Honey thread - from TBB and bits from old LHC

[ktani]

The colours of honey

Note: Not all darker honeys have higher peroxide values, e.g. chestnut honey and not all honeys are represented here. Avoid using Anzer, buckwheat, chestnut, linden flower, locust flower, mint and thyme honeys.
Honey, regardless of its colour, has not been reported to add colour to hair when used in a honey lightening recipe.

[ktani]

Outside of Finland, to duplicate Fethenwen's recipe, (Fethenwen, after 2 treatments, using cardamom essential oil , 1 tsp powdered cinnamon and distilled water, using the new dilution on 2 years of hennaed hair (the last 6 months, doing roots only)
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...postcount=3528, another picture of the new hair colour, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...postcount=3553, recipe details http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...postcount=3538, method details
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...postcount=3540), I suggest these options.

1. The best honey one can find for honey lightening. (Suggestions; Jarrah honey, Ambrosia Honey Co. honey, Naturally Preferred Fireweed honey available at Fred Meyer and Kroger stores). If a particular brand is unavailable, look for a dark coloured honey blend where you are, create your own blend, refer to this list, or try a honeydew honey. Avoid using Anzer, buckwheat, chestnut, linden flower, locust flower, mint and thyme honeys.

2. The essential oil used was pure essential oil of cardamom, not an extract which is diluted and usually contains alcohol.

3. A pure evoo (it will have a higher peroxide value than a blend of evoo and refined olive oil)

4. Distilled water

5. powdered cinnamon

[ljkforu]

Happy results!

I accidentally used brown henna on FUNK2LOPEZ's light brown hair in a cassia 6 g /henna 6 g gloss that used a whole bottle of conefree conditioner (Sauve).

It turned out a little too brown so I used honey lightening:

Fireweed 4 fluid oz
filtered water 16 fluid oz
1 tablespoon each ground cinamon and cardamom
(I accidentally forgot the evoo)

I mixed it up and let it sit an hour then she applied and left on for 1 1/2 hours. It worked great. It lifted the brown and left her with the golden strawberry we were after and her hair is really silky and over 40 inches long.

I had her wash with a regular shampoo and then several times with V05 vanilla mint to get all the grit out. I had her rinse with a cold vit C rinse 1/4 tsp to 20 oz because her water has made my hair crunchy before (she didn't get the crunchies).

She will post photos as soon as she can get rights

[ktani]

Happy results!

I accidentally used brown henna on FUNK2LOPEZ's light brown hair in a cassia 6 g /henna 6 g gloss that used a whole bottle of conefree conditioner (Sauve).

It turned out a little too brown so I used honey lightening:

Fireweed 4 fluid oz
filtered water 16 fluid oz
1 tablespoon each ground cinamon and cardamom
(I accidentally forgot the evoo)

I mixed it up and let it sit an hour then she applied and left on for 1 1/2 hours. It worked great. It lifted the brown and left her with the golden strawberry we were after and her hair is really silky and over 40 inches long.

I had her wash with a regular shampoo and then several times with V05 vanilla mint to get all the grit out. I had her rinse with a cold vit C rinse 1/4 tsp to 20 oz because her water has made my hair crunchy before (she didn't get the crunchies).

She will post photos as soon as she can get rights

Wonderful! Thank you so much for reporting and for all for the details. As soon as the pictures are posted I will add this post and that, to the pictures posts. You have great water, the perfect recipe (even without the evoo) for it and the honey you used (fireweed), which is a great honey for honey lightening, based on reports!

If the henna was freshly done though, some of it may have washed out a bit and lightened without honey lightening. Unbound henna washes out pretty easily, as I understand it.

[ktani]

The Vitamin C content of selected ingredients, (as well as the mineral and protein content inside the links).

Aloe vera gel, about 350 mg per 8 oz or 240 ml or 1 cup
http://www.aloeveracanada.ca/about_av.html

Black Pepper, 1.3 mg in 1 tbsp or 6 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c203E.html

Cardamom, ground, 1.2 mg - in 1 tbsp or 6 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c202q.html

Chamomile tea, brewed, 0 Vitamin C
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c212q.html

Cinnamon, ground (cassia), .3 mg in 1tbsp or 8 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c202u.html

Coconut cream, canned sweetened, 0 Vitamin C
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20oC.html

Coconut cream, raw, 6.7 mg in 1 cup or 240 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20oB.html

Coconut meat, dried, creamed, 0.4 mg or in 1 ounce or 28 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20oo.html

Coconut milk, canned, 2.3 mg in 1 cup or 226 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20oE.html

Coconut milk, raw, 6.7 mg in 1 cup or 240 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20oD.html

Coconut oil - 0 Vitamin C
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c208C.html

Extra virgin olive oil, 0 Vitamin C
http://www.edenfoods.com/store/nlea....ucts_id=104340

Lemon juice, canned or bottled, 60.5 mg in 1 cup or 244 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20VH.html

Lemon juice, frozen unsweetened, single strength, 76.9 mg in 1 cup or 244 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20VI.html

Lemon juice, raw, 112 mg in 1 cup or 244 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20VG.html

Nutmeg, ground, 0 Vitamin C
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c2039.html

Orange juice, canned, unsweetened, 85.7 mg in 1 cup or 249 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Vo.html

Orange juice, chilled, includes from concentrate, 81.9 mg in 1 cup or 249 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Vp.html

Orange juice, frozen concentrate, unsweetened, diluted with 3 volume water, 96.9 mg in 1 cup or 249 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Vr.html

Orange juice, frozen concentrate, unsweetened, undiluted, 393 mg in 1 cup or 284 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Vq.html

Orange juice, raw, 124 mg in 1 cup or 248 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Vn.html

Tomato juice, canned with salt added, 44.5 mg in 1 cup or 243 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20hM.html

Tomato juice, canned without salt added, 44.5 mg in 1 cup or 243 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20li.html

Tomato paste, with salt added, 28.7 mg in 1/2 cup or 131 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20lj.html

Tomato paste, without salt added, 57.4 mg in 1 cup or 262 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20hN.html

Tomato sauce, canned, 17.2 mg in 1 cup or 245 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20hQ.html

Tomatoes, canned, crushed, 2.6 mg in 1 ounce or 28 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20ik.html

Turmeric, ground, 1.7 mg in 1 tbsp or 7 g
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c203Q.html

Nutrition facts per serving - Vitamin C content - these are American statistics - these numbers may help explain certain results apart from the natural peroxide level of the honey used in a lightening recipe. Vitamin C depletes the peroxide level of a honey lightening recipe.

I have included the 5 spices; black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and turmeric, with the highest peroxide values, on this list.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=KZa8...Ot2tkeW4&hl=en

Minerals can decompose hydrogen peroxide - in the links from Nutrition Facts, you will also find the mineral content for each item. The primary metals that can affect peroxide are iron, manganese, copper, nickel and chromium.

[ljkforu]

Ktani, the henna I accidentally used was Catherine's. It was a generic brown henna (I meant to use pure red). It could have had either PPD or Indigo in it, I don't know which. It appeared to permanently give a browner cast to her light brown hair and it wasn't coming out with time. It was very shocking because I used such a small amount of Cassia O. and Henna per conditioner amount and in 1 1/2 hours I had to send her running to the shower to get it off. This kind of makes me think I had a hold of a non pure henna.

The honey lightening fixed the problem whether it was indigo or PPD, it removed it and left the light red of the henna behind like we desired. Her end result is light golden/strawberry brown like it was supposed to be and it is highly reflective from all the honey.

[ktani]

Ktani, the henna I accidentally used was Catherine's. It was a generic brown henna (I meant to use pure red). It could have had either PPD or Indigo in it, I don't know which. It appeared to permanently give a browner cast to her light brown hair and it wasn't coming out with time. It was very shocking because I used such a small amount of Cassia O. and Henna per conditioner amount and in 1 1/2 hours I had to send her running to the shower to get it off. This kind of makes me think I had a hold of a non pure henna.

The honey lightening fixed the problem whether it was indigo or PPD, it removed it and left the light red of the henna behind like we desired. Her end result is light golden/strawberry brown like it was supposed to be and it is highly reflective from all the honey.

I cannot comment on what it may have been but I am very glad that the honey lightening worked and that you are both happy with the results. I would be very surprised if the henna from that source had PPD in it though.

[ktani]

A Comprehensive Summary of the Newest Honey Lightening Recommendations.

These recommendations are based on accredited research and successful honey lightening reports in this thread. Patch test any ingredient not previously used on the scalp or skin.

1. The new dilution is 4 x the amount of water to honey, calculated by weight. It is now the recommended dilution to be used for honey lightening. The minimum amount of honey to be used is 10 grams. Here is a honey conversion link. 10 grams of honey would need 40 grams of distilled water. You can convert to ml, oz, tablespoons or cups. 2 tablespoons (1/8 cup or 1.5 oz) honey needs 6 oz distilled water or 3/4 cup US (1/2 cup Metric) or 12 tablespoons distilled water. Another way to use the new dilution is to just use tablespoons, 1 tablespoon of honey to 6 tablespoons distilled water, 2 to 12 etc. It works out to be the same as calculating by weight.

According to reports posted in this thread, better results were achieved with the new dilution in 1 hour, than with repeated treatments using other dilutions. Different honeys produce different levels of peroxide. Here is the Successful Honeys List.
If one cannot be found - try a dark coloured honey blend - raw or pasteurized - both have been reported to work equally well. Dark coloured blends were reported in research, to have higher peroxide levels than lighter coloured blends. A dark coloured, single source honey, does not necessarily have a high peroxide value - it depends on the plant source.

