What's the deal with metal and henna?

[Karala]

Sorry, I'm sure this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything through the search engine :/

I was reading about henna and I've just had a "DUH" moment realizing that for the last few months, I've been using one of these devices (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Md2HHo%2BCL._SL500_AA280_.jpg) to mix my henna: (sorry, I don't know the name in english...)
....HELLO!! ok, so I've been using something with metal without even realizing I was doing it... yes, dumb.

My concern is that my henna tends to go way too dark for my taste, even though my natural color isn't very dark, even though I mix it with lots of cassia and chamomile and never let it sit for more than a couple of hours...

Could this be the culprit? I've known for ages that you're not supposed to use anything containing metal to mix henna, but I've never known why... is there any chance that it would actually hinder dye uptake, hence making hair darker but not much redder?

[ladyships]

maybe?

i mixed my last henna batch in a metal bowl—somehow had had no clue about the henna + metal thing—& it didn’t stain as bright on my virgin roots as any of my other hennaings had, & i couldn’t figure out what the hell was wrong for the longest time.

word of warning: i bought one of those copper hairbrushes a little over a month ago & i realised my [thrice hennaed] hair has gotten noticeably darker last saturday when a friend of mine who hadn’t seen me since the end of february commented on it at a party. really pisses me off, since i love the new hairbrush, but my hair’s already pretty dark & you can’t see the effect of the henna except in direct sunlight now. i only brush my hair twice a day, sometimes only once. yet my henna has gotten muted as all get-out. nuts, right?

[walterSCAN]

According to this article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=165) by Henna Sooq it shouldn't matter if you are using 100% pure henna...

I've never noticed a difference whether I mixed with a plastic spatula or a metal spoon... :shrug:

[marisa]

I'm not sure about all that either.
The henna I've been using (Karishma brand) suggests letting the mix sit overnight in an "iron vessel" for darker color. I've used a cast iron skillet and it does seem to make my greys more auburn than orange.
I would love to use my handmixer but am nervous about the metal blades.
Been keeping an eye out while thrift store shopping for coated ones.

[girloctopus]

I've used both a metal immersible blender and aluminum foil to do henna streaks and highlights, and I've never noticed a difference. I've only heard of iron making a difference, since it is traditional in India to make the henna darker. But the metal that your mixer is made of is most likely stainless steel, which usually does not rust or tarnish, indicating that it is resistant to oxidation and unlikely to make your henna darker.

[ktani]

Metals are not recommeded to be used with herbs in general, except for stainless steel and there are variations with that (quality). They can interact with them if the herbs are acidic. Henna is about pH 4.5 when mixed with water. That said, it depends on the kind of contact. Brief contact should not have much of a result. Prolonged contact with a liquid mix or with heat may just affect certain results.

[caribou55313]

If those mixing blades are stainless steel, there won't be any interaction. I have used stainless steel bowls and utensils for mixing henna without a problem, including leaving them in contact with the paste overnight.

[halo_tightens]

If those mixing blades are stainless steel, there won't be any interaction. I have used stainless steel bowls and utensils for mixing henna without a problem, including leaving them in contact with the paste overnight.

I second this. I always use metal utensils to mix my henna, and I've never had any problems with it.

One difference, though, might be that I use only water or chamomile tea to mix my henna, so it's not overly acidic. There might be more potential for interaction, as ktani mentioned, if you use an extremely acidic liquid in your mix.

[alwayssmiling]

I have used Lush Caca with metal spoons, and clips - nothing bad has happened at all.

[Katze]

I am a henna artist and stir/mix my henna paste in a glass jar with a metal knife. Have been doing so for 14 years and see no problems with the paste's staining capacity...

[Karala]

Thanks for all the replies! I see that as it often is with henna, different people have very different experiences and there hardly is a one-size-fits-all...

I do use 100% pure organic henna with no added nasty stuff.

I have no idea if the blades form the handmixer are stainless steel, I got it from my mom and she probably got it in the 80's if not the 70's ^^ (least you can say is they made quality long-lasting devices in those days...)

I do use a fairly acidic liquid in my mix (a bit of lemon juice, some orange juice and lots of beer)

Anyway, I'm hennaing again today and this time I'll do without the handmixer (I'll miss my handmixer, it's incredibly handy for making a beautiful paste effortlessly) and we'll see how it goes...

[Henna Sooq]

According to this article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=165) by HennaSooq it shouldn't matter if you are using 100% pure henna...

I've never noticed a difference whether I mixed with a plastic spatula or a metal spoon... :shrug:

exactly, as long as it's 100% pure, there won't be any issues. I personally use a spatula, and stainless steel bowl, all the time for both my hair mixes, and body art recipe.

I also know a henna artist out in Cali who uses a hand mixer as well. So you should be good to go. Whip it! :)

[indigonight]

I've always wanted to make my henna darker and tried to use metal purposely to ensure it went darker as I read on my zarqa henna box that that is the way to do it however....It does not seem to make much difference

[Zombiekins]

Anyway, I'm hennaing again today and this time I'll do without the handmixer (I'll miss my handmixer, it's incredibly handy for making a beautiful paste effortlessly) and we'll see how it goes...

