Eee, misinformation, and a note on hennalucent

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Henna For Hair ~ Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Alison on July 10, 2004 at 01:35:21:

In reply to: Re: Help toning down the red. posted by Shiraz on July 9, 2004 at 18:38:00:

: Let me help you out a little with the ingredients you added:
:
: lemon= it makes henna a light red color
: wine= should be like a burgundy/wine red color
: coffee= this makes your henna brownish color or it can make an
: auburn/dark dark red color (with additional ingredients).. however
: with henna and coffee, you will get a brown color.
:
: I hope you didn't add all of these ingredients into your henna,
: because that's not really how it works. If you want to tone
ANYTHING
: down, you can NOT add more of the thing! That just adds
more "toning"
: needed. To tone it down, you need to leave it alone. Henna fades
away
: as quick as may be a month.

Henna doesn't go away, it's permanent. Also, your chart of henna +
liquids is misinformation, as well. Henna plus acid will release
lawsone, a red-orange molecule. The tannins in wine or coffee can
add to the lawsone, but you can't get brown with henna. Auburn, yes,
but not brown. Using wine, coffee, and lemon is FINE.

:
: You know, it isn't exactly necessary to add anything to your henna.
: If you just add water, you'll get that classic redish-orange color.
: It's beautiful and probably the safest in case a mistake is made.

Water doesn't release the dye in henna nearly as well as an acid
does, unless your tap water is acidic in and of itself. The acid
chews up the cellulose of the plant cells themselves and releases the
lawsone, and water cannot do that. Water and henna as a reliable mix
is a myth.

Also, on hennalucent: they are "metallic hennas", ie, they use
metallic salts as preservatives. I doubt strongly that they are
henna at all, as they only come in brown. Metallic salt, or
compound, hennas are believed to be the reasoning behind not dying
hair that has been hennaed: they react badly with hair dye. For your
own safety, don't use hennalucent over your hair (which you said was
previously highlighted).

In the future, to tone down the red some, I'd go with mostly grape
juice (red) for your liquid--it's acidic enough to do its job well,
plus you get a some grape tannins (think grape juice stains on your
hands)--and maybe a little beet juice if you can get it. A little
indigo will probably darken it well, too. I remember that "Omigod,
I'm a redhead!" feeling you get the very first time you henna,
despite strand tests. It DOES look different on your whole head.

Follow Ups

Re: Eee, misinformation, and a note on hennalucent Shiraz 17:13:43 7/23/2004 (0)
note on hennalucent Debra 18:27:39 7/10/2004 (2)
- Re: note on hennalucent Alison 23:31:13 7/10/2004 (1)
  - Re: note on hennalucent Shiraz 17:15:23 7/23/2004 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: : Let me help you out a little with the ingredients you added: : : : : lemon= it makes henna a light red color : : wine= should be like a burgundy/wine red color : : coffee= this makes your henna brownish color or it can make an : : auburn/dark dark red color (with additional ingredients).. however : : with henna and coffee, you will get a brown color. : : : : I hope you didn't add all of these ingredients into your henna, : : because that's not really how it works. If you want to tone : ANYTHING : : down, you can NOT add more of the thing! That just adds : more "toning" : : needed. To tone it down, you need to leave it alone. Henna fades : away : : as quick as may be a month. : : Henna doesn't go away, it's permanent. Also, your chart of henna + : liquids is misinformation, as well. Henna plus acid will release : lawsone, a red-orange molecule. The tannins in wine or coffee can : add to the lawsone, but you can't get brown with henna. Auburn, yes, : but not brown. Using wine, coffee, and lemon is FINE. : : : : : You know, it isn't exactly necessary to add anything to your henna. : : If you just add water, you'll get that classic redish-orange color. : : It's beautiful and probably the safest in case a mistake is made. : : Water doesn't release the dye in henna nearly as well as an acid : does, unless your tap water is acidic in and of itself. The acid : chews up the cellulose of the plant cells themselves and releases the : lawsone, and water cannot do that. Water and henna as a reliable mix : is a myth. : : : Also, on hennalucent: they are "metallic hennas", ie, they use : metallic salts as preservatives. I doubt strongly that they are : henna at all, as they only come in brown. Metallic salt, or : compound, hennas are believed to be the reasoning behind not dying : hair that has been hennaed: they react badly with hair dye. For your : own safety, don't use hennalucent over your hair (which you said was : previously highlighted). : : In the future, to tone down the red some, I'd go with mostly grape : juice (red) for your liquid--it's acidic enough to do its job well, : plus you get a some grape tannins (think grape juice stains on your : hands)--and maybe a little beet juice if you can get it. A little : indigo will probably darken it well, too. I remember that "Omigod, : I'm a redhead!" feeling you get the very first time you henna, : despite strand tests. It DOES look different on your whole head.
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: