Hi, ladies! I've been seeing so much about henna on here over the past months that I finally went out and got some today. Chicken that I am, I went for the Rainbow neutral henna so I could see just what it would do to my hair before I also dealt with the color issue. I really have no clue what I'm doing, and so I have quite a list of questions. Any help you can provide is much appreciated!

1) How do you apply henna? Do you use the recommended paint brush, or do you have some other method?

2) Will I see any effect on color/highlights even with just the neutral henna? I have chestnut brown hair with (natural) gold and red highlights.

3) I've seen comments on conditioning before applying the henna. How does this affect the application? Do you recommend it?

4) The directions on the container recommend using heat to help set the henna. :shock: Does anyone do this? I'm loath to use any type of heat on my hair. . . :(

5) What pitfalls should I watch out for as first-timer, i.e. things that I don't want to have to learn the hard way. ;)

6) Do you mix your henna with boiling water or one of the recommended "substitutes"--tea, etc?

7) Do you apply henna to your hair wet or dry?

Thanks so much!! :D

i just did my hair with neutral henna for the first time yesterday. and i lOVE the results. i mixed the henna with a very strong camomile tea, lemon juice, lavender EO and a few gollops of conditioner. i applied it to dry hair then put a plastic cap on then put a turbie twist on top of that. i let it sit for about an hour or so. then i rinsed, rinsed, rinsed and rinsed some more. i didn't use any shampoo or conditioner. i let it air dry. and let me tell you, i have a lot less tangles and a ton more shine. my mom kept commenting on the color. she said it gave it a little umph. i really haven't noticed any change. (i have waist length multi shaded blonde/brown hair) i will definately do this again in a few weeks. hope this helps you a little.

Nutswmn,

what kind of henna did you use? Did you get it on-line?

i got the hennalucent from the a member here. and for some reason i can't remember who.(i'm having a major brain fart. broke my toe earlier and the pain is over-riding everything else.) i think it was giggy2.

oooOOOOoooh! Brain farts. I know all about those! :shock:

Sorry about your poor toe! I know all about those, too! LOLOLOL

I'm just a *tad* clumsy. :?

For anything I'd be able to tell you about henna from personal experience, take a look here (http://www.haarkram.e-something.de/articles/henna.html) :)

1) How do you apply henna? Do you use the recommended paint brush, or do you have some other method?
I use a paint brush for the roots and then gloop it on the length when I am finished applying it to those.

2) Will I see any effect on color/highlights even with just the neutral henna? I have chestnut brown hair with (natural) gold and red highlights.
I have never used a neutral henna.

3) I've seen comments on conditioning before applying the henna. How does this affect the application? Do you recommend it?
I never condition before henna. I do the oposite, I use a clarifying shampoo and no conditioner.

4) The directions on the container recommend using heat to help set the henna. Does anyone do this? I'm loath to use any type of heat on my hair. . .
I use a heat cap every time.

5) What pitfalls should I watch out for as first-timer, i.e. things that I don't want to have to learn the hard way.
stand test, strand test, strand test.

6) Do you mix your henna with boiling water or one of the recommended "substitutes"--tea, etc?
Lemon juice and water.

7) Do you apply henna to your hair wet or dry?
I have done both. I prefer my hair dry

If you don't like using any heat on your hair, you can try wrapping it and sitting outside under the warm sun for a few hours. That is provided it's warm enough where you live! If not, then come on down to my house and sit in the 90° degree weather. 8)