You know, freezing your henna will result in a smooth creamy mix with minimal effort. Simply put your henna into a freezer bag, chuck in the liquids and stir and squish a bit to get it as mixed as you can, freeze, pull out the day you wanna use and thaw in warm water (doesn't usually take long, really fast if you have access to the outside on a sunny day), and then use. It'll be thick and creamy and of perfect texture...usually, on occasion mine will need an extra splash of liquid, but I've never run in to a situation where it was too runny. :)

[Gothic Lolita]

I've been mixing my henna (BAQ) with a metal spoon and nothing ever happened. I guess if it's really BAQ it doesn't matter.

Freezing henna will eliminate any clumps you might have in the paste, the smell disappears too and it also stains better. I've also read about people adding a tiny bit of sugar in their mix to make it creamier. Really just a little, it doesn't make your hair glue together but should make the henna easier to wash out.

[Henna Sooq]

You know, freezing your henna will result in a smooth creamy mix with minimal effort. Simply put your henna into a freezer bag, chuck in the liquids and stir and squish a bit to get it as mixed as you can, freeze, pull out the day you wanna use and thaw in warm water (doesn't usually take long, really fast if you have access to the outside on a sunny day), and then use. It'll be thick and creamy and of perfect texture...usually, on occasion mine will need an extra splash of liquid, but I've never run in to a situation where it was too runny. :)

I agree with this :)

I find the same thing, and if you are working with a henna paste that needs to sit out longer, then the lumps usually dissolve as well too. It just takes a bit of time.

[Fractalsofhair]

Are you only dying your roots? Reapplying henna a couple of times on your head will make it darker.

[Unofficial_Rose]

Thanks for all the replies! I see that as it often is with henna, different people have very different experiences and there hardly is a one-size-fits-all...

I do use 100% pure organic henna with no added nasty stuff.


I do use a fairly acidic liquid in my mix (a bit of lemon juice, some orange juice and lots of beer)



Beer in henna. What a genius idea. I'm so doing this next time I henna! :thumbsup: I want shiny, brown hair, bet this would help. Something with hops & Vitamin B.

I sometimes mix mine with a stainless steel spoon, sometimes with a wooden spoon. Can't say I notice a difference, but I mainly do glosses.

[Mina83]

Sometimes I mix henna with a metal spoon, and no prob with that

[misstwist]

I agree with this :)

I find the same thing, and if you are working with a henna paste that needs to sit out longer, then the lumps usually dissolve as well too. It just takes a bit of time.

Uh, this is after color release, right?

That would make my henna prep a multi-day process.

[caribou55313]

Uh, this is after color release, right?

That would make my henna prep a multi-day process.

Dye release itself seems to make lumps quick to dissolve. What's hard is beating them out by hand right after adding the liquid, and you don't need to do that - just wait until dye release and stir them out once they've absorbed moisture so it's easy.

[little_cherry]

Uh, this is after color release, right?

That would make my henna prep a multi-day process.
I have always frozen henna before dye release but...

Can anyone verify if this (http://www.hennaforhair.com/forum/index.php?module=phpwsbb&PHPWSBB_MAN_OP=view&PHPWS_MAN_ITEMS=12292) is in fact true? If this is true, waiting for partial dye release then freezing may be best if using an acid in your liquid.

[GRU]

I've done all of the above (by the way, that's called an electric mixer in English).

I have used:

acidic liquid
electric mixer
metal fork/spoon
added sugar
frozen-then-thawed henna

I've never noticed any kind of big difference, other than my arm is much less tired when I used the electric mixer. :D

[GRU]

maybe?

i mixed my last henna batch in a metal bowl—somehow had had no clue about the henna + metal thing—& it didn’t stain as bright on my virgin roots as any of my other hennaings had, & i couldn’t figure out what the hell was wrong for the longest time.

word of warning: i bought one of those copper hairbrushes a little over a month ago & i realised my [thrice hennaed] hair has gotten noticeably darker last saturday when a friend of mine who hadn’t seen me since the end of february commented on it at a party. really pisses me off, since i love the new hairbrush, but my hair’s already pretty dark & you can’t see the effect of the henna except in direct sunlight now. i only brush my hair twice a day, sometimes only once. yet my henna has gotten muted as all get-out. nuts, right?

Did you do your second and third henna applications over your entire head, or just your roots that had grown out?

The more times you apply henna, the more it builds up and the darker the color gets. Most folks around here only do their roots once they get to their target color, to keep the color from getting overly dark.

[caribou55313]

I have always frozen henna before dye release but...

Can anyone verify if this (http://www.hennaforhair.com/forum/index.php?module=phpwsbb&PHPWSBB_MAN_OP=view&PHPWS_MAN_ITEMS=12292) is in fact true? If this is true, waiting for partial dye release then freezing may be best if using an acid in your liquid.

That was my post :) ... I too would be interested to hear if anyone else has done this sort of testing. As I said in the post, the experiment was with a lemon juice mix. That level of acidity slows down dye release. If you use water or something closer to pH neutral, your dye release will happen very quickly so you may not have to "wait" for dye release because it's starting to happen so fast.