Cassia Rocks!

[veganstein]

OK. As a total newbie, the cassia thread was somewhat overwhelming. So many recipes, so much info!

So after poring through the cassia thread and repeated experiments, here is a simple cassia recipe that has added thickness and shine to my hair.
This is enough to do waist length, coarse red hair.

cassia = one cup
fenugreek = 1/4 cup
strong catnip tea

Combine ingredients, enough tea to make a runny batter. Let sit for 2 hours. Pack onto head. Cover, let sit on head for as long as I can stand the weight.

Use cheapo conditioner to rinse out mud. Finger-comb, air dry.

Receive compliments on thick, glossy hair.

[Sooze]

So pleased that you've tried this and had such great results. :)

[veganstein]

I am happy to say this treatment adds 1/2 inch of thickness to my ponytail, and seems to work better every time I use it!:)

[tinywife]

Wow! I would love some more thickness and shine. Maybe this is an ignorant question, but does it change the color at all? And can I use henna (for red or black) after doing this?

[veganstein]

Letting the cassia dye-release makes my white hairs golden. It doesn't last more than a month, but it helps blend them into the red hair.

I am sorry, I don't know about henna, I have been too chicken to try!

[Alvrodul]

Cassia can certainly be used with henna! If you don't want to go too red - because you are trying it out, or because you simply want a red-gold color and not the rich red of most hennas, you can mix cassia and henna. There are lots of examples of various mixes here (http://www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/index.html).

But I absolutely recommend that before you start playing around with henna, that you thoroughly research it - because henna is permanent!
And before you try to put anything on your hair - strand test, strand test and strand test on hair gathered from your hairbrush.
And if you are in doubt - try another round of strand testing.

Personally, I am delighted with the way my hair looks and feels with henna - I have become a true devotee of Lawsonia Inermis. But it is not for everybody.

[smcm1232]

Who doesn't love thicker hair! :)

[CarpeDM]

Does anyone know:
1) how long you let cassia sit in order to cover up some grays?
2) what the ratio of cassia to let's say chamomile or catnip tea is (my hair is currently two inches away from BSL with a ponytail circumference of 2.75)?

[Rebecka_N]

Great recipe! :D Gonna give it a try but do it with henna instead.

[smcm1232]

looked up Fenugreek: Fenugreek is used to flavor artificial maple syrup, and is used as a common food ingredient (curries, chutneys, etc.) and traditional medicine in many parts of the world, including India, Greece, China, north Africa and the Middle East. It is a basic ingredient of curry powder (often used in Indian cooking) and the Five Spice mixtures (used in Asian cooking). It is also eaten as a salad and sprouted. Guess in a pinch can use one of these lol :p

[Annalouise]

Hi, so do you think the fenugreek makes the cassia less drying then plain cassia because I've heard some people complain of dry hair after using cassia? I guess the catnip is moisturizing too.

It looks like a great recipe and I'll try it when I have the ingredients.:) Thanks for sharing.

[smcm1232]

Never used those myself hopefully someone chimes in would be good to know

[Henrietta]

Congrats on your results and thank you for sharing the recipe! I like the last sentence;)

[Sigrida]

This seems like another great thing to try! - just after I get some fenugreek and catnip tea :)

Anyone had similar experience with adding thickness?
I have read about honey - cassia treatment in some other thread, which adds lots of volume as well...