it has indigo too; but when I was curious about bleaching my hair, I picked up a Revlon highlighting kit at the store and bleached some test strands. As per the directions, I checked it every so often to see how it was coming. After about an hour and half (if I remember right), it lightened to a copper color, but there was no blue or green. Don't most people have blue/green issues when bleaching indigo'ed hair? So that makes me think that there isn't indigo in it, or maybe not enough to cause the blue/green bleaching issue?

I think I remember reading before that indigo doesn't always turn green when bleached, and also that the green usually doesn't show up until the yellow stage of the bleaching is reached, because yellow+blue=green, whereas orange+ blue=brownish. So, if I'm right, as you only bleached to copper,the no green result makes sense. Did the copper-bleached hair by any chance look drabber and less brassy than bleached-orange generally does? If so, that would be an indigo effect.

Hm, it is hard to say if it looked any drabber - possibly it did. All I remember is being disappointed that I couldn't get platinum blonde! :-)