Henna Head: My Experience

2nd Henna (gloss) treatment. Hair styled in a wet Twist Out (which clearly did not dry well). Still cute though. 

Hello loves,

It's been quite some time since I have posted content to this website. I truly apologize for the lack of material that was not posted in my absence. I want to share my recent experience with Henna. Henna is a natural hair dye that tints your hair a "red" hue. Color from henna, may vary depending on your current hair color. 

I used henna back in 2012/2013 (I don't remember the exact year), which was purchased from LUSH Cosmetics. It made my hair terribly dry and straw-like. I did not reap any of the commerical benefits many have reported on websites like CurlyNikki and Naturally Curly. 

I have very tight, fine 3c/4a curls and coils. My hair appears longer when wet but dries into a shrunken curly fro. My hair is also very dense therefore, detangling and getting a comb through it is a nightmare! 

After visiting various hair forums and reading more literature on the benefits of henna, I decided to purchase henna from a different vendor. I chose to buy my henna this time around from Mountain Rose Herb. This time around I received stellar results and complements on my hair after my treatment. 

My Process:

I started off with putting the henna powder from Mountain Rose Herbs in a pastic container. I don't 'measure' out the exact amount of henna I used however, I placed about 2-4 tablespoons  into the container.

I like to add organic honey to the mix. I used about 3 teaspoons to help make the henna paste easier to spread. 

I added warm boiling water to the container to help create a thick paste. 

Other ingredients added to this mix are Argan Oil and sometimes conditioner if I'm going to do a henna gloss. I like to pre-mix my henna treatment before I use it. I like to store my unused henna in the refrigerator to help the dye release. I also like to co wash my henna out by loading a bunch of conditioner in it. Henna can act like a protein treatment therefore, as a rule of thumb, follow up with a deep conditioner after every henna session. I did a full strength henna treatment last Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Then on Friday, I henna'ed again!

Benefits of Henna (on my hair):

- Shiny and smoother hair

- Stronger strands 

- Less single strand knots (HALLELUJAH!)

- Curl elongation (I have some curls in the front of my head that are a loose curl) *This can be a negative for some curlies

- Less shrinkage 

- Softer hair that holds more moisture

- Thicker hair (my hair can appear very thick however ,I did not notice this benefit as much. 

- Pretty red "tint" visible under certain lighting and natural sunlight. (My hair is very dark however, I was able to see a small tint of mahogany in my hair)

This week I will be doing another full strength henna treatment, maybe on Friday. I will report back with my thoughts. 

Where I purchased my Henna? 

• https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/henna/profile (My henna supplier) I purchased 6 oz and paid $10.00 plus shipping & tax for my new BFF. 

Useful Links:

• http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/4/28006-experiences-henna.html (I read this entire thread in 3 days)
• http://www.curlynikki.com/2013/10/henna-for-natural-hair-your-questions.html
• http://www.minimalistbeauty.com/henna-coconut-milk-the-perfect-combination-for-healthy-hair/
• http://blackgirllonghair.com/2011/11/the-pros-and-cons-of-henna/