Cassia Mixture Q

[AspenSong]

I did a cassia treatment on my hair for shine, etc a few months ago - Didn't notice much of a difference at the time. =/
I'm considering giving it another go and I've got an odd question. I was currently thinking of how twiggy the cassia I got last time was and how really horrid it was to wash out of my superfine hair because the bits just got sooo tangled (I used two bottles of VO5 condish to get it out) and I had a thought - Could I mix the cassia up in small bunches and super whip it in my blender to see if I could break down any of the bits more? Or is just completely nutty and not worth my trouble? =/
I'm just thinking of giving this a try to see if I can do something to boost my "hair love" because I've been really struggling with not cutting it lately since I just feel like it's so blah. =/

I'm just wondering about that and whether I should do straight cassia (I've already got some gold tones on my ends that I'm not crazy about and I don't want the cassia to "brighten" them any really) or if I could add anything else to possibly help tone down those golds I don't love in my hair and darken them a bit to more the rest of my natural color (ashy dark blonde/brown)

[yotaka]

Perhaps you could use a coffee grinder to break up the twiggy bits in the powder while it's still dry. Or even better put the cassia powder through a sift so the powder passes through but the twigs get trapped.You can also add just the smallest amount of henna, like only a tsp, to help the cassia out with conditioning and giving your hair extra luster.

Best idea, in my estimation, would even be a cassia/henna gloss to help give you the extra "hair love" factor you're looking for. Hope your second app goes better for you. Before I hennaed for the first time I experimented on my natural blonde hair with cassia by itself and didn't like it at all. I only liked it when I used it with henna.

[christine1989]

I would use a spice grinder or coffee grinder if you have one because that will get the cassia to the powder consistency you want. You could also add a bit of oil to the cassia to reduce the drying effect it has on many people. I would give it a few trys though since many here on LHC have reported that they need a few applications in order to see results.

[GRU]

I agree with sifting it.

Also, did you do a mermaid soak to get the mud out, or did you just try to wash it out in the shower? I always thought that mermaid soaks sounded like too much trouble/mess, but they get the grit out SOOOOO much better / faster / easier!

I did a cassia/henna tonight, and I did three mermaid rinses followed by one CO-wash in the shower and I got it all. Since the first time I tried a mermaid rinse, it's the ONLY way I've rinsed out my mud!

[AspenSong]

All good help so far!

Yes - I did soak it like that to get it out...Just still was so hard to get out. Like I said, I blame my superfine, seemingly easily broken at times, hair. =/ Hopefully if the powder is a bit finer or I sift out the bigger chunks better, it'll go a bit smoother.

I just want the shine/conditioning-thickening mostly. I've spent nearly 3 years growing out my hair to where there's no dye in it, and I guess I'm just scared to add henna, etc...because I'm so worried about altering the color - unless it's darkening up the wee bit of lighter ends - or unless it's just adding an OOMPH to my color. :)

[GRU]

I add fenugreek powder to my mix -- it gives it more of a "mucus" feel to it and I think it makes it slip out of your hair easier. Maybe give that a try next time? Oh, and fenugreek smells exactly like maple syrup. Kinda throws you if you're not expecting it the first time you open up the package! :lol:

I've also heard that adding sugar makes it creamier -- that might be worth a try as well.

[yotaka]

All good help so far!
I just want the shine/conditioning-thickening mostly. I've spent nearly 3 years growing out my hair to where there's no dye in it, and I guess I'm just scared to add henna, etc...because I'm so worried about altering the color - unless it's darkening up the wee bit of lighter ends - or unless it's just adding an OOMPH to my color. :)

If you only add a teaspoon of henna to the cassia, with at least 100g of cassia, it won't change your color much at all if any. It will just help give extra luster. But I understand if you're scared, it might be better for you to start with other treatments until you get more comfortable and experienced with trying stuff. Remember, you can always strand test to make sure it won't change your color. ;)

[AspenSong]

@GRU - Thanks! I'll keep those in mind! I mean um, anything that smells like Maple syrup is good with me! lol

@Yotaka - True. :) I think my main thing, is I don't want my color to change enough that if I decide not to do it for a few months or whatnot, that I have visible roots at all. Trust me, if I hadn't been through my dye years and fought so hard to get to natural....I would be first in line to try to hennadigo my hair to some lush, burgandy color like all the ones I see in the henna thread and totally love! :)

[Vercelli]

AspenSong I would also suggest to add sugar to the mix as it makes the paste smoothier and easier to apply. To wash the stuff out I use lots of conditioner.
I have brown hair so don't see any changes in colour after the henna gloss treatment. But my hair feels worlds better and is shinier. I mainly do cassia to preserve my ends which are quite thinned out and to prevent split ends. I usually mix half a pack (yes, that's enough for my head) Khadi Cassia, add some coconut and jojoba oil, two table spoons of sugar, water - and almost half a bottle of any cone and parabene free conditioner. This helps to prevent dryness and makes the washing part much easier. Sometimes I also add camomile and/or black tea (but this will make your hair slightly darker!) instead of water. Maybe you should experiment a bit to find your ideal mixture but in any case adding sugar helps to get a smoothy paste and that also applies to any henna mixture.

[AspenSong]

Thanks again all! :)

I'm considering getting a jar of the cassia (Rainbow brand) and a jar of the henna - mix a small amount of the henna with the cassia, sift it out...add either filtered water or some kind of tea (I have prob 20 kinds in my cabinet! Was thinking a darker one, as most my hair but my ends are already dark), coconut oil and my VO5 condish.
Now, as I'm going for mostly shine, do you guys suggest I let the mixture sit for a bit, or spread it directly on? And I was thinking leaving it on for a couple hours or so - thoughts on that? Longer, shorter? I figure you all are more versed in this than I!

[AspenSong]

Ok, I went and got two jars of the Rainbow "Neutral" henna -Cassia, and a jar of the "red" henna.
I figure I'll start this whole thing in the morning (unless it's okay for me to mix it tonight and let it sit?) and do it....Leave it in for a couple hours or so (more...less...I'm not sure yet).
Think I'm going to mix it with water or tea, coconut oil, my conditioner and the sugar......then pray for the best! lol

[Vercelli]

Yes, good luck!:)

[yotaka]

Good luck! Hope it works out for you. Sounds like you have found a pretty good idea of what you should do.