2. Distilled water is recommended to be used for honey lightening in place of plain water. It is a better choice, for getting the best results from a honey lightening recipe because of its pH (7) and hydrogen peroxide can decompose in contact with certain minerals. More information on distilled water can be found here.

3. The honey lightening boosters - ingredients that add extra peroxide to the recipes are; ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil. Spices can be irritating - less is more with the new dilution - start with 1 tablespoon after patch testing - suggested maximum - 2 tablespoons. Information on ground cinnamon can be found here. Information on ground cardamom can be found here. Oils can be difficult to wash out of the hair - suggested amount - 1 tablespoon. None of the peroxide containing ingredients in the honey lightening recipes, including the honey and ground cinnamon, has been reported to add colour to the hair.

4. Distilled water used with honey lightening should be room temperature only. Do not add spices to a recipe after you have applied the recipe to your hair - if any dry spice spills - you risk skin irritation - mix the spices into a recipe. The spices will blend better, mixed into water, when the honey is added first.

5. No external heat should be used with honey lightening - no blow dryers, sunlight. None of the recipe ingredients should be heated at any time. Heat (except body heat) can destroy hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide can decompose into water and oxygen. It depends on the degree of heat and the amount of time that it is applied. Pasteurization does not destroy the enzyme in honey that produces peroxide. Store your honey, ground spices and oils away from heat, light and moisture, at room temperature, in a cupboard, preferably.

6. No ingredients that contain Vitamin C, (except ground cardamom, which has the highest peroxide value for a spice and a low Vitamin C level), should be used in the recipes. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes Vitamin C and is depleted in doing so. Some honeys naturally contain higher levels of Vitamin C. Avoid using Anzer, buckwheat, linden flower, locust flower, mint and thyme honeys. Most honeys contain very low levels. Here is a list of ingredients that contain Vitamin C.

7. Jarrah honey, from Australia, is known for its very high peroxide value and is a good choice for honey lightening. Information on Jarrah honey and current suppliers can be found here.

8. Conditioner is no longer recommended to be included in honey lightening recipes. Conditioner is too acidic for most honeys and the spices, (it can reduce the optimal pH needed for a honey to produce peroxide), can contain ingredients that interfere with honey lightening, and its water content (most conditioners are 70-90% water), if used as part of the new dilution, can effectively reduce the amount of water needed. The same applies to coconut cream and milk (they contain minerals, are acidic and contain Vitamin C, as well as not enough water). You can use conditioner only, to wash out a honey lightening treatment, instead of using shampoo or just rinse a treatment out. If there is honey residue, shampoo is recommended and has been reported to easily resolve the problem.

9. The honey lightening recipes can be applied with a tint or blush brush for more control of placement.

10. Mix the honey lightening recipe, at room temperature, and let the recipe sit for 1 hour, also at room temperature, to let the honey produce peroxide or use it right away and the honey will produce peroxide while on the hair. The hair should be freshly washed or rinsed first, if there is aloe gel on the hair (aloe gel contains Vitamin C), a Vitamin C containing leave-in treatment, heavy conditioner, a large amount of oil (a large amount of oil will act as a barrier to the water), or styling products on the hair. If not, a honey lightening treatment can also be applied to wet or dry, unwashed hair. Apply the treatment with a tint, blush, basting brush, spray or squirt bottle, pin the hair up, cover the hair with plastic and keep the treatment on the hair for about 1 hour. The hair must be kept completely wet with the treatment both before it is covered and while the treatment is on the hair. Wearing a swim cap is recommended. Also recommened, is to use saran wrap under a lycra swim cap. It does not squeeze out too much water and the treatment does not drip as much with this method.

11. Honey lightening has not been reported to damage hair even after repeated use, over long periods of time. What has been reported occasionally is dry hair and crunchy ends. That is a honey residue result, and can easily be resolved by shampooing preferably, or a vinegar rinse. The effects are temporary when shampoo and/or vinegar are used, with shampoo being reported to work better than a vinegar rinse. Some honeys leave fewer residues than others. More on honey lightening, and research on the protective mechanisms in honey lightening recipe ingredients, can be found here.

12. This is a Pictures Post of some past and current Honey thread, honey lightening results.

[ljkforu]

I agree that you can avoid the crunchies by using regular shampoo even if you don't usually and then a light acid rinse. Seems to make all the difference in the world. My first try I didn't do either and I was terrified that I had fried 5 inches of hair. It was indeed just honey and came right off.

[ktani]

I agree that you can avoid the crunchies by using regular shampoo even if you don't usually and then a light acid rinse. Seems to make all the difference in the world. My first try I didn't do either and I was terrified that I had fried 5 inches of hair. It was indeed just honey and came right off.

I am glad to hear that you are pleased with the results. It depends on the honey, as to how much, if any residue is left behind, when a honey lightening recipe is rinsed out. Some people have reported none that they could discern.